Head Start Lead Teacher

Ross County Community Action Commission•Chillicothe, OH

2d•$20 - $21

About The Position

Ross County Community Action is hiring a Lead Teacher for its Head Start team. The role supports children’s learning, development, safety, and well-being while working collaboratively with families, assistant teachers, bus drivers, and other Head Start staff. The teacher develops and implements daily lesson plans and schedules, tracks children’s attendance and developmental progress, communicates with families, and helps connect families with services. The position also supports center operations, food service, recruitment, enrollment, and compliance with applicable program standards and regulations.

Requirements

An associate degree or higher in Early Childhood Education or a related field is required; a bachelor’s degree is preferred.
Ability to handle confidential information.
Must pass a pre-employment drug test and complete drug screening, a pre-employment physical, BCI and FBI background reviews, and background checks for child abuse and the sex offender registry.
Familiarity with community resources.
Ability to lift 40 pounds and stoop and bend to speak with children at their level.
Patience and a caring disposition.
Must be insurable under the agency’s insurance policy.
Must provide verification of personal vehicle insurance.
Must permit Ross County CAC to obtain a Motor Vehicle Record.
Must follow agency safety policies and procedures and code of conduct; training will be documented in the personnel file.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education or a related field.

Responsibilities

Develop and post daily lesson plans and implement the center’s daily schedules, involving the assistant teacher/bus driver, parents, and children in preparation.
Supervise the safety of all children in the center and conduct daily health checks in accordance with ODJFS regulations, consulting the Site Administrator and/or Health Manager about communicable diseases.
Report suspected child abuse or neglect to Children’s Services after informing the supervisor, and complete internal paperwork.
Protect confidential children’s information when working with other professionals.
Maintain an inventory of center equipment and supplies and request items as needed.
Support children’s emerging literacy and numeracy and promote developmental skills through positive interactions.
Conduct and record two parent-teacher conferences per year in ChildPlus.
Conduct two educational home visits each year, lasting 1 to 1½ hours each; provide an educational plan for each visit and record it in ChildPlus.
Screen each child within 45 days of enrollment using the current assessment tool.
Assess each child three times per year using the Teaching Strategies Gold assessment, maintain and update records, and implement I.E.P. goals set by the I.E.P. Team.
Help organize kindergarten transition activities, including completion of each child’s kindergarten profile.
Maintain a clean and orderly center with other staff.
Work cooperatively with Head Start staff and maintain a positive attitude.
Know and follow center rules and serve as a role model for teacher assistants, bus drivers, and parent volunteers.
Maintain a daily attendance log, document the reason for each absence, and help contact parents when a child misses three consecutive school days or has irregular attendance; support the program’s 85% attendance level.
Distribute information to families and maintain open communication.
Plan and organize activities that encourage parents to participate effectively in their children’s education.
Help ensure children receive physical and dental examinations and complete follow-up treatment.
Alert the Child & Family Advocate to families’ social service needs.
Serve as bus monitor for the Bus Driver when needed.
Assist with Head Start recruitment and enrollment.
Help implement food service according to CACFP, Head Start Performance Standards, and local health regulations, including serving meals, keeping accurate attendance and meal counts, monitoring special diets, and obtaining CACFP Enrollment Forms.
Perform duties to help maintain compliance with Federal and State Performance Standards, Department of Education rules and regulations, and Department of Job & Family Services regulations.
Attend meetings, seminars, trainings, and conferences at the discretion of the Early Childhood Director and share relevant information with other staff.