Head Start Lead Teacher

Ohio Heartland Community Action Commission is a drug-free employer. Drug testing of both current staff and new hires will be conducted. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of Driver's Record Check, Criminal Background Check, Drug Test, and Employment references.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Administrative Responsibilities:

• Supervise and train in appropriate practices all staff, parents, student workers and volunteers assigned to the center.
• Complete Center Meal Count Attendance sheet at point of service daily and document contact with the assigned Family Advocate when children are absent for three consecutive days.
• Complete and disperse appropriate paperwork within required time frames.
• Remain current on policies, procedures and activities of Ohio Heartland CAC Head Start, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Child Care Licensing Rules and the Head Start Performance Standards.
• Inform families of policies, procedures and activities through monthly parent newsletters, notes and phone calls.
• Communicate regularly with assigned Family Advocate regarding child and family concerns.
• Maintain an up-dated parent information board in the center.
• Maintain an up-dated Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Child Care Licensing Board in the center.
• Complete in a timely manner necessary evaluations for Associate Teachers and on-call staff, as requested.
• Encourage and support parents who are working with their own and other children in the classroom and home setting.
• Work in cooperation with all Head Start Managers and Specialists, documenting and making referrals when necessary and/or required.
• Report any cases of suspected child neglect or abuse to Children Services, keeping the Social Service area staff, Education Supervising Manager and the Intervention Manager advised of any reported or suspected concerns.
• Complete and up-date first aid, communicable disease, CPR, OSHA regulations, child abuse and other training deemed necessary by the program administration.
• Adhere to all OHCAC Personnel Policies and Procedures and all written agency policies.
• Maintain confidentiality of staff, children and family records at all times.
• Attend all required staff meetings.
• Communicate effectively and interact with children, their parents/guardians and other center staff and volunteers and community representatives.
• Meet and plan as a team with other center staff for implementation of staff/child individualized plans, as needed.
• Complete and post Weekly Planning Forms including codes for all children using Creative Curriculum studies.
• Post up-dated menus, record temperatures and make corrections as substitutions occur. Send menus to parents.
• Oversee daily operations of the center.
• Will be required with prior notice to work flexible hours outside the normal 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. workday on occasion in order to adhere to and stay in compliance with regulations stated within the Head Start Performance Standards.
• If listed as a center administrator, the Lead Teacher will be present in the center at least half of the hours that the center is in operation to meet Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Child Care Licensing Rules. The center administrator hours will be posted on the ODJFS licensing board.
• Due to program needs, least senior employee in a position must accept Re-Call from Seasonal Lay Off or unemployment will be terminated and discharge will follow.
• Participate in team-teaching with all staff assigned to the center, working in cooperation with classroom team members.
• Count the children when exiting or entering a room.
• Must match the name of the child on the Bus Attendance sheet to the face of the child when receiving the child from the Bus Driver and/or when accepting the child from any Head Start staff person.
• Must count the number of children that have been picked up and match the count of the other staff person on the bus prior to leaving the bus and/ or the parking lot when riding on the bus.
• Must match the name of the child on the Attendance sheet to the face of the child when receiving a child into your classroom ratio.
• Meet and plan with staff for implementation of Individual Intensive Intervention plans.

Classroom Responsibilities:

• Provide and promote a caring and nurturing environment while maintaining positive relationships in the center for children, staff and volunteers.
• Provide developmentally appropriate activities using Creative Curriculum or an agreed upon developmentally appropriate curriculum, if in a collaborative situation ensuring School Readiness Goals are implemented.
• Provide activities which promote the Creative Curriculum philosophy, Teaching Strategies Gold assessment, ODE Early Learning and Development Standards, Step Up To Quality and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Child Care Licensing Rules.
• Complete periodic health checks on children.
• Plan and complete field trips, with a maximum of two field trips requiring transportation per program year. For field trips requiring transportation, one field trip must be completed between October and December and one field trip must be completed between January and April. No field trips that require transportation will be approved after April 30th.
• Maintain and replenish classroom supplies ensuring that all children's toys and classroom furniture are cleaned on a monthly basis and that furniture is kept in good condition. Report any splintering wood, etc. to your Education Manager.
• Complete a minimum of one dental, one drug/alcohol/safety awareness, one mental health activity and one nutrition activity (using real food) per month.
• Complete and maintain records of two fire drills in September. One fire drill must occur during the first week of school. Complete and maintain records of one fire drill per month from October through May. Promote fire safety awareness daily.
• Complete and maintain records of one tornado drill per month throughout the entire year.
• Contribute to the security of the center and/or facility and follow the center's maintenance procedure for reporting any furniture or playground equipment that needs repaired.
• Be respectful with the staff and owners in the buildings in which we rent space. Be responsible with facilities. (Often times we are in a rented facility and must be respectful of this.) All concerns must be addressed with the Education Supervising Manager or the Child Health and Education Director, not with the staff in the buildings in which we rent.
• Develop relationships with children and families that promote social emotional development utilizing techniques from the Conscious Discipline program.
• Change soiled clothing while following OSHA and Health regulations and guidelines.
• Maintain an accessible First Aid Kit at all times.
• Promote and respect the cultural diversity of the families, children and communities that we serve.
• Ensure that child care routines are performed in a manner that is prompt, hygienic, and consistent with child development principles, including hand washing, tooth brushing, mealtime and transitions between activities.
• Maintain a clean, safe environment at all times including outdoor areas, center, storage room and bathrooms.
• Fully participate in and contribute to healthy family style meals including retrieving and returning dishes and food, setting and serving meals following USDA guidelines, Head Start Performance Standards, Health Department Standards and Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Child Care Licensing Rules. Sit, eat and interact with the children to role model appropriate behavior at meals.
• Supervise and insure the safety and well-being of the children at all times, being alert for the needs of the children as individuals and as a group.
• Operate the center in full compliance with Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Child Care Licensing Rules, Step Up To Quality and Head Start Performance Standards requirements.
• Operate the center in full compliance with the OHCAC Head Start Discipline Policy that prohibits corporal punishment.
• Transfer of site assignment when necessary for the operation of the program when management finds it appropriate.
• Document height and weight measurements twice a year and continually update when new children are placed in the center. Submit measurement results to assigned Health Manager.

Record Keeping Responsibilities:

• Complete the Early Screening Inventory (ESI) and the Devereax Early Childhood Assessment (DECA) on each child within 45 days, unless the child has an IEP.
• Maintain an ongoing file for each child which includes; documentation of progress, two current emergency contact numbers, current physical and dental exam and all other required records.
• Ensure that all staff and volunteer files are in compliance with Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Child Care Licensing Rules.
• Record anecdotal notes throughout the year regarding the development of the children. Enter children's data into the computer for the Teaching Strategies Gold Assessment on an ongoing basis.
• Complete and document a minimum of two home visits and two parent conferences for each enrolled family in the program year by the required time lines.
• Generate and record in-kind donations of time, space and materials.
• Collaborate with L.E.A. specialists (speech therapists, itinerant staff, etc.) who will be working with children in the center. Provide required paperwork.
• Maintain an up-dated Center Binder/File.
• Complete a yearly inventory check.
• Actively promote the Head Start program and recruit families year round.
• Obtain approval for absences, late arrivals and early departures directly from the Education Supervising Manager or the Child Health and Education Director.
• When absence is necessary you must notify supervisor at least one hour prior to scheduled work time.
• Check mailboxes two times per week and e-mails daily.

NON-ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Assist in the classroom, on the bus, screening or other needed areas as required by the Director, Supervisor, or Manager. This includes using personal car for work related errands including transportation of food.
• Attend educational opportunities for personal and professional growth when possible.
• Work with community agencies to help families meet their goals and needs.
• Communicate with the Family Advocate assigned to the center on concerns for children and families (daily attendance, family volunteers, etc.).
• Act as an appropriate role model at all times for children, co-workers, volunteers and families.
• Perform any assigned duties in an efficient and dependable manner to meet or stay in compliance with state and federal regulations.
• Must be willing to travel within Marion, Crawford, Morrow and Richland counties.
• Lunch hour must be observed unless you are used to maintain staff ratio in a classroom or on a bus.
• Required to have Time & Mileage entered electronically on a weekly basis according to your supervisor's schedule.

ACCOUNTABILITY:

• The Head Start Lead Teacher is accountable to the Education Supervising Manager.
• The Head Start Lead Teacher is accountable for all Head Start Performance Standards, Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Child Care Licensing Rules and the safety of children at all times.
• Once a Lead Teacher receives their Degree or Credentialing that Head Start has paid for, they are required to work for OHCAC Head Start for a minimum of three years after the completion of the program. If the Lead Teacher fails to complete the coursework required for completion of the degree certification program or fails to complete the one-year requirement of working for OHCAC that OHCAC has paid for, the Lead Teacher/former staff will be responsible for the repayment of the money expended by OHCAC. Accumulated Annual Leave will be used to re-pay tuition costs to the Agency for failure to be continuously enrolled in the required credentialing program. A contract will be signed to that affect.
• OHCAC will pay for tuition and books for required certification only. No release time from work will be given to attend any required classes.
• Drug and alcohol testing to be conducted as required by OHCAC and funding source.

Requirements

• B.S. or B.A. in Early Childhood Education, B.S. or B.A. in Elementary Education with 18 credits in Early Childhood Education, or an Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education.
• Head Start experience or experience in an organized early childhood program preferred.
• Must respect confidentiality.
• Must be able to work independently with initiative, creativity, and without constant supervision.
• Good oral and written communication skills preferred.
• Computer skills required.
• Must be flexible and able to work with a diverse population.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure using whole numbers, common fractions and decimals preferred.
• Ability to compute rates, ratios, and/or percentage preferred.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions.

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; talk; hear; and smell.

The employee is frequently required to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. Must be able to move quickly to retrieve a running child.

• The employee is occasionally required to climb or to balance.
• The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision and ability to adjust focus. Must be able to clearly see the entire classroom.
• Must pass the requirements of the insurance company in regards to age (18) and driving record.
• Must possess a valid Ohio Driver's License or be able to obtain one before the first day of employment, have ready access to a drivable vehicle and carry private vehicle insurance.
• Must show courtesy and respect to staff and customers at all times.

Ohio Heartland Community Action Commission has in effect a clean air/smoking/tobacco use policy which prohibits smoking or use of tobacco products in all offices and on or in any agency owned or agency occupied properties or vehicles.

This policy applies to ALL Ohio Heartland Community Action Commission staff, regardless of program.

This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise.

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