Assistant Teacher - Early Childhood Educator

The Acorn School ASSOCIATE TEACHER will provide daily caregiving and early learning activities for infants, toddlers, or preschool-aged children in a university early childhood education center licensed childcare setting. The ASSOCIATE TEACHER follows established curriculum and safety protocols to create a nurturing, developmentally appropriate learning environment, prepares materials and classroom spaces to support hands-on learning and exploration, and communicates with parents and caregivers as directed to support child development and share observations to ensure children are well resourced with a developmentally appropriate classroom that promotes exploration, discovery, learning, health, safety, and joy in relationship with kind and caring adults. 

Reporting directly to the Acorn School site director, the ASSOCIATE TEACHER demonstrates:

• A caring disposition to nurture young children ages 0-5 years

• Competence to supervise and engage with young children in a licensed childcare center

• Respectful communication: assumes best intentions, responsive listening, problem-solving, initiates crucial conversations

• Strong understanding that children’s learning and development occurs in the context of meaningful relationships, builds on children’s strengths, incorporates multiple approaches to learning, and respects the cultural and linguistic experiences of the children.

About the Work Unit:

Vanderbilt Child & Family Center (VCFC) provides support and resources to the community of Vanderbilt families across the spectrum of life from new parent support to early childhood education, family life resources, and elder care. VCFC values and upholds the university’s commitment to the education of the whole person and the cultivation of lifelong learning.

Key Functions and Expected Performance:

• Attentive to health and safety policies, to include: hand-washing practices, cleaning rotation, sanitization of toys and surfaces, incident reports, and Well Child strategies.

• Exercises patience and positive guidance techniques to support children's emotional and social development. Supports children’s feelings, perceptions, behaviors, and interactions, and seeks to understand them utilizing as resource and guide: The Acorn School Philosophy of Discipline and the Pyramid tools for children’s social emotional development.

• Values play as essential to young children’s cognitive, physical and social-emotional development, and support the cultivation of self-care and personal safety skills and judgment in children.

• Performs routine childcare duties including feeding, diapering, toileting, napping supervision, and classroom cleaning.

• Follows daily lesson plans and classroom schedules created by the Lead Teacher to support educational objectives and developmental goals.

• Prepares classroom materials, activity stations, and sensory experiences that align with early childhood learning standards.

• Gathers child supplies, snacks, and learning resources to ensure readiness for daily routines and transitions.

• Proactive to contact Lead Teacher or Director to communicate concerns about child behavior, health, or family needs.

• Handles classroom transitions, group management, and conflict resolution in collaboration with other staff members.

• Values the inclusion of families as active participants in learning about children’s strengths and needs, and developmentally appropriate expectations for their health, safety, and nutrition routines, by supporting various strategies for professional verbal and written communication, including through the Brightwheel app. 

Supervisory Relationships:

This position does not have supervisory responsibility; this position reports administratively and functionally to The Acorn School SITE DIRECTOR (Management M2).

Education and Certifications

• High School diploma is required

• CDA or AA/AS in Child Development (or related field) is strongly preferred

• Possession of or ability to become Infant-Child First Aid/CPR certified is required

Experience and Skills:

• Ability to pass a Child Care Background Investigation (per State of TN DOE/DHS licensing and Vanderbilt Protection of Minors) is required.

• Ability to meet State of TN childcare licensing requirements for this position (including must have a documented physical exam on file within 10 calendar days of employment confirming they are physically, mentally, and emotionally capable of caring for children) is required.

• Ability to lift and carry 30 pounds is required.

• Ability to reach, run, sit, squat, stoop, and walk is required.

• Knowledge of blood-borne pathogens, and ability to implement safety procedures (including for diapering/toileting, nutrition, First Aid) is required.

• Knowledge of Brightwheel is preferred.

• Knowledge of Pyramid tools for social emotional development is preferred.