Head Start Teacher

You Thrive Florida•Pierson, FL

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Head Start Teacher is responsible for the day-to-day operation and management of a classroom and for guiding children’s learning through a developmentally appropriate environment. The teacher plans and provides learning experiences that support children’s physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development while meeting individual needs. The position collaborates closely with a teacher assistant, families, center staff, and community partners, and follows Head Start program standards and applicable federal, state, and local requirements. The role includes maintaining a safe, well-supplied classroom and playground; supervising children and maintaining required ratios; documenting attendance, observations, assessments, portfolios, family contacts, and program activities; and coordinating referrals and support for children with suspected delays or other concerns. The teacher conducts family engagement activities, including home visits, parent-teacher conferences, and individualized home activities, and participates in meals, field trips, drills, training, meetings, monitoring, and community activities. Schedule: Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The primary work location is a Head Start facility in Hernando, Sumter, and/or Volusia County, with occasional travel to other counties. This is a full-time, benefits-eligible position.

Requirements

At least an Associate’s degree; enroll in a bachelor’s degree program after 90 days and complete the degree within three years.
Two years of experience in child education, care, and service, or a related field.
Complete training required by the current Department of Children and Families Child Care Facility Handbook, Office of Early Learning School Readiness Program Health and Safety Standards Handbook, and other Office of Early Learning training standards.
Obtain and maintain CPR/First Aid certification and complete required annual Head Start training hours.
Valid Florida driver’s license and ability to be insured by the company’s current insurance carrier.
Subject to federal, state, and local legal requirements and background checks.
Ability to carry out lesson plans and implement and coordinate children’s activities, including working with children with special needs.
Knowledge of early childhood education methods, classroom management techniques, child disability, and mental health issues.
Ability to establish effective working relationships, particularly with parents and children; communicate effectively orally and in writing; analyze and interpret data; and use a personal computer.
Ability to complete work accurately, arrive daily and on time, work with limited direction, organize work, evaluate situations, and make prompt decisions.
Ability to maintain confidentiality concerning You Thrive Florida, Head Start, children, and parents.
Ability to meet the stated physical demands, including lifting and carrying up to 65 pounds; correctable eyesight and hearing are essential.

Responsibilities

Provide developmentally appropriate activities that support children’s physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development and meet individual needs.
Prepare and implement lesson plans in collaboration with the teacher assistant, using established curricula and providing small-group, large-group, and individual experiences; post the current lesson plan.
Guide children in basic concepts related to education, nutrition, health, dental care, and mental health.
Prepare children for screenings and examinations, including vision, hearing, dental, speech, and developmental procedures.
Observe and assess each child, maintaining required tracking records, anecdotal notes, health checks, and other documentation.
Collaborate with health staff to maintain first-aid supplies; store and administer medication according to written procedures and meet OSHA standards.
Maintain current emergency contact information for families and develop an accurate, current education portfolio for each child.
Complete and submit referrals for children with suspected delays or other concerns; participate in child staffing with the disability services team and LEA, complete required paperwork, and implement eligible children’s IEPs.
Organize and document outdoor play, support gross motor development, balance indoor and outdoor activities, and maintain a safe, clean, orderly classroom and playground.
Report needed repairs to the supervisor and take appropriate action to correct unsafe areas.
Maintain an adequately supplied classroom; prepare requests for supplies and equipment and make purchases with supervisor approval.
Provide learning experiences that encourage children to solve problems, initiate activities, explore, ask questions, and learn by doing.
Encourage language development through open-ended questions and support positive self-concept and social skills through cultural and ethnic acceptance and experiences.
Directly supervise children at all times and maintain child-to-staff ratios in accordance with policies and regulations.
Maintain accurate classroom attendance and ensure sign-in/out records correspond to the number of children present; promptly inform the Family Advocate of known reasons for absences.
Post and review the current menu with children; participate in breakfast and lunch and implement family-style dining.
Plan and implement healthy classroom cooking experiences that reflect the population’s ethnic and cultural composition.
Conduct regular safety and fire/storm drills and post emergency procedures and evacuation routes.
Maintain and document regular parent contact, including two home visits and two parent-teacher conferences per year; recruit and document parent volunteers and participation in center activities.
Complete two individualized home activities per child each month and provide them to parents.
Orient classroom volunteers and explain volunteer expectations; prepare the parent bulletin board in compliance with program standards.
Report child abuse and neglect in accordance with program policies and procedures.
Promote cleanliness and hygiene, including handwashing at appropriate times, toothbrushing after lunch, and ensuring children’s hands and faces are clean before departure.
Plan and participate in educational field trips that meet Head Start requirements and assist with recruiting children for the program.
Participate in community activities that enhance the Head Start program and act as an advocate and role model for Head Start families.
Maintain documentation required by the USDA/Child Care Food Program and ensure data quality and timely completion.
Provide professional guidance to and collaborate with the teacher assistant on classroom duties.
Participate in center and classroom activities, parent meetings and activities, training programs, staff meetings, and other meetings or trainings.
Assist in developing and implementing the annual training plan, including preservice, in-service, T/TA, and ongoing training requirements.
Maintain confidentiality of client, staff, and agency information and effective working relationships with coworkers and outside contacts.
Organize and prioritize assignments; submit reports, documents, and files as directed.
Demonstrate proficiency in applying the CLASS (Classroom Assessment Scoring System) in the learning environment.
Participate in ongoing monitoring, Community Assessment, and Self-Assessment and perform related functions.
Follow You Thrive Florida policies and procedures and applicable Head Start, federal, state, and local laws, regulations, standards, notices, and administrative directions.
Perform additional duties as directed or assigned by a supervisor, management staff, program director, or You Thrive Florida management staff.