SDSU Children’s Center Master Teacher

Priority consideration deadline: Tuesday, March 10, 2026.

GENERAL PURPOSE: The SDSU Children’s Center Master Teacher shall work under the general supervision of the Supervising Teacher and other Center Administrators, while also working as a team member, dedicated to creating a safe environment for learning and ensuring a high standard of quality care is provided to all enrolled children. Responsibilities include managing all aspects of the classroom, including staff and student intern supervision and training, records maintenance and parent communication. As a member of the Center’s teaching community, where continuity of care is a targeted goal wherever possible, teachers follow their children from year to year. Master Teachers facilitate observations and assessments of individual and group learning experiences to ensure best practice and an anti-bias curriculum over time. Master Teachers are responsible for a classroom of up to a maximum of 40 children enrolled with flexible schedules.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Teaching

Develops and implements written curriculum plans to meet the individual needs of each child based on observations, emergent curriculums, DRDP goals, California Department of Education Foundations of Learning, West ED’s Program for Infant Toddler Care Principles (PITC) as appropriate for age group and NAEYC best practices
Provides individual direction, guidance and supervision of children in the performance of learning activities
Develops and maintains indoor and outdoor environments that adhere to ITERS and ECERS criteria
Engages children in conversations throughout the day using open-ended questions to promote critical thinking
Completes child development profiles, meeting deadlines as established by the Children’s Center calendar
Maintains portfolios to monitor and document childrens’ individual progress and work
Models NAEYC standards and inquiry-based teaching in the classroom
Assists others in department with special tasks as assigned
Primary Care

Conducts a daily health check of each child and ensures adherence to treatment plans for special needs with prompt and appropriate response to acuity
Understands, follows and trains staff in proper diapering procedure
Understands, follows and trains staff in Center’s safe sleep policy
Instructs and monitors children and staff in the proper and safe use of facilities and equipment
Instructs and visually monitors children’s outdoor play at all times
Instructs and monitors children and staff in proper health and hygiene skills
Supports the nutritional goals of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) through daily meals, ensuring all staff meet required standards as outlined by the CACFP
Supervises children’s eating behavior by sitting with them while they eat
Monitors classroom attendance logs and ensures daily parent sign-in and sign-out
Assists others in department with special tasks as assigned
QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum & Preferred Requirements

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Child Development or related field requiredOR with the ability to obtain a bachelor’s degree in Child Development or related field required before anticipated hire date
Infant Toddler Development course (minimum of 3 semester units) required
Twenty-four units ECE/CD including core courses and 16 GE units plus 6 specialization units and 2 adult supervision units and a minimum of 3 Infant Toddler units (Copy of transcripts required)
Experience:

Minimum 2 years experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities specified, including adult supervision required
Experience working in a college lab school environment is preferred
Required Licenses & Certifications:

Current California Children Development Permit at the Master Teacher level or above
Child Accident and Illness Prevention Certification (AB243 Certificate)
Develops and maintains an approved Professional Development Plan that includes acquiring the minimum of 21 CEUs annually (105 hours in 5 years)
Maintains annual membership in NAEYC to read and discuss their educational periodicals, Young Children and/or Teaching Young Children
Department of Justice fingerprint clearance, TB clearance and current Health Screening
Current Pediatric First Aid and CPR training, including the proper use of asthma inhalers and/or Epi pens
15 hours of Accident Illness Prevention Training
Trainings:

Attends at least one Reggio Roundtable a year to support a Reggio inspired curriculum in the classroom
Universal Health Precautions, Blood-borne Pathogens and infectious waste disposal
Site safety and emergency procedures including fire and earthquake drills
Trainings (Must be completed within 30 days of hire):

Anti-Harassment Training for Supervisors
Workplace Violence Prevention
Data Security & Privacy
Gender Awareness Training
PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS

Must professionally represent the Associated Students and San Diego State University at all times
Must be able to successfully fulfill the Essential Duties of this job description and meet performance expectations
Maintains professionalism at all times while providing positive customer service to children, students, families, staff, and community
Keeps current of new issues and research in the field of early childhood
Works in an independent manner without undue supervision
Establishes mutual respect by showing an accepting attitude toward children, families and co-workers
Prepares for, and engages in, whole staff professional development, such as staff meetings, book clubs, seminars, training events, celebrations, etc.
Seeks to improve personal practice
Shares new ideas with staff
Contributes to the professional community
Collaborates on presentations for the Center’s workshops, as well as local, national or international conferences
Must work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community
Must work cooperatively with others and value working as part of a team
Must be able to work in a high-stress environment that is unique to campus childcare settings
Highly organized, confidential and reliable individual with keen written and verbal communication skills and the ability to work in a diverse, frequently changing population of students, faculty and staff
Capable of maintaining positive working relationships with staff, University, customers and vendors
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

Excellent interpersonal skills; ability to relate and communicate effectively with a diverse population of students, staff, faculty, colleagues and guests
Must have strong communication skills (verbally and written) to communicate at a level appropriate to the duties of the position
Knowledge of NAEYC best practices, licensing requirements, child abuse reporting, universal precautions, tools for child observation and assessment
Knowledge of the unique needs of student parent families
Knowledge of the principles and theories of child growth and development
Knowledge of Reggio-inspired environments and learning
Working knowledge of emergent curriculum planning and implementation
Knowledge of WestEd’s Program For Infant and Toddler Care (PITC) principles and practice
Knowledge of California’s Desired Results Developmental Profile (DRDP), The Infant/Toddler and Preschool Learning and Development Foundations, published by the California Department of Education (CDE)
Knowledge of NAEYC best practices and accreditation standards
Knowledge of the California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing, Title 5 & 22 and NAEYC accreditation regulations and reporting requirements
Provides effective and appropriate verbal and written communication
Ability to operate a computer, proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite programs
Demonstrates interpersonal skills using tact, patience and courtesy
Commits to, and utilizes, the protocol outlined in the NAEYC Code of Ethics
Demonstrates effective communication skills in conflict resolution
Provides ongoing child and adult observation and assessment
Demonstrates effective time management skills
Ability to maintain high level of confidentiality
Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously
Must be able to exercise tact and exhibit sound professional judgment
Works in an independent manner without undue supervision
Ability to present a consistent, positive approach to students and all internal and external contacts by being courteous, respectful, helpful, and cooperative at all time
SCHEDULE & WORKING CONDITIONS

Year-round, campus-based, indoor-outdoor childcare center serving 200 children on a daily basis between the ages of 6 months to 5 years and their parents. This is a regular, full-time position which requires flexibility in work hours.

Staff-child ratios: Infants (1:3), Toddlers (1:4), 2-Year olds (1:4), Preschooler (1:8) Classroom group size: Infants (9), Toddlers (12/16), 2 year olds (16/20), Preschooler (24)

Compensation

Pay Rate:$22.42 per hour

WORK ENVIRONMENT The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The work environment may involve exposure to various elements including but not limited to: chemicals, dust, bloodborne pathogens and other environmental risks.

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.

Hearing and speaking to exchange information with children, staff and parents; bending, stooping and lifting children and/or equipment up to 50 pounds from the floor; standing for extended periods of time; moving quickly and easily from sitting to standing; working outdoors on a daily basis; visual scanning to ensure child safety indoors and out; able to perform movements including grasping, touching, pushing, pulling, manual dexterity and eye-hand coordination.

Physical requirements include talking, listening, sitting, standing, walking, manual dexterity, eye-hand coordination, use of office equipment including but not limited to computers, scanners, printers, telephones, copiers, fax machines, corrected vision, and hearing to standard range.

RELATIONSHIPS

Inside the Organization:

Reports to a SDSU Children’s Center Supervising Teacher
Supervises:Assistant Teachers and Associate Teachers
Student Interns/Lab Students and Volunteers
Works with other Children’s Center staff and Associated Students staff as needed
Outside the Organization:

Campus Departments (particularly Child and Family Development Faculty)
Prospective Families
Parents
Volunteers
Referral agencies
EMPLOYMENT CATEGORY: Full-Time, Hourly, Non-Exempt, Supervisor, Grade 3

A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate can be offered this position with Associated Students. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the application status of applicants or continued employment of current Associated Students employees who apply for the position.

Fingerprinting is required for all employee and volunteer positions that have direct contact with minor children.