Teacher- Head Start

Description

Position Summary:

Responsible for classroom operation including, planning, carrying out activities and maintaining the classroom environment according to the Department of Children and Families, and Early Head Start/Head Start Performance Standards. Position available for our Easterseals Caleb Center at 5400 NW 22 Ave, Miami 33142.

Responsibilities

• Work collaboratively with the Teacher Assistant to ensure the successful operation of a classroom.
• Build and Maintain a positive and effective line of communication with the Teacher Assistant, Education team, coordinators, other center staff and parents.
• Maintain children ration (1:10 for HS, 1:4 for EHS) and active supervision at all time including during inside and outside transition time and field trips.
• Maintain the use of effective teaching making emphasize in nurturing and responsive practices, interactions, and environments that foster trust and emotional security; are communication and language rich.
• Promote child critical thinking and problem-solving; social, emotional, behavioral, and language development
• Provide supportive feedback for learning; motivate continued effort; and support all children’s engagement in learning experiences and activities.
• Implement high-quality early learning experiences that are responsive to and build upon each child’s individual pattern of development and learning; Integrate child assessment data in individual and group planning
• Include developmentally appropriate learning experiences in language, literacy, social and emotional development, math, science, social studies, creative arts, and physical development that are focused toward achieving progress outlined in the Head Star/EHS standards.
• Regularly communicate with parents to ensure they are well-informed about their child’s routines, activities, and behavior in a constructive and encouraging way.  
• Work cooperatively with all components of the Head Start/ Early Head Start program.
• Implement and follow the family style during snack and meal times in ways that support development and learning.
• Maintain a safe, healthy learning environment.
• Support the social and emotional development of children.
• New children will receive assessment within 45 days according to Head Start/Early Head Start guidelines.
• Responsible for transition activities from home to school, and from Early Head Start to Head Start.
• Participate in annual self-assessment.
• Attend staff, parent conferences, meetings and trainings, as required.
• Refer to the appropriate service component of any child with suspected special needs, including accidents, unusual incidents, and child abuse and neglect within time frame.
• Assist in recruiting and training parent and community volunteers.
• Conducts home visits as per program guidelines.
• Maintain all enrollee’s records, assessments, and screenings up dated.
• Compile and maintain observations, documentation and evaluation of each child’s growth and development for the purpose of planning activities to suit individual needs.
• Visually assesses or screens general health condition of children at arrival time.
• Keep attendance records on a daily basis.
• Comply with USDA Food Program guidelines following record meal counts, recommended portions, family style serving, and menu/nutrition discussions and activities.

Physical Demands:

• Regular to frequent requirement, and as needed, to lift children (up to 50 lbs.), including bending, stooping, stretching, walking, squatting, pushing, pulling, kneeling, crawling, sitting on low chairs or on the floor.
• The work is in a childcare setting. In order to conduct classroom activities and interact with children in a meaningful way, some physical exertion such as the following physical demands are required:
  • Noise level can be moderate to loud
  • Detecting unsafe situations by sight or sound.
  • Moving quickly to intervene in unsafe situations.

Qualifications

Educational & Experiential Requirements:  

• A bachelor degree in early childhood education; or a bachelor degree with 18 credits in early childhood education with experience teaching preschool-age children ;or An associate degree in early childhood education; or an associate degree with 18 credits in early childhood education with experience teaching preschool-age children.
• DCF 45 hours (Introductory Child Care Training-40 Hours and Literacy Requirement-5 hours; and
• Supervisory teaching experience

In addition for Early Head Start Teacher;

• CDA credential for Infant and Toddler Caregiver; and
• Teaching experience in a classroom with a focus on infant and toddler development.

Other

• Work a flexible schedule as required.
• Other related duties as necessary to ensure the smooth running and efficiency of Easter Seals South Florida as a whole.
• Successful completion of background process which includes: Local background check, Level 2 clearance (FBI, FDLE), clear TB test, medical clearance, drug test and reference checks.
• Adhere to the use of Universal Health & Safety Precautions as applicable