HEAD START TEACHER I

CHILD CRISIS ARIZONA • Mesa, AZ

3d • $19 - $21 • Onsite

About The Position

The Head Start Teacher I assists with the general operation of the classroom and the supervision, care, and welfare of 20 children. The role helps provide a safe, nurturing, engaging, enjoyable, and secure learning environment, and supports age-appropriate classroom and outdoor learning experiences that reflect children’s developmental stages, interests, temperaments, learning styles, languages, and cultural backgrounds.

The teacher assists with developing and implementing curriculum and lesson plans aligned with the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework, using developmentally appropriate and multicultural practices. The position supports children with disabilities and their families, including making adaptations, participating in IEP discussions, and supporting IEP goals. It also supports dual language learners’ English acquisition and continued development of their home languages.

The role works in partnership with children’s families, classroom team members, community agencies and partners, and grantee staff. It assists with home visits, parent-teacher conferences, developmental and social-emotional screenings, ongoing assessments, and accurate documentation. The teacher follows applicable federal, state, Office of Head Start, Arizona licensing, CACFP, and program requirements, and completes required forms and paperwork. The position is full-time, day shift, located in Mesa, Arizona, with no travel required. The stated pay range is $18.50–$20.68 per hour.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED.
• Preschool CDA, or enrollment in a CDA or degree-seeking program.
• At least 6 months of experience working with children from birth to age five in a group setting.
• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Must possess a valid Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card or be able to obtain one before employment.
• Must pass a Central Registry Background Check, CAN State Registry Check, and Criminal History Check.
• Must have a valid Arizona driver’s license and pass an agency driver’s test.
• Must have a clean driving record for the past five years.
• Must pass an initial health examination that includes screeners or tests for communicable diseases.
• Must sign a statement declaring that necessary immunizations have been received.
• Ability to meet the stated physical demands, including frequently standing, walking, sitting, handling objects, reaching, climbing or balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling, and communicating through speech and hearing.
• Vision abilities required include close, distance, and color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and care for 20 classroom children, ensuring their safety and well-being at all times.
• Help maintain a safe, nurturing, engaging, enjoyable, and secure learning environment.
• Assist with developing, organizing, and implementing age-appropriate preschool curriculum using Creative Curriculum for Preschool.
• Assist with planning classroom and outdoor experiences that address children’s developmental stages, interests, temperaments, learning styles, languages, and cultural backgrounds.
• Assist with creating and implementing lesson plans aligned with the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework.
• Assist with developing and implementing a multicultural curriculum using developmentally appropriate practices.
• Support children with disabilities and their families by making appropriate adaptations, supporting IEP goal achievement, and participating in IEP discussions.
• Support dual language learner teaching practices, including English language acquisition and continued development of the home language.
• Comply with federal, state, and Office of Head Start Performance Standards regulations, Arizona licensing requirements, CACFP requirements, and program policies and procedures.
• Respect and support each child’s and family’s background and facilitate parent participation as equal partners in educational plans.
• Develop and maintain positive relationships with families, site team members, community agencies and partners, and grantee staff.
• Assist with required child-centered home visits and parent-teacher conferences for each enrolled child.
• Assist with completing ASQ and DECA developmental and social-emotional screenings within 45 days of enrollment and accurately document child health information.
• Assist with regular and ongoing child assessments according to program guidelines and Learning Genie.
• Implement Active Supervision strategies indoors and outdoors, following Active Supervision and Traveling Transition policies and procedures.
• Establish consistent rules and behavioral expectations using positive guidance methods.
• Maintain a consistent yet flexible daily schedule with routines that help children predict events and develop trust.
• Support individual children’s goals and ensure individual plans are consistently implemented.
• Complete required forms and assigned paperwork, including CACFP mealtime documentation.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED