Head Start Teacher

CLACKAMAS COUNTY CHILDREN'S COMMISSION HEAD START TEACHER

Supporting the growth of healthy children and families, positive parenting, and school readiness.

GENERAL OBJECTIVE: Provide and coordinate education services to selected low-income and special needs children. Teacher responsibilities include: Developing classroom curriculum and scheduling and carrying out home visits. Teachers assist the Education Manager in ensuring all Performance Standards within the Education Component are met and Clackamas County Children’s Commission’s policies and procedures are followed.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

TEACHER:

• Responsible for assigned classes of children and number of designated home visits and parent conferences allotted per child, per year.
• Plan and evaluate daily classroom activities that are developmentally appropriate, responds to the goals set for individual children, and reflect the diversity and culture of the class.
• Responsible for ensuring that classroom and curriculum meet Program Education Component Performance Standards.
• Responsible for assessment and any necessary referral of all children in their assigned class to include:
• Developmental Screenings/Assessments.
• Referral of children with suspected disabilities or other special needs, as appropriate.
• Individual Goal Plan (IGP forms) in partnership with parents.
• Attend and participate in IFSP and CRM meetings as scheduled.
• Assessments three times per year.
• Consult with Advocate and Education Manager and make referrals as needed.
• Work collaboratively with Specialists and Parents to ensure children with disabilities and special needs receive all the services recommended.
• Work cooperatively with Specialists in the classroom; assist in coordinating classroom activities with the Specialist’s requirements.
• Ensure a safe environment for children and provide continuous supervision for all children.
• Working with the other site Education staff, create developmentally appropriate environment within the classroom.
• Consistently follow all aspects of the Procedures for Bus Safety Protocols.
• Responsible for keeping classrooms, storage areas, and office space neat and clutter-free.
• Ensure the class is supplied with all needed materials and supplies.
• Maintain CLASS scores at or above the expected thresholds.
• Achieve and maintain TS Gold Reliability.
• Utilize PBIS in classroom practices.
• Accurately enter child behavior observations to be used for individualization and online assessment completions into electronic database.
• Maintain complete and accurate child files, forms, and reports within allotted timelines to document and track the needs of children and services provided.
• Include the Assistant Teacher, Classroom Aide, and parent volunteers in the classroom planning process.
• Demonstrate effective ways to guide young children through modeling in the classroom.
• Take a lead role in planning content development of monthly family nights.
• Responsible for attendance and participation with the other center staff during monthly family nights.
• Complete monthly newsletter for families.

HOME VISITOR:

• Facilitate parents as primary teacher of their own children. Partner with parents in scheduling and conducting the required number of home visits and parent conferences per child, per year.
• Provide parenting skills and child development information to parents. Provide guidance in choosing developmentally appropriate activities for children and model age-appropriate, constructive, positive ways to work with young children.
• Partner with the parents in setting educational goals for each child.
• Responsible for planning and carrying out individual goals in coordination with classroom curriculum and for assisting parents in doing this during and between home visits.
• Responsible for bringing information regarding classroom curriculum to parent's attention when planning Home Visit activities.
• Coordinate and refer with the Advocate when family issues arise.
• TEAM LEADER:
• Responsible for day to day direction of Assistant Teacher and Classroom Aide.
• Assess performance and deliver evaluations for Assistant Teacher and Classroom Aide.

ADDITIONAL EXPECATIONS:

• Program Participation and Team Member:
• Arrive to work on time; punctually attend and actively participate in all required activities, meetings, and trainings.
• Be a respectful, cooperative, and reliable team member and participant in program activities.
• Project a professional work image, both in dress and manner.
• Be familiar with, and adhere to, position-related policies and procedures as well as the program’s overarching objectives.

Code of Conduct:

Perform all work in compliance with the Clackamas County Children’s Commission Code of Conduct.

Confidentiality:

Respect and maintain confidentiality of information regarding enrolled children and families, personnel issues, and other program operations as appropriate.

Training:

In consultation with supervisor, develop professional work goals and training plan. Participate in training as requested.

Working Conditions:

Work with physically active three- to five-year-old children for one class period (3.5-7.5 hours)

Extensive standing and walking

Moderate sitting, kneeling, bending

Education and Experience:

Associate’s degree (bachelor’s degree preferred) in early childhood education (ECE)

or

Associate’s degree (bachelor’s degree preferred) in any field plus both:

15 or more credits of college coursework relating to early childhood education

At least 6 months of experience teaching preschool-age children

Knowledge of Head Start preferred.

Skills and Abilities:

Ability to positively interact with families of various cultural and socio-economic backgrounds.

Ability to use a positive approach in directing and redirecting child behavior.

Ability to take a leadership role in the classroom.

Ability to work cooperatively as a member of a team.

Good computer and data entry skills.

Ability to possess and maintain a valid driver’s license and insured vehicle available for use on the job (or have alternative transportation).

Ability to possess and maintain compliance with State of Oregon Criminal Background Registry.

Ability to possess and maintain current First Aid/CPR certification.

Ability to obtain and maintain an Oregon Food Handler’s Card