Lead Teacher

Lead Teacher/Family Service Advocate

Category: Preschool/Lead Teacher
Date Posted: 4/14/25
Location: Saginaw ISD Head Start
Date Closing: Open until filled.

Job Title: Lead Teacher/Family Service Advocate
Location: Hemmeter
Supervisor: Education Coordinator
Department: Education
Salary: $52,000 - $56,287/Annually

GENERAL SUMMARY OF THE POSITION:
This position will identify, recruit, and enroll children and their families for the Saginaw ISD Head Start Program. This individual will serve as the lead of a teaching team in a classroom of Head Start children. This position plans and implements a healthy, safe, and developmentally appropriate learning environment for preschool children that promotes developmental gains toward the attainment of kindergarten readiness skills as defined in the Head Start Program Performance Standards. Because this position is one part of a large system of services provided to children and families, this position also serves as a social service referral person and shares responsibility for parent involvement in the program. This position assesses a family's strengths and needs as part of a Family Partnership Agreement, and monitors their progress in meeting the agreement’s objectives and goals. The position may be reassigned to various classrooms/centers as deemed necessary for program operations. The position may serve as “program director” for child care licensing purposes.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Duties of the position are described in major functional areas listed below. Additional duties may be assigned.

Family Service Advocate

• Family Support and Intervention: In cooperation with other team members, works with families through home visits and in other appropriate settings to provide a written family needs assessment, develop and implement a family partnership agreement. Implements strategies that support the family in identifying strengths, addressing concerns, dealing with challenges and achieving goals. Conducts referrals and follow up to ensure families’ progress in achieving goals. Refers families for emergency or crisis assistance.
• Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment and Attendance: Identifies, recruits, and enrolls children for the Head Start program including children with disabilities. Ensures full enrollment at all times and maintains a waiting list. Works with other Managers and other program staff to analyze patterns of child absences and initiate appropriate family support procedures when necessary. Assists with outreach activities as needed.
• Health/ Disability Requirements: Coordinates with other program staff and community agencies to assist families in meeting program disability/health requirements. Assists parents in finding a medical home, arranging transportation, and sending appointment reminders. Understands and ensures the completion of program medical, health, dental and disability requirements. Attends IEP meetings as requested.
• Parent Involvement – Works with parents to promote participation in local Head Start parent programming as defined by the team. Displays initiative and positive results in organizing, scheduling, facilitating, and presenting at these functions. Provides resources to families as appropriate. Leads, trains and provides support to officers to ensure that parent clubs meetings run smoothly.
• Community Collaboration: Advocates in the community for Head Start and families. Is accessible to the community by attending committee and/or collaborative meetings, including round-ups, partnerships, collaborations, community events, open houses and individual enrollments. Builds community collaborations that support the growth and development of children and families. Coordinates appropriate referrals to community agencies in areas related to family support and intervention.
• Team and Peer Support: Acts as an integral part of the team, effectively utilizing the process of communication. Participates with all team members in fulfilling program performance standards. Shares program information with teachers to meet individual family needs.
• Recordkeeping: Maintains accurate and up-to-date records, files and reports. Sends for necessary documentation, tracks health and dental requirements and submits required paperwork in an organized and timely manner. Records, monitors and follows up on referrals. Enters Child Plus data in a timely manner. Tracks Family Partnership efforts and outcomes. Maintains and provides data for the annual Program Information Review (PIR).
• Understands, generates and documents in-kind and other allowable costs applied toward the non-federal share requirement.
• Attends all required training and workshops, including on-line training and cluster meetings.
• Remains up-to-date on information that pertains to the needs of the children in the program including Head Start Performance Standards, Michigan child care licensing regulations and other applicable regulations and practices.
• Keeps up to date on Developmentally Appropriate Practice.
• Is able to identify and support behaviors for all children in the classroom.

Preschool Program Implementation

• Participates in the delivery of Head Start services as defined by Head Start Performance Standards and Saginaw ISD Head Start Operational Procedures.
• Establishes a safe, healthy, stimulating and developmentally appropriate learning environment for children between the ages of birth to five years old with all abilities.
• Ensure that learning environments are safe from hazards, free from clutter, and allow for visibility of children; by utilizing the Daily Health and Safety Checklist.
• Fosters self-esteem, self-direction, self-control and school readiness skills with preschool children by using positive methods and modeling and participating in curriculum development and implementation.
• Complies with program curriculum and supplemental curriculum, State of Michigan Licensing for child care centers and the Head Start Program Performance Standards
• Screens, observes and assess children’s development on a regular basis, analyzes data and makes plans or referrals specific to the needs of the individual child.
• Participates in recruitment activities and transportation services
• Supervises and eats nutritionally prepared meals with the children as a curriculum activity, to model good nutrition and proper social skills.

Record Keeping

• Submits weekly/monthly paperwork and progress reports to the supervisor as scheduled.
• Supervises or orders supplies as needed and takes inventory as requested.
• Maintains budget for Parent Club.
• Maintains child records.
• Gathers and maintains individual, family and classroom data for documentation, screening, on-going assessment, evaluation and recording keeping for successful individual and program planning.
• Understands, generates and documents in-kind and other allowable costs applied toward the non-federal share requirement.
• Collects and analyzes information to find new solutions to challenges as part of ongoing monitoring in order to continuously improve services.

Professional Development

• Attends all required training and workshops, including on-line training and cluster meetings as required by Head Start and State Licensing.
• Remains up-to-date on information that pertains to the needs of the children in the program including Head Start Performance Standards, Michigan child care licensing regulations and other applicable regulations and practices.
• Keeps up to date on Developmentally Appropriate Practice
• Maintains knowledge of the regulations associated with prevention of occupational disease and injury, including the exercise of universal precautions and the prevention of contamination.
• Is able to work with children at all levels of development.
• Maintains professional certification that employee was hired in with or obtained to meet Head Start and ISD standards.
• Successfully completes and maintains Basic First Aid, CPR certification and licensing required training.
• Actively participates in opportunities for continuous professional development.

Parent Involvement and Community Relations:

• Facilitates and supports monthly Parent Club meetings at the center.
• Schedules and arranges meetings, and documents parent-teacher conferences and home visits as required.
• Writes a classroom newsletter monthly that provides center and classroom news.
• Models, mentors and supervises all classroom volunteers, including parents, assigned in cooperation with the position with the responsibility for program volunteers.
• Works closely with the local school system(s), as appropriate, for shared activities, registration and smooth transition.
• Supports family safety, health, financial stability, life goals and aspirations.
• Facilitates networks and group activities that support families’ strengths, interests and needs.
• Supports families in using community resources that enhance family well-being and children’s learning and development.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED
Direct supervision means those employees the position, directs, and evaluates the duties. This position is the first step for conflict resolution.

Positions supervised:

• Associate Teacher
• Program Support Aide in classroom (if applicable)
• Classroom Volunteers (if applicable)

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES

Knowledge
Considerable knowledge of the principles and practices of social work, human behavior, customer service delivery and health services available in the Saginaw area. Knowledge of computer data entry processes, filing and record keeping. Must have knowledge of family-centered practices. Knowledge of local resources, customs and language is helpful.

Abilities

• Exercises professional judgment in evaluating before making decisions.
• Computer data entry functions.
• The ability to maintain strict confidentiality with respect to Head Start children, families, and staff in accordance with established policies, procedures, and other legal requirements i.e., FERPA, HIPAA.
• Possess valid driver’s license and have minimum automobile coverage required by state of employment. To drive agency vehicles (if applicable), must be insurable by the Saginaw ISD Head Start insurance carrier.
• To read, analyze and interpret reports, regulations and periodicals. Write reports, business correspondence and manuals. Present information and respond to questions.
• To add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measures.
• Extensive knowledge and skills in the field of early childhood development.
• Extensive computer knowledge of Word and Excel. Also the ability to access e-mail and, knowledge of ChildPlus and Teaching Strategies Gold and/or willingness to learn programs as needed
• Knowledge of basic supervision.
• Ability to use Active Supervision strategies to keep children safe by: Set up the environment to be able to see children around the room at all times, Position yourself to see and hear all children in your care, Count and Use Face to Name while transitioning in and out of the classroom, Listen for potential danger, Anticipate children’s behavior to predict what the child will do next, and Engage and Redirect to assist the children and help solve problems.
• Knowledge of state and federal regulations pertaining to child abuse and neglect reporting and child care licensing requirements.
• Ability to demonstrate extensive knowledge, skills and a positive attitude in the field of early childhood education.
• Ability to exhibit patience and tact when communicating with children, families, staff, management, referral sources and the public.
• Ability to project professionalism in conducting daily activities.
• Knowledge of basic food preparation, serving and sanitation procedures.
• Ability to follow directions and take initiative.
• Ability to engage in mutually respectful goal-oriented partnerships with families to promote parent-child relationships and family well-being.
• Respects and responds appropriately to the culture, language, values, and family structures of each family served.
• Enhances the parent-child relationship and supports parents’ role as the first and life-long educators of their children.
• Acts as a member of a comprehensive services team so that family service activities are coordinated and integrated throughout the program.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
Acceptable tuberculosis screening results, a clear criminal records check, an initial health exam and drug screen are required post job offer and prior to employment.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING CONDITIONS

• Travel time is required to make contact with families and agencies.
• Some evenings and weekend work may occasionally be required for events such as home visits, parent - teacher conference, Parent Club meetings, social and community events.
• Travel by car, bus, airplane or train may be required for attendance at conferences, meetings or other duties at distant locations, in and out of state. In some cases overnight travel may be required.
• Exposure to communicable diseases.
• Noise level in the work environment may be moderate to loud.
• Riding the bus may be required.

This position works in a preschool classroom with child size furniture and seating. The position requires, sitting in child sized chairs and on the floor; adverse driving conditions; bending; stretching; extended sitting; extended standing; stair climbing; kneeling; crouching; reaching; fine and gross motor skills; coordination of hands-fine and gross; eye/hand/foot coordination; visual memory and discrimination; auditory memory and discrimination; reading and writing ability; judgment; simple and complex decision making; and lifting up to 75 pounds. This position is covered by the OSHA Final Rule Blood borne Pathogens Act, Category A, with potential for exposure to communicable disease and pests such as head lice. This position is a mandated reporter of child abuse/neglect and must have a Department of Human Services child abuse and neglect clearance.

Personal qualifications require emotional maturity, willingness to cooperate with the aims of the program, respect for children and adults, flexibility, patience, good personal hygiene and physical and mental health which does not interfere with responsibilities. Also education or experience in collaborating with parents in the education of their children.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Bachelors or Advanced Degree in Early Childhood Education or Bachelor’s and coursework equal to a major in Early Childhood Education with experience teaching preschool. ZA or ZS endorsement strongly preferred. Must be willing to obtain Administrative training within six months of employment. Previous experience working with young children preferably pre-school. Bilingual (English/Spanish) abilities. Previous case management experience with young children & families and previous supervision experience preferred. Must be willing and able to obtain Basic First Aid and CPR Certification and maintain certification. Acceptable tuberculosis and drug screening results, a clear criminal records check and an initial health exam are required post job offer and prior to employment. Current and former Head Start employees, students, and parents will receive preference for employment vacancies for which they are qualified.

Application Procedure: Applicants must complete and submit an online Saginaw Intermediate School District application. Apply online at https://www.applitrack.com/sisdcc/onlineapp/JobPostings/view.asp?FromAdmin=true&AppliTrackJobId=4078. Click “Apply” next to the Job ID number. In addition to the online application, applicants are required to submit electronically a cover letter, resume, at least three (3) letters of recommendation, and copies of transcripts.

"An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action MFH Employer"
Applicants desiring disability accommodations should contact the Human Resources Office*
NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATION
Saginaw Intermediate School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender and gender identity, disability, age, or national origin in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:

Executive Director of Human Resources
Saginaw Intermediate School District
3933 Barnard Road
Saginaw, MI 48603
Telephone: (989) 799-4733

For further information on notice of nondiscrimination, see the following website: http://1.usa.gov/1Jssk6D or call 1-800-421-3481.

Saginaw Area Consortium uses the applicant tracking system from Frontline Education to manage employment applications online.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $52,000.00 - $56,287.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

Work Location: In person

Salary : $52,000 - $56,287