Early Care Teacher

Young Womens Christian Association•St. Louis, MO

About The Position

The Early Care Teacher fosters the social, emotional, cognitive, language, and physical development of infants and toddlers in accordance with Head Start Performance Standards, Missouri Child Care Licensing Regulations, MOA Accreditation Standards, and YWCA policies and procedures. The role supports a safe, nurturing, and developmentally appropriate learning environment and provides individualized care to infants and toddlers. The teacher develops and implements lesson plans based on the Early Head Start curriculum, builds positive and culturally sensitive relationships with families, and works with family advocates to provide comprehensive services. The role includes documenting children’s development, conducting screenings and ongoing assessments, using assessment results to plan individualized outcomes, and supporting children with potential developmental delays, including incorporating Individual Family Service Plan goals into daily routines. The position has no formal supervisory responsibility. The teacher is responsible for taking necessary steps to maintain children’s health and safety and ensuring that equipment and supplies align with the curriculum.

Requirements

In-depth knowledge of child development, with an emphasis on children from birth to 3 years old.
Knowledge of birth-to-three curriculum, Head Start Performance Standards, Missouri Licensing Regulations, and MOA Standards.
Thorough knowledge of implementing Developmentally Appropriate Practice in daily routines for infants and toddlers.
Ability to establish trust, communicate respect, and develop caring, nurturing relationships with children, parents, staff, and the community.
Ability to work well with others and effectively manage an infant-toddler classroom.
Ability to process and apply information appropriately.
Ability to incorporate Head Start Performance Standards, Missouri Child Care Licensing Regulations, and MOA Accreditation Standards into daily routines and care.
Ability to develop and maintain nurturing relationships with infants, toddlers, and their families.
Ability to work effectively with a diverse population.
Ability to maintain a healthy and safe environment for infants and toddlers.
Ability to lift 40 pounds and get up and down on the floor with infants and toddlers.
Associate or bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or a related degree with five Early Childhood Education classes, or a CDA with a concentration in infant/toddler services.

Responsibilities

Maintain an indoor and outdoor environment that meets health, safety, and mental health requirements for infants and toddlers under local, state, and Early Head Start standards.
Develop and implement developmentally appropriate lesson plans based on the Early Head Start curriculum.
Develop nurturing bonds with each infant and toddler through individualized care.
Foster positive, culturally sensitive relationships with parents and families through ongoing communication and provide opportunities for parent involvement in children’s education.
Collaborate with family advocates to provide comprehensive and holistic services.
Maintain accurate documentation of each child’s development and growth through daily observation and recording of behavior and skill attainment.
Conduct screenings and ongoing assessments of each child’s growth and development, and use results to plan effective individualized outcomes and meet individual needs.
Complete observations and referrals for infants and toddlers with potential developmental delays.
Incorporate Individual Family Service Plan goals into each child’s daily routine.
Take the steps necessary to maintain the health and safety of children in care.
Ensure equipment and supplies are in accordance with the curriculum.