Demonstration Educator - Early Learning Center - UTK

Job TitleDemonstration Educator ApprenticeJob DescriptionThe primary purpose of this position is to facilitate the mission of the Early Learning (ELC) - to foster scientific understanding of young children's development. The ELC accomplishes this mission through interdisciplinary research, academic programs for undergraduate and graduate students, early education programs for young children, and outreach, advocacy, and public policy. The Demonstration Educator Apprentice and Demonstration Educator are both an integral part of the teaching and research mission of the ELC, providing direct training, mentoring, and supervision to undergraduate and graduate students in the program, as well as day-to-day supervision of and education programming for children in the laboratory school setting. More information about the ELC is available at elc.utk.edu.ResponsibilitiesDemonstration Educator ApprenticeDutiesAcademic Programs / Mentoring and Curriculum DesignProvides direct training, mentoring, and supervision of undergraduate and graduate students in their assigned ECE classroom.Meets weekly with assigned undergraduate pre-service teachers, providing resources to support their growth and learning.Evaluates performance in the classroom.Corresponds regularly with Course Instructors re: student performance, needs, concerns.Demonstrates specific teaching skills, strategies, and techniques.Demonstrates how to provide developmentally appropriate and safe environments and guidelines for children, observe and assess children's needs and behaviors, follow children's questions in forming project work with children, documentation, etc.Develops documentation and materials that visually represent demonstration practices and how they relate to course content.Serves as a guest speaker in courses.Engages with professional learning experiences toward consistent growth in mentoring skills and ECE content knowledge.Early Childhood Education Classroom LeadershipResponsible for the leadership, direction, training, and operational management of early childhood laboratory classrooms specializing in the following: Tennessee DOE licensing regulations, modeling Developmentally Appropriate Practice, and operationalizing NAEYC professional competencies and standards.Provides day-to-day classroom management.Works with other classroom teachers to provide high-quality care, supervision, and education.Supervises all teaching staff in the classroom at any given time, including the assistant teacher, student teacher, etc.Plans and implements meaningful and effective lessons for the children engaged in the classroom.Provides ongoing assessments of the children, implements and maintains health and safety standards, and state licensing standards.Plans and implements culturally responsive curriculum and classroom practice.Family Support and OutreachCoordinates community-building events for families.Provides parenting education content to families and educators.Supports outreach initiatives, including the Early Learning Institute and study tours.In addition to duties in Demonstration Educator Apprentice position, Demonstration Educator duties also includeAcademic Programs / Mentoring and Curriculum DesignDesigns individualized skill and knowledge development support plans for undergraduate students in the program.Develops curriculum for undergraduate student learning objectives.Designs, implements, evaluates, and maintains high-quality lab environments and experiences.Early Childhood Education Classroom LeadershipDesigns and implements innovative curriculum and instructional methodology in laboratory contextsImplements and evaluates experimental pedagogy in laboratory contextsInteracts with current ECE research and innovative ECE pedagogyImplements and demonstrates instructional strategies and programming design elements that support social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion goals in laboratory settingResponsible for data reporting, representation, and disseminationResponsible for collaborative design, evaluation, and maintenance of program operational systems; contributes to complex decision-making processes impacting all educators and classroomsTranslates programmatic systems, policies, procedures, and structures into accessible and contextually appropriate modes and procedures for a wide variety of program staff and students; provides training, accountability structures, and oversight on these structures for staff and studentsQualificationsDemonstration Educator Apprentice Qualifications:Required QualificationsEducation: Bachelor's Degree in any fieldExperience: At least two years teaching young children (birth-8) in a school or childcare settingKnowledge, Skills, Abilities: Prioritization skillsAbility to manage the comprehensive set of classroom and program/school requirements with consistency and efficiencyKnowledge of and ability to recommend practices in early childhood education environmentsKnowledge of appropriate curricula and program plans for child care programs for childrenIntentional, individualized modeling for students of recommended instructional practicesSupervision, program planning, instructional strategies, and guidance techniquesSkills in organization and care of the physical environment, routine care, family relationships, and observationStrong skills in interpersonal, communication (both oral and written), professionalism, and organizationHigh level of initiative, accountability, and ability to self-regulatePreferred QualificationsEducation: Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or closely related fieldExperience: Four years teaching young children (birth-8)Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: Skills in inquiry-based teaching, reflective practice, and pedagogical documentationSkills in teaching, evaluation, and mentoring of studentsApplication of informed judgment and decision-making skills, considering multiple factorsDemonstration Educator QualificationsRequired QualificationsEducation: Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Special Education, OR related field may be substituted (Human development/family science, elementary education, deaf education, psychology, social work, etc.)Experience: At least three years teaching young children (birth-8) in a school or childcare settingKnowledge, Skills, Abilities: Prioritization skillsAbility to manage the comprehensive set of classroom and program/school requirements with consistency and efficiencyIntentional modeling for students of recommended instructional practicesSupervision, program planning, instructional strategies, and guidance techniquesSkills in organization and care of the physical environment, routine care, family relationships, and observationStrong skills in interpersonal, communication (both oral and written), professionalism, and organizationHigh level of initiative, accountability, and ability to self-regulateSkills in inclusion planning and cultural responsivityConsistent demonstration/evidence of: Application of informed judgment and decision-making skills, considering multiple factorsIndividualized skill and knowledge development support plans for undergraduate students in teacher licensure programsCurriculum development for undergraduate student learning objectivesDesign, implementation, evaluation, and maintenance of high-quality lab environments and experiencesDesign and implementation of innovative curriculum and instructional methodology in laboratory classroomImplementation and evaluation of experimental pedagogy in laboratory contextsInteraction with current