What are the responsibilities and job description for the Early Head Start Teacher position at Child Development Council of Franklin County, Inc.?
Position Description Summary
The teacher plans and implements learning experiences that ensure effective curriculum implementation and use of assessment to promote children’s progress across the standards as described in the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework. Provides responsive care, effective teaching, and an organized learning environment in preparation for school success. Develops strong nurturing relationships with children and families. Provides leadership to the teacher assistant and floater to ensure consistency of the daily schedule, implementation of the lesson plan and other activities. Responsible for meeting Head Start performance standards, following the agency policies and procedures, and Child Care Licensing rules and regulations.
Essential Functions & Responsibilities
- Plan and implement learning experiences that advance the intellectual and physical development of children, including improving the readiness of children for school by developing their literacy, phonemic, and print awareness, their understanding and use of the language, their understanding and use of increasingly complex and varied vocabulary, their appreciation for books, their understanding of early mat and early sciences, and their problem-solving abilities.
- Implement well-organized learning environments with developmentally appropriate schedules, curriculum lesson plans, and indoor and outdoor learning experiences that provide adequate opportunities for choice, play, exploration, and experimentation among a variety of learning, sensory, and motor experiences and:
- For infants and toddlers, promote relational learning and include individualized and small group activities that integrate appropriate daily routines into a flexible schedule of learning experiences,
- For preschool age children, teacher-directed and child-initiated activities, active and quiet learning activities, and opportunities for individual, small group, and large group learning activities.
- Follow appropriate practices to keep children safe during all activities, including, at a minimum:
- Reporting of suspected or known child abuse and neglect to Franklin County Children Services according to agency procedures and the Ohio Revised Code Section 2151.421.
- Safe sleep practices, including ensuring that all sleeping arrangements for children under 18 months of age use firm mattresses or cots, as appropriate, and for children under 12 months, soft bedding materials or toys must not be used.
- Appropriate indoor and outdoor supervision of children at all times.
- Only releasing children to an authorized adult
- Adhere to all standards of conduct described in Head Start Performance Standards §1302.90(c)
- Systematically and routinely implement hygiene practices that ensure:
- Appropriate toileting, hand washing, and diapering procedures are followed.
- Safe food preparation
- Exposure to blood and body fluids is handled consistent with standards of the Occupational Safety Health Administration.
- Documentation of feeding and diaper changes for Early Head Start children.
- Follow, and practice procedures for:
- Emergencies
- Fire prevention and response.
- Protection from contagious disease
- The handling, storage, administration, and record of administration of medication
- Documenting children’s attendance upon arrival and departure
- Maintaining procedures and systems to ensure children are only released to an authorized adult.
- Child specific health care needs and food allergies that include accessible plans of action for emergencies.
- Conduct standardized and structured assessments, within mandated timeframes, for each child that provide ongoing information to evaluate the child’s speech and developmental level. Utilize the information from all observations to determine a child’s strengths and needs, inform and adjust strategies to better support individualized learning and improve teaching practices. Enter all observations into appropriate systems following documentation procedures.
- Observe, document, and address challenging behaviors to determine cause and implement preventive measures, teach a new behavior, communication, and/or social skill to minimize or eliminate the behavior.
- In partnership with mental or child development professionals, refer the child to the agency’s department responsible for implementing IDEA for a formal evaluation to assess a child’s eligibility for services under IDEA. Adapt and implement curriculum to address and meet individual goals for children as identified in their individualized family service plans or individualized education program. (IEP/IFSP). Participates in the center Child and Family Review (CFR). Participates in transition meetings to share pertinent information on the transitioning child to ensure a seamless transition.
- Inform parents of the results from screenings and assessments and discuss their child’s progress. Regularly communicate with parents to ensure they are well-informed about their child’s routines, activities, and behavior. Hold parent conferences, to enhance the knowledge and understanding of both staff and parents of the child’s education and developmental progress.
- Encourage the involvement of the families and support the development of relationships between children and their families. Ensure parents and family members have opportunities to participate in the child’s education and development through parent engagement, in-kind volunteer hours, and parent meetings.
- Maintain and respect the confidentiality of families, staff, and program.
- Attend and participate in professional development, trainings, and meetings. Must participate in 20 hours of training per year in understanding children and improving delivery of childcare services.
- Uses and follows the policies/procedures of Head Start Performance Standards, and all federal, state, and local regulations. Ensure all federal, local, state, and/or agency documentation is completed accurately.
- Perform all other duties assigned by supervisor or manager
Required Knowledge, Skills, and/or Abilities
- Extensive knowledge of early childhood development principles and developmentally appropriate educational practices.
- Ability to plan, manage, and evaluate curriculum.
- Ability to handle stress, remain focused, and use sound judgement to make clear decisions.
- Ability to develop consistent, stable, and supportive relationships with young children, parents, and staff.
- Ability to articulate the referral experience to assist families in need of services.
- Must possess excellent verbal and written communication skills and must have the ability to read and interpret documents, write reports, present information to staff and parents, and respond to questions in a timely manner.
- Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software as required for recordkeeping and documentation.
Required Experience
- One year of experience in a preschool (ages birth to five) classroom.
- Experience adapting curriculum to meet the needs of all children, including at-risk, special needs, and culturally diverse populations.
- The ability to use sound judgement to make well thought-out and informed decisions, the ability to apply knowledge and understanding, and use critical thinking skills to problem solve situations that involve several variables.
- Advanced computer skills, including internet and e-mail.
Required Education, Certifications, Licenses
Infant/Toddler Teacher
- A current national infant and toddler center-based CDA credential issued by the Council for Professional Recognition; or
- A comparable certificate or credential that meets or exceeds the national infant and toddler center-based CDA credential requirements; or
- A degree in child development or early childhood education (ECE) as well as training or coursework with a focus on infant and toddler development; or
- A degree in a related field as well as training or coursework with a focus on infant and toddler development
- Must have reliable transportation.
- Must submit to a background check, including BCI and FBI Criminal Records, Federal and State Sex Offender registries and the Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information System and be eligible for employment as required by ODJFS.
