Waisman Early Childhood Education (WECP) Teacher

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Job Category:

Employment Type:

Job Profile:

Job Duties:

The Waisman Center is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge about human development, developmental disabilities, and neurodegenerative diseases throughout the lifespan. One of 15 centers of its kind in the United States, the Waisman Center encompasses laboratories for biomedical and behavioral research, a brain imaging center, and a clinical biomanufacturing facility for the production of pharmaceuticals for early stage human clinical trials. In addition to its research efforts, the Center provides an array of services to people with developmental disabilities, offers numerous educational and outreach programs to young children and their families, and trains scientists and clinicians who will serve our nation in the future. 

The Waisman Center Early Childhood Program (WECP) is an inclusive, full-day, year-round preschool for children ages 1 through 6. Up to 1/3 of the children enrolled may have special needs because of a disability, medical condition, or behavioral challenge. WECP follows a developmental play-based curriculum. It is licensed by the State of Wisconsin, and accredited by the City of Madison and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

The WECP Teacher is responsible for preparing classroom lessons, facilitating classroom programs, and assessing student progress to ensure safety and foster an environment of learning and development in accordance with the Creative Curriculum, interacts regularly with parents and trains new teachers and students.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Plans and facilitates classroom programming and schedules daily classroom activities for an early childhood education facility according to established curriculums (30%)

• Maintains the safety and physical well-being of children in a designated classroom (40%)

• Evaluates individualized and developmental educational plans for children in collaboration with other stakeholders, as needed (10%)

• Maintains and documents effective communication with internal and external stakeholders to relay pertinent information and provide updates of child activities per established guidelines and regulations (10%)

• Mentors new teachers and students (10%)

Key Job Responsibilities:

• Maintains the safety and physical well-being of children in a designated classroom

• Maintains and documents effective communication with internal and external stakeholders to relay pertinent information and provide updates of child activities per established guidelines and regulations

• Mentors new teachers and students

• Evaluates individualized and developmental educational plans for children in collaboration with other stakeholders, as needed

• Plans and facilitates classroom programming and schedules daily classroom activities for an early childhood education facility according to established curriculums

Department:

Waisman Center

Compensation:

$45,000 annually minimum; Salary is negotiable and will be based on education, experience and skills. Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and paid time off; competitive insurances and savings accounts and retirement benefits.

Required Qualifications:

• Candidates must meet teacher qualifications per Department of Children and Families (DCF) 251 Licensing.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Well-qualified candidates will have two or more years of experience working in a pre-school or early childhood setting, preferably within a team-teaching setting.

• Wisconsin Registry with Teacher qualifications is required. Minimum Registry Level 3, Level 12 or higher is preferred.

Education:

A Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education, Special Education, Child Development or closely related field is preferred.

Additional Information:

• The successful applicant will be responsible for ensuring eligibility for employment in the United States on or before the effective date of the appointment. University sponsorship is not available for this position.

• A Criminal Background Check will be performed in addition to fingerprinting. 

• The successful applicant will be required to complete HIPAA training and receive certification within the first 5 days of employment and annually thereafter.

• Reporting requirements must be completed in a timely manner, including but not limited to effort reporting and outside activities reporting.

• A TB test and health examination is required not more than 12 months prior to or 30 days after the first day of employment. 

• A CPR certificate (including training in infant and child CPR, and training in AED) must be on file within 6 months of the first day of work. 

• Training in Abusive Head Trauma Prevention and in Mandated Reporting of Child Abuse are required. Training can be provided by WECP staff during the first week of employment.

• The successful applicant must have knowledge and comply with developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood education and all policies and procedures described in the WECP Staff Handbook.

Overall Physical Requirements:

• Agility: Ability to sit on floor and get up and down with ease; run, jump and climb hills and step stools; and reach overhead to retrieve items on shelves above shoulder level. Hang objects one foot above height.

• Strength: Ability to lift at least 30 pounds and ability to carry this weight across a classroom; engage in vigorous outdoor and gym play for at least 30 minutes; and push/pull at least 3 children in stroller or wagon. Push children on swings. Walk up and down stairs. Move/push classroom furniture as needed.

• Speed: Ability to perform physical tasks within a time frame commensurate with needs of fast-paced preschool classroom.

• Quick reaction time (e.g. respond instantly to unexpected needs).

How to Apply:

Please click on the "Apply Now" button to begin the application process. You will be asked to upload a resume, cover letter, and a list of three references.

Contact Information:

Melissa Henning

Email: melissa.henning@wisc.edu

Phone: (608)890-1388

Institutional Statement on Diversity:

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

For more information on diversity and inclusion on campus, please visit: Diversity and Inclusion

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, click here.

To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.