Lead Infant/Toddler Teacher

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS / RESPONSIBILITIES

Interacting with Children

• Instruct children and parents (e.g. nutrition, self-care, social, motor skills, language skills, etc.) for the purpose of optimizing development of each child and helping to enhance parenting skills.
• Implements academic, behavior, family events, health and nutrition plans (e.g. literacy activities, stories, songs, math/science activities, art, etc.) for the purpose of achieving program objectives.
• Role-model and ensure center team support for the provision of specialized services for children with identified special needs in the classroom.
• Assists children with hand washing and tooth brushing for the purpose of modeling appropriate personal hygiene.
• Helps to carry out small groups’ activities and routines that support individual/group needs and/or delivering services in compliance with established guidelines.
• Use positive discipline techniques in guiding children’s behavior.
• Follows written policies and procedures for personal care routines such as feeding, diapering, toileting, hand washing and safe sleep.

Assessing Children

• Observe children in all developmental domains and document observations according to policy and procedures within the identified timelines.
• Monitors conversation, manners, cleanup activities, listening, etc. for the purpose of promoting and modeling appropriate social behavior.
• Demonstrates awareness of entire group, including number ratio while working with primary care children.

Curriculum Preparation

• Using the Program for Infant/Toddler Care (PITC) guidelines, develops curriculum plans with experiences based on children’s emerging interests and developmental stages.
• Organize indoor/outdoor and quiet/active activities appropriate to age group.
• Conducts home visits and parent-teacher conferences (ILP’s) in accordance with Head Start Performance Standards and program policies and procedures.
• Develop Individualized Learning Plans (ILP) for each child based on observations, screenings, parent input and the DRDP-2015 assessment results.
• Develop developmentally appropriate lesson plans based on children’s strengths, interests, and needs reflected in observations, screenings, and the DRDP-2015 assessment results.
• In collaboration with the Campus Director / Campus Supervisor, prepare documentation to support referrals for further evaluation and specialized services for children with suspected special needs.

Communication with Parents

• Acts as a support and resource person for families in case managing specific needs, advocating for parents, and encouraging parent involvement in the program.
• Inform parents about daily classroom routine, expectations, policies, and volunteer opportunities.
• Communicate with parents about incidents that have been observed and recorded on-site regarding their child.
• Encourage and motivate parents to participate in all levels of the Head Start Program (e.g. classroom center committees, PPC, Policy Council and other district and/or city-wide committees), in accordance with Program Performance Standards.
• Obtain all required classroom parental signatures such as on all incident reports and field trip permission slips.

Supervision

• Assist volunteers and parents in working with children in the classroom with proper health practices, food handling and interactions/supervision of children.
• Assists other personnel as may be required for the purpose of ensuring an efficient and effective work environment.
• Responsible for assisting that all adults in the classroom follow schedules, routines and policies of the classroom, the campus, and the agency.

Administration

• May assume coverage in the absence of the Campus Director / Campus Supervisor and remain flexible about staffing schedule which may be adjusted as program needs change and may include working in another classroom.
• Ensure the maintenance and filing of appropriate forms and documents in children’s files.
• Track and complete daily forms including infant/toddler daily information form, infant safe sleep checklist, and other health and safety related documentation.
• Work with other teaching staff and parents to ensure that required dental exams, physical exams and screenings are completed for each child in accordance with Program Performance Standards and Plan of Action.
• Maintain flexibility in changing planned activities according to children’s interests.
• Conduct 45-day developmental screenings and three developmental assessments (DRDP-2015) for each child.
• Ensure that the timelines of 30, 45, and 90 days are met upon enrollment dates (e.g. homes visits, mental health notes, developmental screenings, ASQ-3, ASQ-SE, vision & hearing screenings).
• Assist in performing height and weight measurements of the children twice a year according to policy and procedure within the designated timelines.
• Complete monthly meal counts and monthly records of daily attendance for the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) according to MNC’s policies and procedures.

• Complete and track Department of Education Attendance Register, 801-A Form (monthly), Best Interest Day Forms (daily/monthly), if applicable to facility.
• Assist Campus Director / Campus Supervisor in organizing center parent committee and electing officers and representatives to PPC in accordance with Program Performance Standards and PPC bylaws.

Classroom Maintenance

• Maintains classroom equipment, work areas, student files/records for the purpose of ensuring availability of items, providing reliable information and/or ensuring a safe and sanitary environment.
• Carries out Health & Safety Checklist; corrects and identifies deficiencies. Perform minor repairs and maintenance in classroom, as needed. Report major repairs to the Campus Director / Campus Supervisor.
• Cleans facilities, equipment, refrigerator, and playground area for the purpose of ensuring a safe and sanitary environment.
• Assist in keeping labeled classroom areas and objects.
• Responsible to take the initiative to rotate a variety of materials on low open shelves for children to use independently.
• Set-up and serves meals and snacks for the purpose of meeting nutritional needs of students. Checks and signs for food and food service supplies when they are delivered, if assistant or floater teacher not available.
• Check temperature of food delivery, log temperature and follow procedure for heating and storage of food according to MNC’s policies and procedures.
• Responds to emergency situations for the purpose of resolving immediate safety concerns and/or directing to appropriate personnel for resolution. Assist in the maintenance of equipment and emergency supplies.

Secondary Functions

• Follow Head Start/CDE/CLD policies and procedures in reporting suspected child abuse in accordance with federal and state laws.
• Attends meetings and/or workshops (e.g. staff/center meetings, in-service sessions, training, and parent meetings) for the purpose of conveying and/or gathering information required to perform functions and/or maintaining their professional development.
• Must follow timekeeping policies and procedures and approve your timesheet following payroll schedule.

Customer Service

• Provide exceptional customer service.
• Always represent the Company in a professional manner.

Safety

• Maintain personal safety, use personal protection equipment (PPE) and follow Company policies.
• Report all and any safety issues, accidents, or injuries to your manager as a matter of priority.
• Use safety walk and carry one child at a time up and down stairs.

Effective Team Member

• Ability to interact positively with team members.
• Ability to facilitate positive change.
• Partner with Campus Director / Campus Supervisor when necessary to address department issues or concerns.

Education: An Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Development (ECD) or related field is required, and must be enrolled in a Bachelor’s Degree program in ECD or related field. A Bachelor’s Degree in ECD or a related field is highly preferred.

Experience: At least 2 years of professional experience working with Infants/Toddlers.

Requirements:

• State of California Child Development Teacher Level Permit
• Current Physical Health Screening (every 2 years thereafter)
• Fingerprinting Clearance (DOJ)
• Current Immunizations (TB, Influenza, MMR, Pertussis) (every 2 years thereafter)
• Clearance Child Abuse Index
• Current CPR & First Aid Certificate (every 2 years thereafter)
• Must be register with the Early Care & Education Workforce Registry
• Must attend trainings that are required by funders (might be an evening or Saturday)

Language(s): Bilingual, bi-literate preferred; English/Spanish or other language ability based on program needs.

Skills and Abilities:

• Personality - Independent thinker, possess excellent customer service skills, professional attitude, a high level of personal integrity, maturity, and business judgment required.
• Performance - Able to multi-task, prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, able to do presentations and to maintain confident information.
• Communication - Strong written and verbal communication skills. Must be a well-organized professional who thrives in a team-oriented environment.
• Stress Management - Ability to remain tactful under pressure and present a professional demeanor and communication style with co-workers in a multicultural setting.

Software: Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications: Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Internet Explorer. Decision Making: Set priorities and standards of performance; Develop plans by which work can be accomplished. Tools and Equipment: General office equipment, fax, copier, printer, phone, and computer.

Confidential and Sensitive Information: Maintain the highest level of confidentiality when dealing with client records.