What are the responsibilities and job description for the Teacher - Head Start position at Project NOW, Inc.?
SUMMARY: The Teacher creates, maintains, and manages an attractive, warm, and challenging learning environment for young children ages 3-5, incorporating developmentally appropriate learning activities that meet the needs of the group as well as those of individual children. The Teacher collaborates with all staff to facilitate the utilization of needed services to the children and their families. The Teacher is responsible for keeping accurate reports and records for each child and ensuring that all the necessary forms are completed and properly maintained.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Early Childhood Education Services:
- Uses the curriculum to plan lessons that are developmentally appropriate and designed to meet desired child outcomes.
- Conducts developmental screenings and makes referrals when needed.
- Assesses child progress using authentic assessment techniques; documents child observations on a weekly basis to monitor progress.
- Participates in data meetings to aggregate and analyze child outcome data.
- Seeks parent involvement in planning culturally and linguistically responsive activities.
- Engages with preschool special education staff to ensure the needs of children with Individual Family Service Plans or Individual Education Plans are being addressed.
- Child Interactions:
- Interacts with children frequently, affectionately, and respectfully at the child’s level.
- Acknowledges feelings with sensitivity and models appropriate social behavior.
- Fosters children’s positive self-concept by supporting individuality, independence, and the ability to make choices.
- Engage with children during mealtime by sitting and eating with the children.
- Interacts in a manner consistent with the organization’s commitment to anti-bias education.
- Supervision, Health and Safety of Children:
- Maintains and follows all state, federal, and Head Start’s health and safety guidelines.
- Knows the numbers of children in direct care and maintains ratios at all times.
- Organizes the classroom environment and keeps equipment safe and clean.
- Responds immediately and appropriately to multiple or unexpected situations or emergencies.
- Building Effective Relationships with Families:
- Plans and offers productive learning experiences for families based on classroom curricula and family interests.
- Encourages parents to participate in planning and evaluating classroom activities.
- Promotes family involvement in agency-wide activities (e.g., health fairs, festivals, other activities)
- Promotes parents' overall involvement and participation in program governance.
- Develops and maintains meaningful, productive relationships with families.
- Communicates with parents using a variety of strategies (e.g., parent conferences, written correspondences, telephone, home visits) to ensure they are aware of their child’s progress and parent engagement activities.
- Plans schedule in partnership with Assistant Teacher to conduct required home visits.
- Maintains confidentiality regarding children and families both in the center and externally.
- Supporting Comprehensive Services:
- Works in collaboration with other program staff and consultants to monitor, track, and coordinate services for children and parents.
- Coordinates with the appropriate staff to refer children and families to appropriate services when needed.
- Works collaboratively with other agencies to help meet the needs of families in the program.
- Administrative:
- Maintains records on each child according to program guidelines.
- Performs other duties requested by the Education Manager.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, and ABILITIES:
- Knowledge of curriculum planning and development techniques and skills (Creative Curriculum especially desirable)
- Knowledge of high-quality early childhood health and safety standards, curriculum planning and development
- Strong written, verbal, communication, and organizational skills.
- Ability to establish supportive relationships with staff and families from diverse backgrounds.
- Ability to professionally interact with people of various cultural and social backgrounds.
- Ability to utilize basic office equipment and learn how to enter data into the system.
- Ability to work within a team environment as a cooperative and supportive team member.
- Ability to sit on floor and lift children up to 40 lbs.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Minimum Qualifications:
- Requires minimum age Twenty-one (21) years to comply with regulations.
- Child Development Associate (CDA) with an Infant/Toddler endorsement
- Two years of experience working in an accredited Early Childhood Program.
- Willing to pursue classes in Early Childhood Education, as required by the Office of Head Start.
- Requires minimum age Twenty-one (21) years to comply with regulations.
- Preferred Qualifications:
- Associate's Degree in Child Development or Early Childhood Education or an Associate degree in a related field with a minimum of eighteen (18) semester hours in child development or early childhood education.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS and WORK ENVIRONMENT: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk or hear; and taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. These physical demands are as with handling children of pre-school age. Environment will be of a normal office environment and normal pre-school environment.
Project NOW is an equal-opportunity employer and is committed to providing a workplace free from harassment and discrimination. We celebrate the unique differences of our employees because that is what drives our mission. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, pregnancy, parental status, genetic information, political affiliation, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. Accommodation is available for applicants with disabilities.
Positions within Project NOW are primarily grant-funded and funding decreases can affect our staffing needs.