Head Start Teacher

Nature of Work

To provide a successful, safe and supervised educational setting for children while they are in the Head Start environment (classroom, outdoor play area, and field trips). To promote the social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development of Head Start children. Encourage parent involvement in all aspects of the program. To develop individual goals for children, provide on-going assessment on progress and facilitate transition into kindergarten. Must meet requirements per Federal Head Start Performance Standards and any local, state and/or agency policies and procedures.

Education

Associate's or a Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education or a Bachelor's Degree or higher that includes coursework equivalent to a major in Early Childhood Education. Transcripts are required to validate educational requirements.

Essential Functions

• Be familiar with and adhere to the Head Start Program Performance Standards, State of Louisiana licensing requirements, the RCCDC written work plan, and agency's policies and procedures
• Maintain an open, friendly, professional relationship with all staff and families, to include respect for culture, diversity and ethnicity.
• Oversee Teacher Assistant and volunteers in the classroom.
• Participate in annual program self-assessment and continuous quality improvement initiatives of the overall program.
  • Monitor and ensure confidentiality of children records

Position Specific Essential Functions:

Individualization

1. Adapt curriculum to address and met individual goals for children as identified in their individual education plans
2. Assess individual and group needs, attending to special needs, specific interest, strengths concerns.

Curriculum and Assessment

1. Develop and utilize integrated curriculum plans, which reflect mandated elements and components, parental and cultural influences, and promote the social, emotional, physical and cognitive development of Head Start children.
2. Follow a consistent schedule, which includes small and large group experiences, choice time, music and movement, large and small motor activities, skill development, meals, and effective transitions between activities.
3. Encourage experimentation, exploration, problem solving, cooperation, socialization, and choice-making; ask open-ended questions and listen respectfully to the answers.
4. Establish weekly goals that promote individual and group educational plans and include other Head start content areas.
5. Prepare classroom materials to support developmentally appropriate curriculum plans; create and change learning centers as needed.

Parent, Family & Community Engagement

1. Provide an atmosphere that promotes and reinforces parental engagement.
2. Communicate regularly with parents, regarding each child's progress
3. Conduct the required parent/teacher conferences and home visits for the purpose of assessment and support, and to share information on classroom progress and educational strategies at school and home.
4. Help plan and conduct regular parent meetings with team members
5. Work with appropriate agencies in developing specialized planning for children and families as needed.

Utilize Information Systems to support child (school readiness), family and agency outcomes

1. Document baselines, ongoing assessments in CC Gold according to agency benchmarks
2. Document all classroom issues, parent contact and home visits in PROMIS
3. Support Family Advocate in documentation regarding particular concerns with families and children at scheduled staffing
4. Mandated reporting of suspected child abuse/neglect to Department of Children & Family Services

Additional Job Responsibilities

1. Assist with food service, bus monitoring for field trips and other classroom needs as requested.
2. Attend meetings, trainings and appropriate professional development activities.
3. Assure general maintenance and security of facility and assist with inventory of equipment and supplies.
4. Assist with generating inkind.
5. Other duties as requested.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Pre-school (ages 3-5) classroom teaching experience is required. Experience should include the ability to adapt curriculum to meet the needs of all children including at risk, special needs, gifted, and culturally diverse populations.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills. Bilingual English/Spanish skills highly desirable.
  • Intermediate to advanced level computer skills, internet and e-mail.
    • Ability to supervise pre-school children and ensure a safe environment including the ability to monitor and respond to events going on at all times in classroom, outdoor play areas and on field trips. This includes the physical ability to move quickly in order to respond to children who are very active and may need redirection in order to insure their safety or the safety of others in the environment.
    • Sits with children during family style meal times and eats the same "Head Start" lunch as the children, providing a model for good nutritional habits.
    • Ability to respond appropriately to an emergency or a crisis situation.
    • Occasional driving for home visits sometimes in outlying areas.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

Employees within this classification are required to:

• Pass a criminal background check.
• Pass a physical examination every three years
• Complete Tuberculosis (TB) test every three years
• Maintain a current First Aid and CPR certification ( training provided )
• Valid driver's license with a driving record in compliance with RCCDC's insurance carrier requirements.
• Be able to bend, stoop and kneel and lift up to 50 lbs.
• Frequent kneeling, stooping, bending, and sitting on the floor to attend to children's needs
• Be able to perform duties in an active environment with changes in climate and noise level.

Position Reports to: Center Director

FLSA Status: Hourly/Non-Exempt