Head Start Teacher

Innovative Network of Knowledge•Ruston, LA

About The Position

The Head Start Teacher provides responsive care, effective teaching, and an organized learning environment that supports healthy development and children’s growth in skills, including children with disabilities. The teacher uses prescribed curricula and child assessment information to plan developmentally appropriate learning experiences across language, literacy, social and emotional development, math, science, social studies, creative arts, and physical development. The role includes supporting screenings and assessments, communicating regularly with families, maintaining compliant and organized records, and ensuring children’s safety and supervision. The teacher collaborates with families, colleagues, service providers, and program professionals to support children’s development and school readiness. The position also involves maintaining safe indoor and outdoor learning spaces, participating in meetings and program activities, completing required training, and following program policies and standards of conduct. Some travel, evening work, and weekend work may be required.

Requirements

An associate degree is required; candidates enrolled in college may be trained if they complete the associate degree within 18 months of employment. A bachelor’s degree is preferred.
Two years of early childhood classroom experience is preferred.
Ability to respond sensitively and competently to the cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of the service population.
Ability to maintain emotional control and professional composure.
Computer literacy sufficient to fulfill the position’s responsibilities.
Working knowledge of INK policies and procedures.
Ability to organize and prioritize duties in a fast-paced environment.
Ability to work independently.
Valid driver’s license.
Complete and pass a health examination.
Confirm eligibility to work in the United States for any employer; visa sponsorship is not available.
Successfully pass a driving history check and criminal background check.
Ability to lift up to 60 pounds and to stand, sit on the floor, bend, squat, kneel, lift children, and engage with children.
Ability to work a flexible schedule, including nights, holidays, and weekends.
May be exposed to communicable diseases and hazards such as cigarette smoke, pets, and at-risk neighborhoods.
Travel up to 50% by car, bus, airplane, or train may be required, including occasional overnight travel.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education.
Bilingual English and Spanish communication skills, including written and verbal communication.
Two years of experience in an early childhood classroom.

Responsibilities

Protect children’s physical and mental health and safety, ensuring no child is left alone or unsupervised while in the program’s care.
Provide responsive care, effective teaching, and an organized learning environment aligned with the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework, including for children with disabilities.
Use prescribed curricula to provide developmentally appropriate learning experiences across language, literacy, social and emotional development, math, science, social studies, creative arts, and physical development.
Use child assessment data in individual and group planning.
Contribute to screenings, assessments, and ongoing evaluation of children’s developmental levels and progress.
Support parent and family engagement in children’s development and program services, including parent conferences and group activities.
Follow child-safety practices, report suspected or known child abuse and neglect, supervise children appropriately, and follow standards of conduct.
Meet positive adult-child interaction standards as measured by the CLASS: Pre-K instrument.
Complete required training under state and federal standards.
Communicate regularly with parents about children’s routines, 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 set 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 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 child development professionals to address needs.
Participate in school functions, scheduled meetings, team decisions, and program operations.
Collaborate with staff, service providers, and other professionals.
Maintain confidentiality in all areas of child and program operations.
Perform other duties as assigned.