Early Head Start Teacher - Baltimore County

The Y in Central Maryland

1d•$22 - $24

About The Position

The Early Head Start Teacher manages an Early Head Start classroom in accordance with COMAR Child Care Regulations, Head Start Performance Standards, the program’s Infant/Toddler and Twos curriculum, and the Y in Central Maryland Child Care Philosophy. The role supports children’s health, safety, development, and school readiness while building nurturing relationships with infants and toddlers and partnering with families, volunteers, and classroom staff. The teacher plans and implements individualized learning activities, observes and assesses children’s development, maintains required documentation and attendance records, and conducts family engagement activities including home visits and parent-teacher conferences. The role also oversees classroom staff, coordinates with program managers and service providers, maintains a clean and well-supplied classroom, attends required meetings and training, and follows Head Start, licensing, and organizational policies.

Requirements

Obtain a valid criminal background check.
Obtain a pre-employment physical, including a TB test.
Have access to reliable transportation.
Infant/Toddler CDA, or six semester credits (90 clock hours) or equivalent approved Early Childhood coursework, and three semester credits (45 clock hours) or equivalent approved infant/toddler coursework.
At least one year of supervised early childhood experience.
Possess a Pediatric First Aid and CPR certificate or obtain it within 90 days of employment.
Abide by the Code of Conduct with Youth and complete required child abuse prevention training.

Nice To Haves

Experience with data entry.
Two years of supervised early childhood experience.

Responsibilities

Ensure the health, welfare, and safety of children and maintain appropriate adult-to-child ratios.
Supervise children at all times, adjusting supervision for different ages and abilities.
Build warm, supportive, and caring relationships that promote infants’ and toddlers’ security and trust.
Write and implement individualized daily lesson plans aligned with curriculum assessments and Head Start School Readiness Outcomes.
Conduct observations, developmental assessments, screenings, and developmentally appropriate activities to measure children’s growth.
Include classroom staff, parents, and volunteers in lesson plans and daily activities.
Plan and manage classroom schedules, routines, transitions, and structure.
Demonstrate sensitivity, cultural respect, acceptance, and patience.
Conduct developmental screenings within 45 days of enrollment and ongoing as prescribed.
Share pertinent child information and parent instructions with caregivers to ensure continuity of care.
Maintain children’s education folders and portfolio-assessment binders in compliance with applicable requirements.
Complete daily and monthly attendance records.
Conduct at least two home visits and two parent-teacher conferences annually.
Participate in monthly parent meetings and solicit parent input on classroom activities.
Provide parents with developmentally appropriate home-learning activities weekly.
Recruit, train, and involve parent volunteers in the classroom.
Oversee classroom staff and advise them on classroom issues.
Share written communications from the Education Service Area with the classroom team in a timely manner.
Monitor classroom supplies and submit orders when needed.
Maintain a neat, appealing, and clean classroom and center, including bathrooms and floors.
Attend and actively participate in Early Head Start, Head Start, and curriculum training.
Model professional behavior and follow Baltimore County Head Start policies and procedures.
Model positive interactions that promote parent-child bonding and nurturing relationships.
Observe children for signs of illness, injury, abuse, neglect, emotional disturbance, or other special needs, and report concerns immediately to the Zone Manager.
Work with Early Head Start and Head Start Managers to provide developmentally appropriate Early Intervention services.
Attend case management meetings, parent conferences, case reviews, IEP/IFSP and transition meetings, staff and parent meetings, in-service and pre-service meetings, and other directed meetings.
Report to work at scheduled times and maintain good attendance.
Take advantage of training opportunities for professional growth.
May serve as the point of contact between the classroom and Zone Manager.
Follow the Code of Conduct with Youth, complete child abuse prevention training, and report suspected mistreatment as required.