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Assistant Teacher

Growing Place is a non-profit child development center that operates two campuses in Santa Monica — established in 1985 to provide high-quality early education to full-time working families. We are NAEYC accredited and inspired by the Reggio Emilia Approach.

The Assistant Teacher has the responsibility in teaching and learning with the children, as well as assisting the Co-Lead Teachers and Support Teachers in their work. The Assistant teacher is expected to collaborate within their teaching team along with other fellow colleagues. This position requires a candidate to be attentive, flexible, reflective, warm in disposition; the candidate knows how to work with children in a developmentally appropriate manner and fulfill the Growing Place’s mission, philosophy, and pedagogy.

To Apply

Email cover letter and resume to: employment@growingplace.org

Responsibilities include:

  • Care, play, and learning with young children

  • Build trusting, respectful, and professional relationships with children and families

  • Keep children safe and healthy

  • Use the school’s social constructivist and Reggio Approaches, and problem-solving techniques

  • Assist in the preparation of the indoor and outdoor learning environments (ex: setting up provocations, preparing materials and supplies, cleaning up, properly storing materials in collaboration with the children, preserving children's work under the direction of the teaching staff)

  • Care for classroom plants, flowers, and support with pet care, if needed

  • Stock classroom with cleaning and paper supplies and include the children in this routine

  • Prepare, serve, and clean up snacks and role model appropriate table manners and facilitate social conversations

  • Help children to learn to self regulate during rest time and in resolving social conflicts with peers

  • Procure food and other supplies for the classroom as requested

  • Assist children in toileting, hand washing, and with minor injuries

  • Support teachers and collaborate with Growing Place staff to provide best practices

Candidate requirements:

  • 1-year experience working with children ages 3 months-6 years old in a licensed childcare program; NAEYC accredited childcare center preferred

  • Minimum of 12 Early Childhood Units

  • Demonstrated understanding of child development

Compensation & Benefits:

  • Pay begins at $18/hour

403(b) Retirement Plan

Growing Place offers a 403(b) retirement plan through Mutual America to all eligible employees. The school will match 50% of each employee's contribution up to 3%.

Life Insurance

Growing Place pays the full cost of a $25,000 Life and AD&D insurance policy on behalf of each full-time employee.

Medical, Dental, and Vision Benefits

Currently, Growing Place offers both a PPO and an HMO Medical insurace plan through HealthNet as well as Dental & Vision Benefits through Principal Financial of California. Growing Place pays 85% of the individual coverage premium.

All full-time employees receive 72-hours of Paid Sick Leave (PSL) at the start of each school year (August 1). New full-time employees who start during a school year and all part-time employees accrue PSL at the rate of 1 hour for every 30 worked. PSL is payable after a new employee completes their 90 day introductory period.

Time-off Benefits

Growing Place offers four weeks of paid synchronized vacation for all full-time employees during our winter, spring, and summer break closures. Also, there are 9 national holidays paid to all employees who have completed their introductory period.

Additionally, at the end of each school year, any unused Paid Sick Leave (PSL) is rolled over to the next school year as Paid Time Off (PTO) to be capped at 108 hours.

Professional Development Opportunities

Growing Place is commmitted to lifelong learning. In addition to professional development opportunities that are brought in for staff to experience on campus, Growing Place participates in the West Coast Collaborative in partnership with Reggio Children. Staff have the opportuntity to participate and present at annual WCC conferences. Growing Place also participates in international study tours to places such as Reggio-Emilia, Stolkholm, and more.

Continuing Education

Growing Place will pay for select ECE courses at SMC to ensure our teaching staff has the coursework required to work in a high-quality program. These courses may include ECE 51 The Reggio Approach and ECE 54 Documentation: Making Learning Visible.

Tuition Remission

Growing Place offers regular full-time employees a 50% reduction of tuition and program fees if the employee has worked for GP for more than 2 years, their child is age-eligible (2.5 years), and there is space available in the program.

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