Teacher II (30103)

Teacher II for Pinellas Head Start / Early Head Start
Located in St. Petersburg, Fl
(30103)

Lutheran Services Florida (LSF) envisions a world where children are safe, families are strong and communities are vibrant.

Since 1982, Lutheran Services Florida has been providing and sharing solutions to protect Florida’s most vulnerable. Today, we are one of the largest nonprofits in Florida touching 1 in 50 Floridians with a wide range of services, including:

• early childhood education
• refugee and immigration
• mental health and substance abuse
• juvenile justice
• child welfare

LSF is looking for a talented Teacher II who wants to make an impact in the lives of others.

Purpose & Impact

The purpose of the Teacher II is to serves as lead worker in the classroom.  Performs duties planning and implementing educational activities for pre-school aged children or infants/toddlers in the Head Start/Early Heart Start Program that comply with federal performance standards.  Participates in the HS/EHS Quality Assurance efforts.

A Day in the Life of a Teacher II

• Plans develop and implement daily lesson plans that provide for educational and enrichment activities for pre-school age children or infants and toddlers that meet federal performance standards.
• Plans and arranges classrooms into distinctive learning areas that promote an effective learning environment.
• Screens and assesses children to determine developmental/educational needs and develops and implements individual education plans that comply with federal performance standards.
• Monitors meal and snack periods, classroom and restroom activities, and playground activities to ensure a safe environment for young children.
• Monitors food service and supplies for adequate inventory.
• Documents children’s progress or lack of and completes all required manual and computerized forms and reports in accordance with federal requirements.
• Initiates referrals on children to the Center Director by submission of a variety of formal documents.
• Plans classroom activities for parent and community volunteers.
• Attends and participates in workshops and other meetings to acquire and disseminate information.
• Communicates with parents through parent conferences, written correspondence, and telephone to apprise them of the child’s progress, upcoming events, classroom activities, individual education plan changes, and other relevant information.
• Conducts health checks on children for health concerns, including ringworm, head lice, and other health conditions, and reports to appropriate Health Coordinator.
• Ensures lessons and classroom activities align with the Florida Pre-Kindergarten standards.
• Conducts Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten assessments as required.
• Ensures that at least 80% of the children are kindergarten-ready.
• Performs quality staff-child interactions resulting in a CLASS scores greater than the lowest 10% of the threshold in each domain.
• Uses active supervision techniques and maintains positive classroom behavior.
• Receives a satisfactory or higher score on the Teacher Success Rubric.
• Maintain a comprehensive and ongoing portfolio assessment for each child, including weekly observations in each area, examples of the child’s work, and a developmental assessment.
• Uses home visits and parent conferences to discuss the child’s individual development and progress, assist the parents in developing observational skills and solicit parent observations;
• Reports suspected child abuse and neglect to the designated state agency.
• Plans, coordinates and oversees field trips for assigned children.
• Orders supplies and equipment to be used by special needs children in the classroom.
• Assists in the transportation of special needs children by lifting the child into the seat and fastening safety belt.
• Inspects classrooms and grounds to ensure the safety, orderliness, sanitation, and cleanliness of facilities.
• Reviews and forwards accident and incident reports.
• Discusses plans and coordinates concerns regarding the child and family with other Head Start/Early Head Start staff.
• Performs First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) as needed.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Education:

• A baccalaureate or advanced degree in Early Childhood Education; or a baccalaureate or advanced degree in any subject, and coursework equivalent to a major relating to Early Childhood Education with experience teaching preschool-aged children.  Coursework equivalent to a major related to Early Childhood Education includes but is not limited to the following:

• Teaching credentials: licensed or certification by the state for Pre-K teachers recognized by the local school district or state education agency as qualifying teachers to teach pre-school children in that school district or state if the individual has at least 500 clock hours of experience in an early childhood setting teaching pre-school aged children. OR

• Coursework: No less than 18-semester credits in courses that focus specifically on child development, early childhood education and curriculum, early childhood teaching and assessment, psychology, family development, health and physical development, mathematics, science and children’s literature.  These courses may have been taken in various departments such as Education, Home Economics, Music, Art, Library Sciences, Physical Education and Recreation, Psychology, Family Studies, and others, and must specifically address young children.

• A baccalaureate degree in any field and has been admitted into the Teach For America program, passed a rigorous early childhood content exam, such as the Praxis II, participated in a Teach For America summer training institute that includes teaching preschool children, and is receiving ongoing professional development and support from Teach For America’s professional staff.
• Completion of State Childcare Training required including Certificate of Completion of an approved 10 hour Developmentally Appropriate Practices for Preschoolers or Infant/Toddlers Course; and proof of successful completion of the following courses: 6 hours Child Growth and Development; 6 hours Behavioral Observation & Screening; 8 hours Health, Safety & Nutrition; 4 hours Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect; and 6 hours Child Care Facility Rules and Regulations, or a 30 hour Introductory Child Care Training Course.  In addition, all state-mandated courses for the Voluntary prekindergarten required.

Experience: Two years of experience teaching Head Start, Early Head Start, pre-school or kindergarten age children. Bilingual preferred: English/Spanish or English and other languages present in the local area.

Also required: Certification in First Aid and CPR within six months of the date assigned to this position; and successful completion of a Level II background screening, local criminal record check, and drug screening prior to hiring.

Why work for LSF?

Ability to Make an Impact in Multiple Areas

LSF offers several programs, spanning across a wide range of populations in need. This gives our team members an opportunity to learn and potentially work in programs outside of their direct area. Either way, members of the LSF family will play a part in transforming the lives of those in need.

Community

A career at LSF means working and learning alongside talented professionals in a dynamic and inclusive environment. The values of our organization – OPEN-MINDED, COMPASSIONATE, GENEROUS, VISIONARY and HONESTY – drives each one of us.

People working at Lutheran Services Florida treat each other like family. Whether you work on the front lines or work in an office, you share a common bond that is felt throughout the organization.

Growth Opportunities

Because of the variety of programs we offer throughout Florida, team members have the option to explore areas of interest in other programs or grow within their existing program/department.

Amazing benefits package including:

• Medical, dental and vision
• Teledoc (24/7 access to doctors via phone and video)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Long-term disability
• Employer-paid life insurance (1X salary), AD&D
• Health and dependent care FSA
• Paid holidays
• Generous PTO policy
• 403(b) Retirement plan with 3% discretionary employer match
• Tuition reimbursement
• LifeMart Employee Discount Program

Additional Voluntary Benefits

• Short-term disability
• Group life insurance
• Accident, critical illness/Cancer and hospital policy
• Legal Shield coverage

Lutheran Services Florida is an equal opportunity employer and a drug-free workplace.

Lutheran Services Florida Children & Head Start Services

2210 Tall Pines Drive Largo, Fl 33771

EOE/DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE