POSITION PURPOSE:
Under the supervision of the center director, provides a safe and orderly environment and experiences that maximize the learning and development of each child at his or her own level and interacts with parents to facilitate problem-solving relative to meeting the needs of children and families. Adheres to the core values of the Agency; NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct for Early Childhood Practitioners and Professional Practice, Head Start Performance Standards; and required Head Start Competencies.
Training & Experience
The following are typical ways of obtaining the knowledge skills and abilities outlined above.
- Associate degree OR higher in child development, early childhood education, OR related field.
- 12-semester units of Early Childhood Education OR Child Development courses, including three-semester units of Supervised Field Experience in an Early Childhood Education setting.
- A Child Development Associate Teacher Permit OR higher from the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) OR the ability to obtain a permit within 90 days of employment.
Language Skills:
Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public; demonstrated skills in written and oral communication.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENT, LICENSES, & CERTIFICATES:
Certification in pediatric first aid and CPR must be met within 90 days of employment. Must meet and maintain state law and county licensing requirements regarding employment in a childcare center (fingerprints, TB, physical, Measles, and Pertussis).
PHYSICAL & MENTAL DEMANDS:
The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by employees to successfully perform the essential functions of this class. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Physical Demands:
While performing the duties of this class, an employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, feel, or operate computers, objects, tools, or controls and reach with hands and arms, and taste or smell. The employee occasionally is required to climb, stoop, kneel, or crouch. The employee frequently is required to talk or hear. The employee may be required to lift at least fifty (50) pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus to view documents.
DESIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Knowledge of:
- Knowledge of appropriate child development theories and practices;
- Adult learning principles and Family Child Care philosophy;
- Head Start Program Performance standards and other applicable regulations;
- Effective oral and written communication skills and knowledge of computers and related software programs.
Ability to:
- Ability to develop and implement effective lesson plans and skills in classroom observation and designing appropriate instructional strategies to meet the developmental needs of pre-school children;
- To create and maintain a safe learning environment for children and others;
- To supervise others and to work effectively with parents, family, family child care providers and community;
- Speak in languages spoken by the families that the program serves is highly desirable.
The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to this position.
- Develop weekly lesson plans which integrate indoor and outdoor activities that are developmentally appropriate for preschool children, reflect an integrated Head Start curriculum and philosophy, and comply with the Performance Standards;
- Develop and maintain a safe and pleasing environment for the children, which facilitates their ability to grow physically, socially, emotionally, and intellectually;
- Screen and assess each child using appropriate screening/assessment tools;
- Develop individualized educational plans for each child based on developmental assessments including identified special needs with concern for his/her interest, handicaps, special talents, and individual style and pace of learning, and considering the individual child in relationship to his cultural and social/economic background in accordance with Head Start Performance Standards;
- Identify and refer children with special needs;
- In the absence of the center director, provides guidance of the center operations as assigned;
- Ensure that childcare routines are carried out in a manner that is prompt, hygienic, and consistent with good child development principles including routines related to bathroom use, hand washing, tooth brushing, eating, and transitioning between activities;
- Complete daily health check;
- Ensure the safety of the children through continuous supervision, effective arrangement of space, proper maintenance of equipment, regular practice of fire drills and other emergency procedures, and operate the classroom in compliance with all childcare licensing standards;
- Supervise outdoor play environment and field trips; check daily environments safety, and select activities to be utilized for the individual development of the children;
- Provide emotional support and encourage high self-esteem in the children and parents;
- Maintain written documentation on each child in compliance with requirements for confidentiality;
- Prepare monthly reports on attendance, excused absences, daily sign in/out sheets, in-kind, CCFP meal count, fluoride tracking, health and safety checklist, milestones, child observation, etc;
- Complete forms such as Home Visit, Parent/Teacher Conference, Classroom/Center Meeting, training reports and agendas, Ouch Reports, Field Trip Requests, Lunch Request, and Field Trip Permission Slips;
- Conduct home visits and parent/teacher conferences;
- Participate in cross-component tasks where teacher roles are assigned such as: case management meetings; assist with parent education by assessing needs and participate in planning and attend parent meetings, program-wide recruitment and enrollment activities, work with community resources to identify child/family needs and refer to proper resources for assistance;
- Supervise and participate in the evaluation of the teacher aide, parents, and volunteers;
- Collaborate with the classroom family service assistant to ensure that the needs of the family are met;
- Assist in planning for transition of children to kindergarten by visiting schools, meeting teachers, developing children's portfolios; and identifying expectations for kindergarten to ensure that children are prepared to meet those expectations; facilitate preparation of food for meal time;
- Establish and maintain positive relationships with parents and involve parents in the planning and implementation of daily program activities as well as involving the parent in the education of their child by providing home activities that are developmentally appropriate;
- Ensure that children's bathrooms are clean and sanitary;
- Recruits families for the Head Start program as required by Performance Standards;
- Participate in recommended training programs, conferences, courses and other aspects of professional growth. Assist and attend public relation events sponsored by the school district, community agency, and/or program.
- All other duties as assigned.
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