Remarkable Teachers

What makes being a teacher at FJECC remarkable?

When we meet prospective teachers, part of the conversation is about what they might bring to FJECC. And then we also talk about what FJECC has to offer as a working environment for teachers. As I have met with, listened to and spoken with candidates, I’ve had to imagine how each person might fit in with our FJECC community. In turn, I’ve reflected on what it means to be a teacher at FJECC - an opportunity that many of us feel is, in itself, a remarkable experience. 

To teach is to commit oneself to being in relationship with others in a context that assumes there will be times of dysregulation, of unpredictable outcomes, of unease. Many of us who choose the field of early childhood education do so knowing - and maybe even looking for - the unpredictability of what each day will bring. We do not like to be bored. And yet we appreciate a sense of stability, comfort and safety. Much of teaching and classroom management is about building predictability and consistency into the physical and temporal environments - thereby creating space for change and growth, for risk, for adventure. Really good teachers are keepers of calm in the midst of apparent chaos. Really good teachers know how to find moments of stillness - moments of connection - for each child while at the same time remaining attuned to the needs of the whole group. Teaching is a balancing act of the highest order.

FJECC teachers care deeply about children, and they care deeply about the work that happens with children - including the tone and tenor of their classrooms. This is part of Helen Cohen’s legacy: she founded FJECC with a commitment to hiring and nurturing professional early childhood educators. She knew - in 1994 - that the quality of children’s experiences is directly tied to the quality of educator’s experiences in their work environment. It is a key principle of our school’s mission. It is part of what drew me here as a parent many years ago and it was very much a part of what brought me here as Director. I care deeply about ensuring teachers have the time, resources and support to do their work in the best way possible. This is fundamentally important to maintaining the quality of learning environment for which FJECC is known.

I listen for many things when speaking with a potential hire. I want to know that they respect and understand children, of course. I want to understand how they view parents and their approach to building relationships with them. I look for educators who have a sense of curiosity about the world and express wonder at the remarkable things that children do and say. One teacher, in response to the question ‘what is your favorite thing to do with children’ said: 'I just really love the process of getting to know each child, their interests, what challenges them, and looking for the opportunities to help them grow and learn.’ Yes! This is, not coincidentally, one of my favorite things about working with teachers. I look for opportunities to support educators’ growth. I know that the ways in which I bring teachers together in community will be mirrored in the classrooms and the ways in which they bring children together in community.  And as a team, we bring parents together in community - all together in this remarkable community. 

Shalom,
Amy

Are you an educator who is interested in joining this remarkable community?