Head Start Teacher

Innovative Network of Knowledge•Monroe, LA

21h

About The Position

The Head Start Teacher provides responsive care, effective teaching, and an organized learning environment that supports children’s healthy development and skill growth, aligned with the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework: Ages Birth to Five. The role serves children, including children with disabilities, and uses prescribed curricula and child assessment information to plan developmentally appropriate individual and group learning experiences. The teacher helps protect children’s health and safety, supports screenings and developmental assessments, maintains communication with families, and keeps child and classroom records organized and current. The position also involves collaborating with families, coworkers, service providers, and other professionals; participating in meetings and program activities; and meeting applicable training, policy, and documentation requirements. The role may require travel, occasional evenings and weekends, and work in environments where exposure to communicable diseases and other hazards is possible.

Requirements

An associate degree is required; a person enrolled in college may be trained if they complete an associate degree within 18 months of employment. A bachelor’s degree is preferred.
Two years of early childhood classroom experience is preferred.
Demonstrate the ability to respond sensitively and competently to the cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of the service population.
Demonstrate the ability to maintain emotional control and professional composure.
Maintain the computer literacy needed to meet the responsibilities of the position.
Demonstrate working knowledge of INK policies and procedures.
Organize and prioritize duties and responsibilities in a fast-paced environment.
Work independently.
Possess a valid driver’s license.
Complete and pass a health examination.
Confirm eligibility to work in the United States; applicants must be authorized to work for any employer, and visa sponsorship is not available.
Successfully pass a driving history check and criminal background check.
Lift up to 60 pounds; stand, sit on the floor, bend, squat, kneel, lift children, and engage with children.
Travel up to 50% by car, bus, airplane, or train may be required, including possible overnight travel.
Work a flexible schedule that may include nights, holidays, and weekends; some evening and weekend work may be required for events, home visits, parent-teacher conferences, meetings, and field trips.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education.
Bilingual Spanish; ability to communicate verbally and in writing in English and Spanish is preferred.

Responsibilities

Ensure staff, consultants, contractors, and volunteers protect children’s physical and mental health and safety, and ensure no child is left alone or unsupervised.
Provide responsive care, effective teaching, and an organized learning environment that promotes healthy development and skill growth in alignment with the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework: Ages Birth to Five, including for children with disabilities.
Use prescribed curricula to provide developmentally appropriate learning in language, literacy, social and emotional development, math, science, social studies, creative arts, and physical development; integrate child assessment data into individual and group planning.
Contribute to and support screenings, assessments, and ongoing evaluation of children’s developmental levels and progress.
Provide and support opportunities for parents and family members to participate in children’s development and program services, including parent conferences and group activities.
Follow practices that keep children safe, including appropriate supervision, reporting suspected or known child abuse and neglect, and complying with standards of conduct.
Comply with positive adult-child interaction practices measured by the CLASS: Pre-K instrument.
Complete training required by state and federal standards.
Communicate regularly with parents about their child’s routine, classroom activities, behavior, and progress.
Maintain child files, classroom forms, and other documentation so records are compliant, current, and organized.
Monitor the classroom for physical and environmental hazards.
Report incidents within the timeframes established by program policy and protocol.
Provide age-appropriate equipment, materials, supplies, and functional indoor and outdoor learning spaces; periodically change materials to support children’s evolving interests and development.
Respond to classroom observations by modifying teaching strategies and lesson plans in accordance with prescribed curricula.
Identify potential barriers to children’s development and school readiness, and coordinate with education, family, mental health, and/or child development program staff to address identified needs.
Participate in school functions, scheduled meetings, team decisions, and program operations.
Collaborate with staff members, service providers, and other professionals.
Maintain confidentiality in all areas of child and program operations.
Perform other job duties as assigned.