Associate Teacher Full Day Full Year

Saginaw Intermediate School District•Birch Run Township, MI

1d•Onsite

About The Position

This position works as part of a teaching team to assist the Teacher in the preparation, planning, and execution of the daily operations of the Head Start classroom. This includes building relationships with families, taking on the Teacher role during teacher planning and occasional/extended absences, and implementing Head Start Performance Standards. The Associate Teacher works with families to promote parent involvement and may be assigned additional duties based on program needs and expertise. This position works alongside the Teacher to achieve program goals and may be reassigned to various classrooms/centers as necessary for program operations.

Requirements

Experience working with preschool children and a CDA credential.
Must obtain Basic First Aid and CPR Certification and maintain certification and licensing required training.
Acceptable tuberculosis and drug screening results, a clear criminal records check, and an initial health exam are required after the job offer and prior to employment.
Knowledge of the purpose of the Head Start/Early Head Start program.
Maintains strict confidentiality with respect to Head Start children, families, and staff.
Ability to use Active Supervision strategies to keep children safe.
Ability to work with children at all levels of development and relate sensitively with children.
Knowledge of basic food preparation, serving, and sanitation procedures.
Ability to follow directions and take initiative.
General knowledge and skills in early childhood development.
General computer knowledge of Word and Excel, and ability to access e-mail and Teaching Strategies Gold and/or willingness to learn programs as needed.
Knowledge of state and federal regulations pertaining to child abuse and neglect reporting and child care licensing requirements.
Ability to enhance the parent-child relationship and support parents’ role as educators.
Ability to engage in mutually respectful goal-oriented partnerships with families.
Ability to respect and respond appropriately to the culture, language, values, and family structures of each family served.
Ability to act as a member of a comprehensive services team.
Emotional maturity, willingness to cooperate, respect for children and adults, flexibility, patience, good personal hygiene, and physical and mental health that does not interfere with responsibilities.
Education or experience in collaborating with parents in the education of their children.

Nice To Haves

An Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education/Child Development with two years’ experience is preferred.
Bilingual (English/Spanish) abilities are a plus.
Current and former Head Start employees, students, and parents will receive preference for employment vacancies for which they are qualified.

Responsibilities

Attends all required training and workshops, including online training and cluster meetings.
Maintains Child Development Associate Credential (CDA) and works toward obtaining an Associate’s degree.
Remains up-to-date on information pertaining to the needs of children, including Head Start Performance Standards, childcare licensing regulations, and other applicable regulations and practices.
Keeps up to date on Developmentally Appropriate Practice.
Maintains knowledge of regulations associated with the prevention of occupational disease and injury, including universal precautions and prevention of contamination.
Maintains professional certification required by Head Start and ISD standards.
Successfully completes and maintains basic First Aid, CPR certification, and required licensing training.
Actively participates in opportunities for continuous professional development.
Assists in all aspects of the classroom and other service areas of the program.
Participates in recruitment activities and transportation services.
Assumes the role of Teacher when required, implementing all aspects of the program.
Assists with the delivery of Head Start services as defined by Head Start Performance Standards and Saginaw ISD Head Start Operational Procedures.
Assists in establishing a safe, healthy, stimulating, and developmentally appropriate learning environment for children aged birth to five with all abilities.
Ensures that learning environments are safe from hazards, free from clutter, and allow for visibility of children by utilizing the Daily Health and Safety Checklist.
Fosters self-esteem, self-direction, self-control, and school readiness skills with preschool children using positive methods and modeling, and participates in curriculum development and implementation.
Supports social and emotional development and provides positive guidance and discipline, including supporting and guiding students with challenging behaviors using developmentally appropriate practices.
Complies with program curriculum, curriculum overlays, supplemental curriculum, State of Michigan Licensing for child care centers, and Head Start Program Performance Standards.
Assists in screening, observing, and assessing children’s development regularly, analyzing data, and making plans or referrals specific to individual child needs.
Supervises and eats nutritionally prepared meals with children as a curriculum activity to model good nutrition, proper social skills, and language stimulation in a family-style environment.
Assists with identifying and arranging for parents to volunteer in the classroom.
Assists the Teacher with collecting monthly in-kind records from parents and community members.
Assists with kitchen duties as necessary, such as warming food, dishing food, taking food temperatures, and cleaning the refrigerator and warmer.
Assists with bus aide duties as necessary, such as riding the bus, completing bus paperwork, and buckling children in seats on the bus.
May be asked to cover other classrooms to meet licensing ratios.