Infant/Toddler Teacher

Summary: The Tri-County Opportunities Council Early Head Start/Head Start Program serves 483 expectant mothers and children ages birth to five in the nine Illinois Counties of Bureau, Carroll, LaSalle, Lee, Marshall, Ogle, Putnam, Stark, and Whiteside. The program offers comprehensive child and family development services to those deemed eligible. The program’s primary goals are to partner with parents to promote self-esteem, increase self-confidence, and advance school readiness skills for children. Comprehensive programming includes education, medical, dental, mental health, and nutritional services; welcomes children with disabilities or special needs; and provides family education, advancement, and social service support while connecting enrolled families to community resources and transportation assistance. The program offers various options to meet the needs of children, families, and communities throughout all nine counties.

Mission Statement: T.C.O.C. Head Start is committed to taking the leadership role in developing partnerships to build stronger communities. We create and nurture supportive experiences that lead to successful outcomes for children, families, and staff.

Agency Name: Tri-County Opportunities Council

Program Name: Early Head Start/Head Start Program

Job Title: Infant/Toddler Teacher

Reports to: Site Supervisor

Status: Non-Exempt, Hourly, Full Year Employment

Educational Requirements: Minimum of AAS in Early Childhood Development, Early Childhood Education, or equivalent casework. In addition to the above requirements, nine credit in infant-toddler studies are required. Previous experience in a licensed early childhood setting is desired. Must be at least twenty-one (21) years of age.

An employee hired without these credits will be required to sign a professional development plan upon hire with a designated timeline in which these credits will need to be completed.

Skills/Characteristics/Physical Requirements:
Demonstrated ability to establish a relationship of trust, respect and non-judgmental attitude when working with children, parents, staff and the community-at-large. Ability to work with individuals from various economics, educational and cultural backgrounds. Must be adaptable, flexible and emotionally mature. Must have leadership and management skills necessary to direct site team as well as the ability to work in a team-based work environment. Must have excellent oral and written communication skills. Must have the ability to be self-directed as well as the ability to follow supervisor direction. Must maintain confidentiality. Must be at least 21 years of age. Required to provide personal transportation to each home visit and all required T.C.O.C. Head Start/Early Head Start trainings in an insured vehicle with the driver of the vehicle having a valid driver’s license. Must be capable of entering and exiting program centers and family homes. Required to bend, reach overhead, lift and carry up to 40 pounds as well as other physical and mental abilities to supervise and insure the safety of children. Must pass a general physician’s health examination and TB test prior to employment and every two years thereafter. Must obtain and maintain certification in First Aid and CPR. Employment in this position is contingent on cleared criminal background check, cleared background check as per the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Licensing Standards and Policy Council approval.

Essential Duties, Functions and Responsibilities:

Policies and Regulations:

Must be knowledgeable of, and adhere and contribute to the program’s full compliance with:

• Head Start/Early Head Start Program Performance Standards, particularly those related to the Early Child Education and Health Services section.
• Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Licensing Standards and Child Care Act as it relates to child abuse and neglect and the mandated reporter requirements.
• Tri-County Opportunities Council Personnel Policies and other related agency policies and procedures.
• Tri-County Opportunities Council Head Start/Early Head Start Teacher’s Manual and other program manuals as they relate to this position.
• Must act in accordance with the grantee agency and the Head Start/Early Head Start program’s mission statements.
• Must adhere to grantee code of conduct and the Head Start/Early Head Start Code of Ethics.

Classroom Environment and Scheduling Responsibilities:

Physical Environment:

• Create and maintain an indoor and outdoor physical environment in accordance with Head Start/Early Head Start Program Performance Standards, Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Licensing Standards and with the guidance of the Creative Curriculum philosophy.

Organize classroom according to developmental levels and individual needs of infants or toddlers ensuring:

• The development of trust and emotional security;
• Opportunities to explore a variety of sensory and motor experiences;
• Opportunities for the development of self-awareness, autonomy, and
• self-expression; and
• Opportunities for gross and fine motor development.
• Ensure that the classroom and related environments and the outdoor playground area is clean and safe at all times.
• Insure that equipment, materials and supplies are used, stored and maintained in a safe and orderly manner.
• Follow the facility contract for use of space.
• Report all facility concerns and problems to assigned Early Head Start Site Supervisor.
• Insure that children are adequately supervised by qualified staff at all times (as per program’s Safety policy, a child left unsupervised while in my care will result in immediate termination).
• Insure that child-to-staff ratios are in compliance with DCFS requirements at all times.Social and Emotional Environment:
• Create and maintain a safe, warm, accepting environment.
• Be aware of individual needs for sleeping, eating, toileting; developing an Individual Care Plan for each child.
• Promote the development of secure relationships with infants and toddlers assigned by assuring primary and continuity of care.

Education Planning and Implementation:

• Plan activities and lessons that are developmentally appropriate, enhance each child’s growth and development and that correspond to the program’s curriculum.
• Incorporate relevant medical, dental, mental health and nutrition activities weekly.
• Use the community as a teaching resource by planning relevant field trips.
• Plan routines and transition times that take into account both group and individual child needs.
• Plan activities and add materials to all learning centers that support each child’s emerging reading, writing, cognitive, literacy, language, social and emotional and motor skills.
• Insure that classroom activities and materials are culturally, ethnically and linguistically appropriate for the children in the group.
• Individualize for each child as per program procedures.

Child Assessment Responsibilities:

• In partnership with parents/guardians, complete the DECA I/T Social-Emotional assessment on each child during the Initial Home Visit.
• In partnership with parents/guardians, complete an Ages and Stages (ASQ) developmental screening on each child within 45 days of enrollment. Assessment updates will be ongoing throughout the year.
• Develop in partnership with parents/guardians an individual development plan for each child.
• In partnership with parents/guardians, complete a functional hearing and vision assessment within 45 days of enrollment. In addition, gather exiting information from local health care professionals who have administered hearing and vision screenings.
• Responsible for tracking development of children through daily observations by the teaching staff and/or reported by the parent.
• Responsible for completion and updates of the GOLD Online Child Assessment.
• Intentionally observe each child’s interactions and behaviors on a regular basis. Use anecdotal records to document observations.

Planning and Support for Children with Disabilities:

• Incorporate goals and objectives from IFSP’s into planning for individual children.
• Participate in IEP or IFSP staffing, as required.
• Work cooperatively with the Education Specialist and the Disability/Mental Health Specialist to ensure all needed consents are obtained for referrals, diagnostic evaluations, treatment and/or special services.
• Attend meetings with LEA’s and other organizations as requested.
• Maintain regular communication with staff from other early childhood programs for those children that are dually enrolled.
• Work with the Disability/Mental Health Specialist to insure children have the special equipment that they may need to function and succeed in the classroom.

Physical Health, Mental Health, Dental Health and Nutrition Responsibilities:

Medical and Dental Health:

• Assist families to arrange and attend medical and dental appointments as required by the program, including designated follow-up services, as needed.
• Conduct daily health checks on each child.
• Model and assist children with hand washing, tooth brushing and other self-help skills.
• Work cooperatively with Early Head Start Health Specialist to insure health procedures are completed.
• Complete and submit accident reports as necessary.
• Report contagious diseases to Early Head Start Health Specialist immediately.

Nutrition:

• Sit and eat family style with children. Encourage children to try foods. Promote language, literacy and self-help skills during meal times.
• Follow CACFP food regulations as they relate to infants and toddlers.

Mental Health:

• Follow procedures as per the program’s Guidance and Discipline Policy regarding children with challenging behaviors.
• Work cooperatively with assigned Mental Health Consultant.

Parent and Family Involvement Responsibilities:

Cooperate and support the Family and Community Service Worker by:

• Collaborate on monthly parent meetings. Send reminders to parents and plan curriculum planning session for the meeting.
• Communicate regarding relevant family issues and concerns.
• Collect in-kind documentation from parents each week.

Provide opportunities for parent and family involvement and support by:

• Conduct a minimum of two home visits annually with each family. Interim home visits will be scheduled dependent on child and/or family need.
• Conduct three parent/teacher conferences annually as per program schedule and requirements.
• Encourage parent(s)/guardian(s) to volunteer in the classroom as their schedule permits. Develop alternative activities for involvement for those parents unable to volunteer in the classroom.
• Write and distribute a bi-monthly site newsletter. Provide parents with a calendar of events for alternative months.
• Provide a parent corner and at-home resource library within the classroom. Insure posted information and other resources are relevant and correspond to curriculum and parent interest.
• Support the program’s Male Involvement Initiative.

Recordkeeping:

Child Files:

• Responsible for maintaining classroom child files in a neat and orderly fashion.
• Responsible for insuring children’s files are stored in a locked cabinet.
• Responsible for maintaining confidentiality of child files as per program requirements.

Program Paperwork:

• Responsible for neat, accurate and timely submission of all education, health, family involvement, nutrition and disability paperwork as per program requirements.

Personnel Paperwork:

• Submit personal payroll paperwork as per required schedules.
• Insure all required documentation for personnel file is current and up-to-date.

Team Participation:

Responsibilities to the site team:

• Support co-teachers and transportation staff (where applicable) on a daily basis.
• Participate in-site team meetings as per developed schedule.

Responsibilities to the Early Head Start Site Supervisor:

• Complete Assignments as directed.
• Maintain open, respectful and regular communication.

Responsibilities to the T.C.O.C. Head Start/Early Head Start team:

• Actively participate in the program-wide effort to identify and document sources of
• non-Federal revenue.

Program Planning and Evaluation:

• Serve as a member of the program’s self-assessment team, in invited.
• Work cooperatively with grantee agency staff, program staff, Board, Policy Council and the community-at-large to develop and implement short-term goals and objectives as per the program’s self-assessment process and to develop and implement long-range goals as per the Head Start/Early Head Start strategic plan.

Confidentiality:

• The person filling this position must abide by the program’s confidentiality policy and Code of Ethics regarding children, family, staff and/or agency matters.

Non-Essential Duties, Functions and Responsibilities:

• Serve as a member on one or more of the T.C.O.C. Head Start/Early Head Start special committees or participate in special initiative projects other than those listed in the essential duties section of this position description.
• In accordance with the team philosophy of the T.C.O.C. Head Start/Early Head Start Program, the person filling this position may be requested to carry out other tasks in addition to the duties listed in this job description.

Meetings, Trainings and Professional Development:
The person filling this position is required to attend the following:

Meetings and Trainings:

• Teach staff pre-service and in-service sessions.
• Site staff meetings.
• Monthly Parent Meetings.
• Other meetings and trainings as may be requested by the Early Head Start Site Supervisor.

Professional Development:

• Newly hired employees are required to attend the program’s Head Start Essentials semester long course within one year of hire.
• As a method of continued growth and development, the person filling this position may be eligible for in-area and out-of-area trainings, workshops, conferences and/or credit-based course work as recommended by the Head Start/Early Head Start Education Manager or the Early Head Start Site Supervisor and in accordance with time and budget constraints.

Benefits:

• Dental Insurance (Must work 20 hours/per week)
• Vision Insurance (Must work 20 hours/per week)
• Life Insurance (Must work 20 hours/per week)
• Health Insurance – 2 Plans (Must work 30 hours/per week)
• Partially Paid Family Medical Leave
• Bereavement Leave
• Sick Time
• Paid Time Off
• Retirement Savings Plan
• Career Advancement Opportunities

For current staff applying for a different position, the wage is base pay (based on current qualifications) plus 1% for each year of previous agency employment.

Tri-County Opportunities Council is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provider. Applications from women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and people from diverse cultural backgrounds are encouraged.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $16.00 - $22.74 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Monday to Friday

Education:

• Associate (Preferred)

License/Certification:

• Driver's License (Required)

Ability to Commute:

• Peru, IL 61354 (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Peru, IL 61354: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $16 - $23