HISTORY: Founded in 1909 by the Sisters of St. Dominic from Newburgh, NY, the teachers and staff at Immaculata have long served students from many backgrounds and of various faiths from the Durham community and beyond. The Sisters believed that a Catholic education that demands academic excellence should be available to any family who sought such a foundation. More than a century later, Immaculata continues its legacy by educating students with the same focus and mission.
MISSION: Immaculata Catholic School empowers students with a faith-based education shaping curious thinkers, engaged citizens, and compassionate leaders. Embracing our diversity, students build a foundation of empathy, integrity, and academic excellence that prepares them for a life of service to the common good.
ROOT BELIEFS: Immaculata operates on the following root beliefs:
- Every person is a beloved and unique child of God.
- Our diversity strengthens and unites us.
- God is present in all that we do.
- Like a family, ICS is a safe, loving and supportive place.
- Everyone can learn, and we are learning all the time.
CORE VALUES: IMMACULATA WAY OF LIFE (RISE)
Character development, faith formation, and academic excellence are inseparable at Immaculata Catholic School. All members of the Immaculata community are expected to embrace the following governing principles which promote our way of life:
- Respect God, self, and others. Recognize that every person has worth and act accordingly. Treat all people and all life with dignity.
- Be a person of Integrity. Always tell the truth and be responsible for your thoughts and actions.
- Live a life of Service. Ask, “What can I do for others?” Strive to use your gifts to make the world better for everyone.
- Produce Exemplary work. Show that you care for God, yourself, and others by consistently doing your best.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Position: PreK Classroom Lead Teacher[PK1]
Lead teachers in Pre-K are uniquely situated to make a lasting, positive impact on students at their youngest ages. At Immaculata, the Pre-K classrooms provide nurturing spaces in which 3 and 4 year old children grow through exploration, social interaction and introductions to core subjects and the arts. Much of the curriculum in PreK is directed by interactive play in which each child follows his or her interests and explores new material daily. Responsible for the introduction of all subject material in an academic environment, leading PreK teachers plan, and design lessons daily which engage all students of various ability levels and gifts in the classroom and encourage exploratory play. Believing that we are all beloved and unique, lead teachers aim to differentiate instruction daily so that remediation and extension are ongoing for all students. Lead teachers are also collaborative team-builders, working with PreK and division teams, parents, resource teachers and administrators to support students by adjusting the classroom experience, creating plans for students, or sharing information more regularly. A strong lead PreK teaching candidate is devoted to teaching as both an art and science, and they work to build relationships with students to form them intellectually, socially, and spiritually in order to prepare them for their next steps in Kindergarten.
Key Responsibilities / Day-to-Day Job Functions
- Plan and execute lessons based on the Diocese of Raleigh curriculum for PreK.
- Employ a variety of educational techniques (storytelling, educational play, media etc.) to teach children
- Observe each child to help them improve their social and educational competencies and build self-esteem
- Encourage children to interact with each other and peacefully resolve occasional discord
- Organize rest and snack/meal hours, and supervise children to ensure they are safe at all times
- Organize and plan homeroom activities for students in a single homeroom and in conjunction with your professional learning community (PreK PLC).
- Coordinate and plan both curricular and extra-curricular activities with teacher teams at grade-level and division.
- Communicate with parents regularly to gain better understanding of the children’s background and encourage parental involvement in the educational process
- Maintain a clean and organized classroom consistent with health and safety standards
- Create a positive classroom environment that encourages social, emotional, and academic growth.
- Assess student progress and adapt instruction to meet diverse learning needs.
- Collaborate with colleagues to design a PreK curriculum that aligns with K-5 school plans and participate in school-wide initiatives.
- Perform other duties as needed at the direction of administration.
Minimum Requirements
- Minimum level of Education: Bachelor’s degree in early childhood or elementary education; or, four years of experience working with young children and have or be in the process of attaining an early childhood credential (EDU 119).
- Minimum amount of Teaching Experience: 0-4 years
- Certification in Early Childhood Ed. (or clear path to certification/licensure)
- Must satisfactorily complete the required background and reference checks.
- Must complete Diocese-sponsored Safe Environment Training.
Preferred Qualifications
- Degree in Early Childhood Education
- Spanish Speaking Proficiency
- Leadership Experience for Grade-Level Teams in PK-8 environment
Job Type: Full-time; 10-month
Salary: Salary commensurate with education and experience.
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee discount
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Schedule: Monday to Friday
Education: Bachelor’s degree in early childhood or elementary education; or, four years of experience working with young children and have or be in the process of attaining an early childhood credential (EDU 119).
Experience: Teaching: 5-10 years (Preferred)
Work Location: In person