Question: I am graduating from high school and want to find a summer job working with young children since I think I want to become a preschool teacher. Where can I look for positions? How can I find out what the requirements are for preschool teachers?
—Judy

Response: Preschool teachers usually begin as Teacher Aides. The beginning hourly salary for preschool teacher's aide at Los Angeles Unified School District, LAUSD Children's Center is approximately $11. The Children's Centers are open year round.

The requirements for teaching as a preschool teacher and as a preschool teacher aide/assistant vary by the district. According to a representative of the LAUSD Child Development division, the beginning level is a preschool teacher's aide and the only qualification is a high school diploma.

Preschool teachers provide activities for children from two to five years of age to advance their physical, mental, and social development. Their primary job is to provide a positive climate for learning and to plan and present programs of instruction using materials and teaching methods designed to meet the needs of the students.

They plan individual and group activities to stimulate growth in language, social, and motor skills, such as learning to listen to instructions, playing with others, and using playing equipment. They use games, music, artwork, films, books, computers, and other tools to teach basic skills.

Preschool teachers introduce students to numbers, language, science, and social studies. They supervise children and plan recreational activities helping children to develop self-confidence, explore their interests, develop their talents, and learn how to behave with others. They may also administer evaluative tests, keep class records, make reports, and organize groups and individual study projects. They may confer with parents and plan and direct the work of aides and assistants.

Employment Outlook:
Above average growth is projected through 2008. With more women entering the work force, demand has increased for childcare centers, which may expand the opportunities for employment. New opportunities are developing with large corporations who operate their own day-care centers. Part-time schedules are common among preschool and kindergarten teachers.

Salary Range:
Pay varies and depends on experience, level of education, and the type, size and geographic location of a school or center. Entry pay ranges from minimum wage to approximately $2,902 per month/$34,824 per year. Pay is usually higher in public schools than in private schools and centers. Pay for preschool teachers in the public schools is similar to that of elementary school teachers.

PRESCHOOL TEACHERS
projected 2002 annual salaries in the Los Angeles area according to Economic Research Institute:
YEARS EXPERIENCE 10th PERCENTILE TIME SERIES MEDIAN 90th PERCENTILE
3 $ 25,060 $ 28,676 $ 33,113
2 $ 23,909 $ 27,370 $ 31,593
1 $ 22,833 $ 26,149 $ 30,171

LAUSD Children's Center Teachers Salary: $16.40 per hour.

Step 1
Annually		 Step 5
Annually
Minimum 60 units (15C) $ 34,055 $ 39,880
Minimum + 14 credits (16C) $ 35,368 $ 41,190
Minimum + 28 (17C) $ 36,869 $ 42,530
Bachelor's Degree (18C) $ 38,124 $ 43,942
BA + Credential (19C) $ 40,130 $ 49,198

Substitute Early Education Center Teachers are restricted to Schedule 15C.

Substitute preschool teachers beginning hourly pay is approximately $16.50. A regular full-time substitute preschool teacher earns a beginning annual salary of approximately $34,055.

According to a representative of the LAUSD Child Development division, permanent preschool teachers begin working approximately 20 hours per week at $16.50 per hour.

Preschool teachers eventually work as full-time preschool teachers earning a beginning annual salary of approximately $34,000 per year. After working as a full-time preschool teacher for a year for one school, the annual salary is $36,869 per year. This is based on a one-year contract with the district.

Private day-care centers pay $7 to $8 per hour with a top salary of $10 - $11 per hour with several years experience; some offer full-time positions and are beginning to give benefits.

Preparation:
In California, in order to teach as a substitute preschool teacher, a candidate must earn an Associate Teacher Permit by completing (12 ECE units), and 50 days, three plus hours per day, of work as a teacher's aide. Schools with child development programs often have a student teaching class offered for one semester that would meet the 50 days of professional/instructional experience. A substitute preschool teacher for LAUSD, needs to complete additional requirements or 60 units, which can include the 12 ECE units.

In California, to be qualified to teach as a permanent preschool teacher, a Teacher Permit is required which involves completing a total of 24 ECE units (plus 16 general education units) and gaining an additional 125 hours of teaching experience. In LAUSD, a permanent preschool teacher must also pass a teacher's examination given by the district.

For those interested in preschool teaching in private school setting, teacher certification may be required.
For further information regarding teaching requirements, contact:
Los Angeles Unified School District
Early Childhood Education Division
1360 West Temple Street
Los Angeles, CA 90026
(213) 625-6540
Fax (213) 481-2825
www.lausd.k12.ca.us
The permits/credential (used interchangeably in this case) are applied through the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. For further information, contact:
State of California Commission on Teacher Credentialing
Box 944270
Sacramento, CA 94244
(888) 921-2682
www.ctc.ca.gov/credentialinfo
Training Options and Costs:
According to a representative of the Early Childhood Education Division, a bachelors degree is not a requirement for serving as a preschool teacher with LAUSD and added that preschool teaching requirements vary by the district.

Early childhood education programs prepare teachers to work in preschools, Head Start programs, and/or day care centers. These programs teach students about teaching theories and methods, and provide techniques to create, carry out, and evaluate classroom learning activities.

Courses in Early Childhood Education are offered at many community colleges and universities. The following is a school in Santa Monica, which offers an occupational certificate and also a two-year associate degree program in child development:
Santa Monica College
1900 Pico Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90405
(310) 434-4000
www.smc.edu
The school offers an occupational certificate in child development. This is a 24-unit program at a cost of $11 per unit/$264 for the entire program and usually takes from one to two years to complete depending on one's course load.

The school also offers an associate's degree program in child development. It is a 60-unit program that consists of various child development courses and general psychology classes. The degree would enable a candidate to teach in a state or federally funded program for preschool children or teach in a licensed early childhood center.
West Valley Occupational Center
6200 Winnetka Ave.
Woodland Hills, CA 91367-3899
Phone: (818) 346-3540
www.lausd.k12.ca.us/WVOC/
WVOC offers a 4 class or 12 semester unit certificate program in Early Childhood Education (ECE). Most graduates teach in daycare centers.

NOTE: "Childcare" is the generic term for "Daycare" and "Preschool"
Infant Program = 0-2 years
Daycare/Preschool= 2-5 years
School Age Care= 5-12 years

Job Resources:
Preschool facilities are often located in elementary, junior or high school, religious centers, community centers, and workplaces in which employers provide day care for their employees' children.

Teaching positions are available in non-profit agencies, such as Head Start, and private/or profit centers.
Nora Sterry Early Education Center
1747 Sawtelle Blvd.
West Los Angeles, CA 90025
(310) 473-3982
Contact: Vera Atkins, Administrator
According to a representative of the center, preschool teacher aides and substitutes are limited to working 3 to 6 hours per day. The schools usually don't require a CPR or First Aid certificate from the teacher aides/substitute but are often required of full-time preschool teachers.

Based on the needs of the school and one's performance, a notification of vacancy for a full-time preschool teacher position is given by the school's principal. It is recommended that the candidate visit the center and complete an application. The principal of the school then calls the candidate for an interview and if considered, will be given assignment on-call-basis. The candidate can designate an area of interest of where he/she would like to teach. The center hours are from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Connections for Children
2701 Ocean Park Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90405
(310) 452-3325
www.cfc-ca.org
This non-profit organization's mission is to lend support to and raise the quality of day care and preschool programs. They maintain data on preschool programs. They also run a scholarship program for children whose parents cannot afford day care/preschool. They sponsor workshops and maintain a job bank. Prospective job candidates can leave a resume with their office.

Teaching opportunities also exist in the following "chains":
Knowledge Learning Corporation
(formerly known as Children's Discovery Center)
Main Office
9133 S. La Cienega Blvd., #220
Inglewood, CA
(310) 348-9548
www.knowledgelearning.com
The web site lists all preschool center categorized by location. There are three centers in the Los Angeles area.
Bright Horizons
Paramount Pictures Child Care Center
5555 Melrose Avenue
Chevalier Bldg., Ste. 101
Los Angeles, CA 90038
(323) 956-3973
Fax: (323) 862-1777
www.brighthorizons.com
They also have 6 other centers in the Los Angeles County area.
KinderKare Learning Center
Torrance KinderCare
2785 Pacific Coast Hwy # G
Torrance, CA 90505
(310) 325-1117
www.kindercare.com
They also have 6 other locations in the Los Angeles County area.

Professional Associations
California Association for the Education of Young Children Southern California Chapter
(818) 769-2564
Contact: Holly Condon
E-mail: hollycondon@msn.com
Los Angeles Metro Chapter
(310) 825-2960
Contact: Regina McLaughlin
E-mail: rmaclau@pacbell.net
Main Number: (916) 486-7750
www.caeyc.org
The purpose of the association is to serve and act on behalf of the needs and rights of young children with primary focus on the provision of educational services and resources to adults who work with and for children birth through age eight.

Membership benefits include professional development opportunities at educational conferences, networking opportunities at local chapter meetings, and receipt of a newsletter with topics on professional development and industry updates. The web site also provides a job link of career opportunities in teaching.

According to an association member, many childcare centers in the California often prefer hiring CAEYC members because it demonstrates a commitment to the teaching profession. Types of annual membership include student membership at $30, regular membership at $50, and comprehensive membership (in addition to regular membership benefits are receipt of 6 publications dealing with early childhood teaching) at $90.


— • —  
Susan W. Miller, M.A., is a National Certified Career Counselor, a Certified Vocational Evaluation Specialist and holds diplomate status on the American Board of Vocational Experts. She heads California Career Services, a private practice career counseling firm in Los Angeles.

You may e-mail questions to swmcareer@aol.com.

 

 

 

 

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