Center Teacher 3/31/2025

Summary

South Central Child Development, Inc. (SCCD) provides Head Start preschool and family services within 16 counties in South Central South Dakota since 1986.  SCCD is seeking a highly motivated individual for the position of center teacher to work with children in a preschool setting, helping children with school readiness skills.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Maintain a clean and orderly center
• Organize space into learning activity areas clearly recognizable by children (i.e. block, area, housekeeping area, manipulative area, book area, sand box, easel art area, water table, etc.)
• Develop and implement lesson plans, and activities which reflect a basic understanding of the needs and developmental abilities of preschool children, of early childhood education and development principles and of Head Start philosophy and which meet the requirements of the program’s education curriculum
  
• Individualize lesson plans to meet the specific needs of a child
• Implement an Individual Education Plan for each child with special needs as provided by the local school district and under the direction of the Area Leader
• Provide a positive classroom environment that will nurture each child's emerging sense of self
• Provide an environment conducive to the child's intellectual, physical, social and emotional development
• Maintain anecdotal observation records on each child and complete developmental assessment three times per program year
• Maintain accurate records on each child and make referrals to component coordinators when necessary
• Comply with required reporting procedures/record keeping
• Promote child-focused conversation during all Head Start activities
• Communicate a positive acceptance and appreciation of different cultures
• Demonstrate a commitment to eliminating stereotypes of low income and minority groups in the community
• Establish relationship of trust with children and their families
• Act as a role model to reinforce concepts introduced to children during the year
• Act as a role model to Head Start parents and center employees that reflects the Head Start philosophy
• Coordinate center staff and volunteers in carrying out the day-to-day operations of the center
• As necessary, provide guidance to center staff and volunteers on early childhood education and developmentally appropriate practices in addition to how to interact with children
• Assist parents in seeing themselves as the prime educator of their child
• Provide parents with developmentally appropriate educational follow-up activities for their child outside of the classroom (weekly In-Kind sheets)
• Assist with parent meeting and parent-education sessions
• Provide 2 home visits and 2 parent-teacher conferences to each family to develop child development plans and encourage their participation in the center and in project activities following program format
• Refer parents to appropriate Head Start staff for necessary services
• Assist with obtaining community resources for center needs
• Assist the Health Coordinator and Family Advocate in the health care of the child as required
• Assist with the follow-up on absences with the Family Advocate, Site Supervisor and/or Area Leader
• Assist the Family Advocate to recruit children and families for Head Start services
• Responsible for overseeing the day-to-day cleaning of the Head Start classroom, and contacting the Site Supervisor and/or Area Leaders as needed when repairs are needed
• Attend all required training and staff meetings
• Other duties as assigned by the Area Leader, Leadership and Administrative Teams

Other Information

This position is located at the center, remote work is not available.  This position typically works a minimum of 8 hours per day Monday through Thursday with children in the classroom.  Friday hours are required for lesson planning, data entry of records, make-up days and/or training and in-services.  The pay for this position ranges from $45,150 to $54,550 annually, depending on education and experience.

Reports To:  Site Supervisor/Area Leader

Also Works With:  Executive Director, Fiscal Administrator and SCCD's Leadership Team

Qualifications and Skills

Required:

• Must be willing to adapt to flexible work hours, including some evenings to meet the needs of families
• Must be willing to obtain a CDA (Child Development Associate) Credential if required (determined by the candidate's education)
• Must be willing to attend training and continuing education to maintain a CDA and/or Teaching Certificate as required by the Head Start Program Performance Standards
  
• Must facilitate local parent committee meetings, parent education sessions and parent programs, encouraging fatherhood and youth activities
• Must be able to effectively and productively work with people of diverse economic and cultural backgrounds
• Must be able to work cooperatively with the team, agency leadership and administrative personnel
• Must be able to maintain confidential information
• Must be able to work effectively (individually and in a group) and have good communication and people skills with other staff and enrolled families
• Must document and report suspected child abuse and neglect by following the program's reporting procedures
• Must be able to effectively use a computer
• Must be willing to complete First Aid and CPR certification (provided by the agency) within the first 3 months of employment.
• Must be able to actively interact with preschool children, which includes having good dexterity with the ability to lift up to 40 pounds, push, pull, carry, climb, balance, kneel, sit, stand, walk, bend and squat.
• Must complete mandatory background screens as part of your employment in a Head Start Preschool program (including State and FBI fingerprinting, Reports of Child Abuse and Neglect screening, Sex Offender Registries, health screener and employment physical).

Preferred:

• BA/BS Degree in Early Childhood Education with Teaching certificate - OR
  • BA/BS Degree in any filed with 36 credit hours in Early Childhood Education or Child Development
  • Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education
  • Center CDA Credential and enrolled in an Early Childhood Education program
• Previous experience with Head Start Preschool, early childhood education or preschool programs and/or with adult education and instruction
• Possess knowledge of child development principles.

Comprehensive Benefits

• 9 month position paid over 12 months
• Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Life Insurance
  • $50,000 employer paid life insurance
  • Voluntary options for spouses and children
• Retirement Benefits
  • 100% employer paid profit sharing retirement plan (with an average contribution of 15% over the past 5 years)
    • New employees become vested after 5 years
  • Employee 401(k) with both Traditional and Roth options available
  • Direct access to a financial expert for free retirement investment advice
• Paid Time Off
  • Paid personal leave
  • Paid sick leave
    
• Other Benefits
  • Annual Profit Sharing Retention Bonuses
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for employees, their spouses and dependent children
  • AFLAC
    

Salary : $45,150 - $54,550