HEAD START TEACHER (HS1)

Boys & Girls Club • PR

114d

About The Position

Responsible for a Head Start classroom of 3- to 5-year-old children. Work collaboratively with an assistant teacher, family members, and other staff to achieve positive outcomes for children of all abilities.

Requirements

• AA/AS in Early Childhood Education OR BA/BS in Early Childhood Education –OR- state awarded preschool teacher certification with experience teaching preschool aged children–OR- BA/BS in related field with at least six college courses in Early Childhood Education plus experience teaching preschool aged children.
• BA Highly preferred.
• Bilingual (Spanish) preferred.
• Physical exam and background checks are required for this position.
• Travel required locally or long-distance up to 10% of the time for work-related meetings and functions.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.
• Ability to interact effectively with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing.
• Demonstrated computer literacy skills, using MS Office applications and other basic data systems including internet navigation.
• Must be honest, dependable and able to meet deadlines.
• Self-motivated and able to work independently.

Responsibilities

• Provide emotional support through establishing a positive climate, being aware of and responsive to children, and encouraging child expression and autonomy.
• Use strategies for behavior management, such as clear behavior expectations, being proactive and redirecting misbehavior.
• Foster classroom productivity and maximize learning time, while engaging children with a variety of modalities and materials.
• Provide instructional support through concept development, fostering children’s analysis and reasoning, engaging in feedback loops, and modeling and supporting high-quality language.
• Ensure classroom arrangement, materials and displays are organized and conducive to children’s learning.
• Implement chosen curriculum with fidelity, being aware of the big ideas while also following all assigned guidance and resources.
• Prepare or modify weekly lesson plans and prepare to implement small-group activities, read-alouds, circle time, and other curriculum components.
• Provide children with a consistent classroom routine and facilitate all parts of the routine to support child learning.
• Interact with children intentionally throughout the day to provide differentiated support.
• Collect documentation of children through ongoing observation, embedded and direct assessment activities.
• Complete quarterly assessment checkpoints, reliably, for each child.
• Analyze child assessment data and use it to plan and individualize.
• Complete developmental and social-emotional screenings on all children within prescribed time frames.
• Complete theme based Individualized Learning Plans to identify specific goals and implement developmentally appropriate strategies for each child in class.
• Integrate Individual Education Plans (IEPs) or referral action plans for children with diagnosed or suspected special needs.
• Implement PBS practices and Program Wide Expectations.
• Establish positive and productive relationships with families through building rapport and trust.
• Schedule and complete two home visits and two parent-teacher conferences each year.
• Encourage and engage family members to serve as classroom volunteers.
• Collaborate with family services staff to support families in implementing family life practices, extending learning into the home, and meeting expectations for attendance.
• Follow all guidance and expectations to support of Shine On, Families initiative.
• Participate in ongoing reflective coaching and self-assessment.
• Collaborate with the assistant teacher and other staff in the center.
• Share pertinent information with family services, disabilities/mental health or health/nutrition staff, as needed, to meet the needs of individual children and families. Participate in case conferences as appropriate.
• Know and understand School Readiness Goals and strive to help all children achieve them.
• Provide classroom experiences that are developmentally, linguistically, culturally and age-appropriate for the children served.
• Establish and maintain a safe, healthy learning environment, including full supervision of children at all times, in accordance with Head Start and childcare licensing requirements.
• Conduct daily health/safety monitoring of the indoor and (as requested) outdoor environment.
• Follow all health and hygiene practices, including hand-washing, sanitizing, and universal precautions.
• Supervise mealtimes and 'family style dining' with children.
• Supervise all classroom field trips and outdoor activities.
• Maintain required documentation of activities, including child and family information, assessment data, volunteer logs, etc.
• Participates in assigned meetings, events and training as required.
• Performs any and all other duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Education Level: Bachelor's degree