Head Start Teacher

Position Summary

The Head Start Teacher plans and implements a quality program of educational activities for pre-school children that encourages growth and development in a variety of areas. The Teacher also promotes a cooperative, constructive relationship with families to ensure the child's growth/development meets full potential.

Education And Experience

• Associate’s degree in early childhood education or child development required.
• Bachelor’s Degree in early childhood education or child development preferred
• Previous professional experience working with preschool-aged children preferred
  
  

Comptencies And Abilities

• Ability to develop and implement classroom curriculum that encourages language, cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development of children.
• Ability to interact with children in a warm, nurturing manner.
• Must have current first-aid and CPR training.
• Ability to work with children with developmental delays or disabilities.
• Knowledge of or ability to learn to conduct developmental screenings and assessments of children.
• Working knowledge of child development, age appropriate behaviors, common childhood behavior challenges and appropriate interventions.
• Knowledge of the practices of early childhood teaching.
• Ability to intervene with children's behaviors in a non-punitive and supportive manner.
• Ability to communicate effectively with young children and their families.
• Ability to develop and implement individual learning plans for children.
• Ability to implement individual education plans (IEP) and individual family service plans (IFSP) for children with disabilities.
  
  

Duties And Responbilites

• Responsible for ensuring that daily activities and interactions reflect the mission and goals of the program.
• Attend on-going trainings/workshops on the HighScope Curriculum and Child Observation Record (COR). Implement strategies learned from trainings/workshops attended.
• Implement curriculum activities, strategies, learning environment, and interactions in accordance to the PQA.
• Plan and implement a program of educational activities for children, including writing a weekly lesson plan that specifies a daily schedule, toward the achievement of specific curriculum goals as written in education component plan.
• Create a clean, safe classroom environment that is conducive to learning, promoting social relationships.
• Evaluate the accomplishments of the children on a regular basis and reports progress to parents/guardians.
• Plan and implement an individual learning plan for each child in the classroom. Implement IEP and IFSP goals as part of the individualization process.
• Plan and implement daily outdoor activities that develop gross motor skills and promote exploration and social relationships.
• Develop curriculum activities that reflect the ethnic/multi-cultural makeup of the community.
• Maintain compliance with child-care licensing and HHS regulations.
• Monitor and work in conjunction with co-teacher to provide a well-organized classroom.
• Assists in ensuring that all health and developmental screenings are up-to-date and complete.
• Promotes parent-child bonding and nurtures parent-child relationships. Assist in facilitating parent education workshops as assigned.
• Provide, document and report all program activities and interactions as required by contract, licensing, and programmatic goals.
• Implement classroom health, dental, and nutrition performance standards and document in weekly lesson plans.
• Coordinate mealtime service, including interacting with children and accurate CACFP record keeping.
• Provide children with experiences that support their full range of developmental and socio-emotional needs.
• Provide activities that foster development of a positive self-image; address physical and mental health needs of children and document in daily lesson plans.
  
  

What Starfish Has To Offer...

• Full medical, dental, prescription, and vision coverage for full-time employees
• Long-term disability and short-term disability coverage
• Flexible Spending and Health Savings Accounts
• Comprehensive Employee Assistance Program 
• Retirement Plan with Employer Matching
• Paid Parental Leave
• Creativity and Innovation supported and encouraged
• On-the-job training and emphasis on Professional Development
• Agency sponsored Reflective Supervision
• Self-Care and Employee Wellness Inspired Workplace
• Agency sponsored Head Space account 
• Trauma-Informed Workplace
• 15 PTO days per year, 10 paid holidays, 3 floating holidays and mental health days
• Focus on partnering with families to help them thrive
• Active Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee
• Fulfillment and the knowledge of having made an impact on someone's life
  
  

Starfish Family Services is an equal opportunity employer. It is the policy of SFS not to discriminate in its employment and personnel practices because of a person’s race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, age, height, weight, marital status, disability or any other basis protected by federal, state, or other applicable law.