Preschool Teacher -Head Start

The Head Start Teacher is responsible for a Head Start classroom of 3- to 5-year-old children. S/he works collaboratively with an assistant teacher, family members, and other staff to achieve positive outcomes for children of all abilities. Uses knowledge of the principles of child growth and development to work with children and communicate with internal and external stakeholders.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Planning and implementing learning experiences that advance the cognitive and physical development of children, including progress toward school readiness goals by developing their language (understanding and increasingly complex use, expanding vocabulary) emergent literacy, print and numeracy awareness, their appreciation of books and their problem-solving
• Creates a nurturing, responsive environment that promotes positive and development of social and emotional competencies. Support the social and emotional development of children.
• Addresses challenging behaviors by observing to determine possible causes of the behavior, implementing preventive measures, teaching the child new social and communication skills and partnering with families to support the child at home.
• Uses observations of children and anecdotal notes to document children’s progress and individualize curriculum.
• Establish and maintain a safe, healthy learning environment, including full supervision of children at all times, in accordance with Head Start and childcare licensing requirements.
• Model appropriate classroom practices.

PROGRAM Planning 

• Planning and implementing learning experiences that advance the intellectual and physical development of children, including improving the readiness of children for school by developing their literacy and phonemic, print, and numeracy awareness, their understanding and use of language, their understanding and use of increasingly complex and varied vocabulary, their appreciation of books, and their problem solving abilities. Implements a daily lesson plans, and child-centered curriculum and learning environment that encourages positive social interaction, active engagement in learning, and self-motivation to promote development in all domains for children of all abilities. Implement PBS practices and Program Wide Expectations. Implement curriculum with fidelity, being aware of the big ideas while also following all assigned guidance and resources.
• Ensure classroom arrangement, materials and displays are organized and conducive to children’s learning
• Integrate Individual Education Plans (IEPs) or referral action plans for children with diagnosed or suspected special needs.
• Complete theme-based Individualized Learning Plans to identify specific goals and implement developmentally appropriate strategies for each child in class.
• Use strategies for behavior management, such as clear behavior expectations, being proactive and redirecting misbehavior.
• Follow regulations associated with prevention of disease and injury, including the exercise of universal precautions and the prevention of contamination. Conduct daily health/safety monitoring of the indoor and (as requested) outdoor environment.
• Supervise all classroom field trips and outdoor activities.

 FAMILY PARTNERSHIPS

• Establish positive and productive relationships with families focusing on building trust and rapport.
• Encourage the involvement of the families of the children in an Early/ Head Start program and supporting the development of relationships between children and their families.
• Invite parent involvement in the development of the program’s curriculum and approach to child development and education. Provide opportunities for parents to increase their child observation skills and to share assessments with staff that help plan the learning experiences.
• Participate in parent orientation and ongoing parent trainings as required.
• Schedule and complete two home visits and two parent-teacher conferences each year. Encourage parent participation in staff-parent conferences and home visits discussing their child’s development and education.
• Collaborate with family services staff to support families in implementing family life practices, extending learning into the home, and meeting expectations for attendance
• Follow all guidance and expectations to support of Shine On, Families initiative
• Identify and refer parents wanting to volunteer in the classroom, work as substitutes or in other volunteer activities to their Family Advocate.  Support parent volunteers in classroom as needed.

RECORD KEEPING AND RECORDING

• Maintain required documentation of activities, including child and family information, assessment data, volunteer logs, etc.
• Gather and maintain individual, family and classroom data for documentation, on-going assessment, evaluation and recording keeping for successful individual and program planning.
• Collect documentation of children through ongoing observation, embedded and direct assessment activities Assess children on an on-going basis. Gather and organize anecdotal notes into the key goals and objectives and document in CreativeCurriculum.net.
• .Complete quarterly assessment checkpoints, reliably, for each child.
• Complete developmental and social-emotional screenings on all children within prescribed time frames. Analyze child assessment data and use it to plan and individualize.
• Work with the teaching team to analyze child outcomes on a classroom basis twice yearly, consult with education leadership and make adjustments to curriculum planning and implementation as needed.

General Agency Requirements

• Maintain agency standards regarding confidentiality, quality, and productivity.

• Participates in assigned meetings, committees, events and training as required.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

AA/AS in Early Childhood Education plus experience teaching preschool age children, required.  BA/BS in Early Childhood Education or BA/BS with at least six college courses in Early Childhood Education plus experience teaching preschool aged children, preferred. Bilingual (Spanish/English) desirable.