Gatesville Head Start Teacher/Director (12 month)

About the position

The Teacher/Director is responsible for the overall supervision and management of a center, ensuring that the objectives delineated in the annual Head Start plan are implemented. The Teacher/Director will be knowledgeable of Texas Minimum Standards for Licensing, and provide a supportive, safe, and stimulating learning environment.

Responsibilities

• Maintain a calm, safe classroom and playground that incorporates developmental appropriateness; create an atmosphere in which the children feel comfortable and secure, reflecting the cultures of all enrolled children.
• Observe the children at all times; provide positive guidance to promote self-esteem.
• Develop lesson plans that meet the physical, social, emotional, and intellectual needs of each child, planning for variations in ability levels and individual interests; review other teaching staff's plans.
• Ensure that all classroom staff are competent in their abilities to interact appropriately with the children.
• Evaluate the teaching techniques of other center staff to ensure that developmentally appropriate practice according to the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) as well as Hill Country Community Action quality Head Start standards are effectively implemented.
• Consistently implement center routines, including hand washing, tooth brushing, eating, napping, and transitioning between activities.
• Operate the classroom in compliance with all childcare-licensing standards, paying particular attention to standards prohibiting any form of physical punishment.
• Attend ARD meetings as scheduled.
• Complete annual evaluations for employees supervised. Maintain documentation relating to staff competencies.
• Model team leadership: ensure that the teamwork concept is upheld and implemented at the center.
• Ensure that the arrangement of each classroom provides a stimulating, clean, and safe learning environment, incorporating NAEYC standards.
• Complete Individual Developmental Plans for each enrolled child; continue the on-going assessment process, maintaining written or computer records on each child.
• Supply a variety of materials and planned activities designed to encourage individual and group play.
• Provide experiences that promote individual self-expression in conversation, imaginative play, and creativity.
• Offer a variety of language stimulation activities.
• Provide experiences involving thinking skills such as generalizing, classifying, sorting, and problem solving.
• Make available a variety of opportunities to help children develop and understand appropriate relationships with others.
• Provide continuous opportunities for children to experience success.
• Increase the complexity and challenge of activities as children develop.
• Contribute to the operation of the center by participating in staff meetings and sharing information gained through attendance at workshops and Head Start training.
• Observe, record, and report any child's behavior, sharing information appropriately with other staff members.
• Show personal development and growth by being relaxed, using a calm, quiet voice, being pleasant and enthusiastic about the children, and by using self-control in trying situations.
• Assist with transition activities for the Head Start child and family: into Head Start, during the year, and to the next placement (kindergarten).
• Complete required home visits or center conferences with parents in conjunction with the Family Service staff.
• Assist the children at snack, breakfast, and lunchtime, ensuring that the Head Start philosophy of serving family style meals is maintained and that the children serve themselves.
• Serve as transportation escort on a rotating basis with other center staff, or as requested.
• Perform any other duties as assigned by the Head Start Program Director.

Requirements

• Must attend annual pre-service training in summer (date TBD upon interview).
• Associate degree or Baccalaureate Degree in early childhood education or related field.
• Must meet the minimum qualifications for Director of a licensed child care facility, to generally include 6 college credit hours in business management and 6 college credit hours in child development.
• A minimum of 2 year's employment in a licensed child-care facility. (Bachelor's degree requirement: one year of experience in a licensed child-care facility).
• Strong leadership, management, and organizational skills, as well as a thorough understanding of developmentally appropriate practice.
• Ability to communicate with, develop and motivate employees to create a positive work environment.
• Must be flexible and have well-developed written, verbal, and interpersonal skills.
• Must be able to conduct training programs, maintain records, prepare reports, and clearly understand written or verbal instruction.
• Ability to organize, manage, and control workflow.
• Ability to work effectively with individuals from various ethnic, socioeconomic, educational, and cultural backgrounds.
• Ability to identify, assimilate, comprehend, and solve critical elements of various situations.

Nice-to-haves

• Bilingual skills are encouraged.

Benefits

• Accrual of sick and vacation time.
• Medical insurance.
• Employee paid group dental insurance.
• Life insurance.
• Long term disability insurance.
• Participation in the 401-k retirement plan after a year's employment.
• Paid holidays.