ECE Teacher - Bekaa - National Candidates Only

Background:

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC works with people forced to flee from war, conflict, and disaster and the host communities that support them, as well as with those who remain within their homes and communities. At-work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. IRC reaches over a million children annually with education and child protection programs in 25 countries around the world.

In response to the influx of Syrian refugees to Lebanon in mid-2012, IRC opened a country office and launched humanitarian assistance programming. IRC operates throughout Lebanon, with the main office in Beirut and field offices in Qobayat, Zahle, Tripoli, Tyre and Mount Lebanon. IRC’s programs assist Syrian refugees and vulnerable Lebanese in host communities across multiple sectors: education, livelihoods, protection, women's protection and empowerment and child protection in close coordination with the Lebanese Government and broader Humanitarian Community. 

High-quality Early Childhood Development (ECD) programs provide the foundation for children’s future academic success, health, prosperity and wellbeing. A large body of scientific evidence emphasizes the need for increased investment in early childhood, particularly for children experiencing conflict, crisis and displacement; these children are extremely vulnerable to the long-lasting effects that prolonged stress has on the developing brain.

In December 2017, Sesame Workshop and the IRC were awarded the MacArthur Foundation’s inaugural 100&Change grant to make real progress toward solving a critical problem of our time. With the extraordinary investment of $100 million, our partnership will transform the language, early reading, math, and social-emotional skills of a generation of children ages 0-8 affected by the Syrian war. Focusing on children in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria over the next five years, the inclusive plan combines the depth of in-person services, reaching 1.5 million children, with the breadth of mass media, reaching 9.4 million children. For more information, please visit: http://refugee.sesameinternational.org/.  

As part of ECD programming, education for 3 to 5 year-olds is provided by the IRC in its Pre-School Healing classrooms in Tripoli, Akkar, and the Bekaa.

Job Overview: 

 Early Childhood Education (ECE) educators will be working on the provision of education to children from 3 to 5 years of age in Tripoli, Akkar, and the Bekaa, as part of the IRC's ECD program. Communitybased Early Childhood Education (CB-ECE) is a model of Non-Formal Education (NFE) to bring education opportunities to underserved children who do not have access to other schooling options. The IRC works in community learning centers and delivers a curriculum of activities based on MEHE learning standards and objectives.

Working under the supervision of the IRC’s ECD assistants, ECE educators will receive intensive training in topics specific to this context and will be provided with regular mentoring and observation visits, as well as learning circles, and continuous capacity building and development. 

The IRC curriculum is play-based and focused on learning centers and exploratory learning for children, supporting early learning numeracy, literacy and social-emotional wellbeing, with Ahlan Simsim activities. Educators will be teaching the in Arabic language, in addition to English or French, and should be comfortable in teaching to new language learners. Educators will be responsible for shifts that cover 25 working hours per week. 

Major Responsibilities: 

Plan, carry out, and assess developmentally appropriate lessons, activities and experiences that target all different areas of child development:  

• Provide a daily balance of active/quiet, indoor/outdoor, and individual/group activities within learning centers.
• Establish and carry out a daily activity schedule that incorporates child-centered and child directed activities, care routines, and transition times.
• Organize space, equipment, materials and learning centers.
• Provide opportunities for child-directed play experiences.
• Plan and carry out lessons and activities that encourage high order thinking.
• Provide experiences and play materials that actively promote diversity and acceptance in interactions and attitudes.
• Observe, assess and evaluate children’s performance and development using available assessment tools, and provide constructive feedback on children’s work.
• Keep records of the students’ attendance, progress, routines, and interests.
• Use relevant resources and/or technology to support and differentiate instructions.
• Initiate referrals or additional services for caregivers and children.

Ensure guidance of children’s behavior that encourages positive self-concept:  

• Follow behavior guidance and policies established by the IRC that are consistent with accepted practice in the field.  

Ensure the child’s environment is healthy and safe:

• Report all accidents, injuries, and illnesses to the ECD assistant.
• Monitor the environment for hazards.
• Update children’s records for any allergies and other special conditions.
• Report any suspected incident and incidents of child neglect, harassment and/or abuse to the ECD assistant and follow the referral procedures adopted by IRC.
• Release children only to authorized persons.
• Maintain confidentiality of all information related to the center’s children, their caregivers and staff.

Participate in professional development activities: trainings, coaching sessions, and learning circles:

• Attend regular staff/educators’ meetings.
• Carry out the responsibilities assigned by the ECD assistant. 
• Plan and carry out continuous personal and professional development.
• Maintain regular attendance and punctuality and take leaves within appropriate timelines as suggested by the ECD assistant.

Employ a variety of educational techniques to deliver online content when remote modality is implemented: 

• Share remote ECE activities with caregivers via online platforms (WhatsApp Groups)
• Conduct phone calls with caregivers to share strategies that help them implement the remote activities with their children.
• Conduct follow-up phone calls with caregivers to support the implementation of these activities.
• Conduct video calls when needed and prepare videos and share with children.
• Conduct online assessments for children to monitor their response to these activities and their development.
• Attend professional development sessions on teaching and evaluation methods to respond to online learning.
• Lead online discussions with caregivers.
• Responding to caregivers’ comments and questions posted online.

Key Working Relationships:

• Position Reports to: ECD Assistant
• Position directly supervises:  None
• Indirect Reporting: Senior Quality Officer

Job Requirements

• University degree in Education or any other related field.

Work Experience: Minimum of 1 year of teaching experience (either at Primary or ECE/KG level).

Demonstrates Skills and Competencies:

• A clear understanding of ECE programs, including the role of educators in ECE and playbased/exploratory learning for ECE-aged children (3-5 years).
• Ability to understand and discuss with supervisors and caregivers about children's learning and psychosocial needs.
• Strong ability to organize work and plan lessons daily.
• Experience in delivering curriculums in a play-based, exploratory environment.
• Motivation to receive and follow professional development/training opportunities.
• Ability to work as part of a team to deliver high quality and professional results.

Language Skills

Mandatory fluency in Arabic, and fluency in French (1st option) or English (2nd Option).

Working Environment  

In-Person Implementation: Education tents or refurbished buildings that are easily accessible to the communities. Classes will have 20-25 students per educator and facilitator.  

Remote Implementation: Teachers will be working from home. The teacher will be responsible for 1416 WhatsApp groups where each WhatsApp group includes 5-6 caregivers.