Position Summary
Foster a Safe and Nurturing Environment: Create a warm, responsive atmosphere that encourages kids to explore, discover, and develop a lifelong love of learning. Make sure all children feel secure, supported, and valued. Honor and respect the unique backgrounds, abilities, and experiences of each child and family.
Promote Holistic Development: Support each child’s social, emotional, physical, and cognitive growth through intentional interactions, thoughtful engagement, and hands-on experiences that lay a strong foundation for future success.
Implement Developmentally Appropriate Curriculum: Design and deliver well-planned, age-appropriate learning experiences that encourage curiosity, experimentation, and creative problem-solving. Empower children to take initiative and gain confidence in their abilities.
Ensure Safety and Positive Behavior Guidance: Maintain active supervision and ensure a safe, healthy environment at all times. Apply consistent, respectful, and constructive behavior guidance practices that promote self-regulation and empathy.
Qualifications
- Education: Master’s degree in Early Childhood or Child Development required, Certification a plus. Must meet state requirements for education. Additional requirements may apply.
- Experience: A minimum of two years of experience as a Pre-K teacher in a professional environment is required.
Work Environment
This job operates in a professional early childhood educational center.
Supervision
Pre-K Teachers are supervised by the Early Childhood Center Director. The ECC Director will evaluate the performance of Pre-K Teachers in an annual written review.
Essential Functions
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Leadership
- Provide appropriate coaching and guidance to Associate teachers.
- Demonstrate exemplary engagement and interactions with children, parents/guardians, and colleagues.
- Be approachable and foster respect, open communication, and collaboration with the teaching team.
- Lead the teaching team in developing classroom goals, routines, and practices that maintain a high-quality program supporting all learning domains.
- Make sure daily tasks and responsibilities are shared and completed.
Health and Safety of Children
- Know and follow all NYS OCFS and Temple Sinai ECC regulations and procedures regarding health, safety, and supervision.
- Keep track of the number of children in your care at all times, maintaining accurate attendance during transitions and throughout the day.
- Ensure safety and supervision by sight and sound at all times, considering each child’s age, cognitive, emotional, social, and physical development.
- Maintain nutritional guidelines for healthy meals and snacks.
- Know the Illness Policy and respond accordingly.
- Keep a safe, clean, and organized classroom.
Child Interactions/Positive Guidance
- Provide feedback, guidance, and support to help all team members implement positive guidance practices.
- Be available and respond promptly to children’s needs.
- Use a positive guidance approach to help children behave responsibly.
- Help children understand what’s expected of them and set realistic expectations for their developmental level.
- Engage in frequent conversations with children at their level. Ask open-ended questions and look for chances to extend their learning.
Program Implementation/Classroom Environment
- Implement inquiry-based curriculum to support children’s development across all learning domains.
- Create daily classroom schedules that offer a mix of activities while staying flexible to incorporate children’s emerging interests.
- Celebrate Judaism by using materials and creating experiences that reflect Jewish rituals, values, and culture.
- Arrange and provide developmentally appropriate spaces for children to engage in various activities.
- Keep the environment organized, clutter-free, and arranged for both individual and small group learning with materials that invite exploration.
- Document daily experiences, learning, and milestones using notes, display boards, and child portfolios.
Family Connection
- Welcome all families and visitors with a friendly and professional demeanor.
- Listen intently to understand parents/guardians' comments or concerns.
- Respond thoughtfully, respectfully, and with sensitivity.
- Learn what’s important to families, honor that with their children, and share knowledge to create a sense of community and trust.
Teamwork and Collaboration
- Maintain consistent attendance and report to work on time to provide continuity of care for children.
- Show scheduling flexibility to support program needs.
- Cultivate positive relationships with colleagues through respectful communication and collaboration.
- Demonstrate initiative and support the development of the teaching team to provide safe and joyful classroom experiences.
- Proactively work to resolve issues and concerns. Identify opportunities to meet the needs of children and improve the classroom dynamic.
Professionalism
- Be a trusted partner. Protect confidential information about children, families, and colleagues.
- Give feedback thoughtfully and with positive intent.
- Receive feedback with openness to change and professional growth.
- Champion and contribute to the success of new initiatives.
- Engage in ongoing professional development and share learnings with colleagues.
- Attend and actively participate in mandatory trainings, meetings, and events.
Competencies
- Ethical Conduct
- Creativity
- Organizational Skills
- Communication Proficiency
- Customer Focus
- Composure
- Time Management
- Collaboration Skills
- Personal Effectiveness/Credibility
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Follow all OCFS and ECC guidelines regarding employee medical, immunizations, and required health and safety training.
- While performing the duties of this job, you’ll regularly need to talk or hear.
- Must demonstrate full range of motion to lift, reach, squat, climb, sit, and fully participate in activities.
- Stay alert and show an appropriate level of energy to respond immediately to emergencies or unexpected situations.
- Ability to move quickly.
- Frequently lift, move, or hold children up to 40 pounds.
- Occasionally lift, move, or hold weight over 40 pounds.
Other Duties
Please note that this description isn’t designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required for this job. Duties may change at any time with or without notice.
About Temple Sinai of Roslyn
Temple Sinai of Roslyn is the largest Reform synagogue on Long Island. It’s a vibrant community that draws members from across the county. We’re a fast-paced, mission-driven workplace, welcoming employees who strive for excellence.
Temple Sinai employs full-time and part-time staff who support the values and principles of the synagogue. Check out mysinai.org for more info about our clergy and congregation.
Temple Sinai of Roslyn is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination. We prohibit retaliation against individuals who oppose discrimination or participate in investigations.
Temple Sinai of Roslyn ¦ 425 Roslyn Road ¦ Roslyn Heights, New York 11577
P. 516.621.6800¦www.mysinai.org
AFFILIATED WITH THE UNION FOR REFORM JUDAISM