Country: Egypt
Closing date: 16 Jul 2016
Founded in 1979, St Andrew’s Refugee Services (StARS) is a refugee service provider in central Cairo that works to enhance the quality of life for refugees and vulnerable migrants through four programs: adult and children’s education, legal, and psychosocial services. We provide high-quality services meeting the unaddressed needs of refugees, and we provide a safe and inclusive space for displaced people to come together as a community. We work for refugees, with refugees, to make rights recognition a reality.
StARS’ Mission is to enhance the quality of life of refugees in Egypt and make their rights a reality through client-centered programs.
Our vision is a safe, inclusive and supportive environment for refugees in which they can exercise their rights, pursue their aspirations, and live in dignity.
We serve people from many places, including Ethiopia, Iraq, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea, and Syria. To learn more please visit www.stars-egypt.org.
Project Description: Montessori Pre-school
StARS Montessori pre-school provides education and care for children aged two and a half to six based on the Montessori pedagogical approach for early childhood.
Role
Under the supervision of the Montesorri Pre-school Coordinator, the Montessori pre-school directress is responsible for the management of the class and providing quality Montessori education for the children enrolled, working in close collaboration with the program coordinator in order to sustain a well-prepared and dynamic environment that is highly sensitive to each child’s developmental needs in all areas. The directress is responsible for all matters related to Montessori presentations, tracking development, providing and creating activities as needed, communication with caregivers, reporting, and maintaining classroom and material.
Responsibilities
Classroom management
Classroom preparation before the arrival of children, which includes setting the classroom, cleaning the material and ensuring it is complete and in proper condition, remove any broken or incomplete item and report it, ensure classroom provisions are ready for at least the length of the day, plan any new presentations and activities thoroughly, meet with rest of staff for a quick overview, and prepare him- or herself psychologically, mentally and physically for the reception of children.
During the day: make sure the material and classroom are in proper condition throughout the day, take notes on new presentations, and progress in practiced activities.
After children’s departure: Restore classroom and close shelves, record any missing presentations or progress on the follow-up sheets, prepare notes to be discussed in the daily meeting after school, edit them during the meeting, adding any feedback or action points, and keep them in the records.
Updating the list of needed material and classroom provisions, attend to their purchase and report to the coordinator every two weeks.
Montessori education
Provide timely presentations after close observation of child, and ensure activities available along the developmental lines are a step ahead of him/her.
Plan a diversity of physical activities and outdoor activities daily.
Provide different and updated forms of art activities with the help of the cultural curriculum.
Work with the program coordinator on creating workshops compatible with the Montessori way in different areas.
Trainings and Workshops
In agreement with the program coordinator, the Montessori directress should attend trainings and workshops as requested by the coordinator, and seek to widen his/her knowledge and understanding of children.
Communication
Communication with parents: attend to the Parents’ Participation chart and ensure quality communication with the caregivers, not only about their children, but also helping them find channels for any obstacles they face and updating them on the services provided by StARS.
Communication with colleagues: good communication with other directresses/assistants during the day enhances the environment’s condition for children, and makes for better working conditions for staff. Meetings should also be venues for discussing staff issues.
Communication with StARS staff and students/clients: the directress should keep the nature of the work done at StARS in mind and work actively on maintaining a positive, collaborative attitude towards all. The directress should also work on achieving smooth channels between the pre-school and the Children’s Education Program, be it teachers or students, and strive to collaborate with other programs on any given chance.
Requirements:
Accredited certification in the Montessori educational method for early childhood. Significant work experience might be accepted instead of the certification.
Fluency in either English or Arabic. Advanced skills regarding the respective other language is an advantage.
Good communication skills.
Eagerness to learn.
Belief in and commitment to non-discrimination on the basis of gender, race, disability, religious belief and sexual orientation.
Ability to confront and discuss sensitive issues with respect and care.
Ability to prioritize work and multi-task.
A positive attitude and collaborative approach to dealing with children, parents and other staff.
Respect for the child’s rhythm, and the right of the child to time, space, and joy.
Respect the child’s individuality and needs, as well as the need to be in a healthy social system that respects all children as individuals.
Working hours:
Class working hours, Monday to Thursday: 7 am - 3 pm.
Equivalent of one class work day (8 hours) per week of material preparation, errands, report writing, organizing workshops, home visits etc.
Attending workshops or activities provided for the children or their families out of class working hours.
Supervised by: Montessori Pre-school Coordinator
Salary: EGP 3,000 per month after completion of a three-month probation period (initially 2,700 EGP) plus EGP 100 monthly medical allowance and EGP 50 monthly pension contribution.
Benefits: All StARS official benefit policies as stipulated in StARS Policies and Procedures Guidelines
Closing date for applications: 16 July 2016
How to apply:
Please send a resume and cover letter addressing the role and requirements to anagati@stars-egypt.org. Use the subject line ‘Pre-school Directress’.