Infant/Toddler Teacher - Early Head Start

Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency•Salem, OR

About The Position

The Early Head Start Teacher utilizes responsive caregiving and continuity of care strategies to build relationships with children and promote their growth in the areas of social-emotional, physical, cognitive, and language development. Involves families in every aspect of their child's education, including facilitating parent involvement. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE High School Diploma or General Education Degree (GED) Level I: CDA or one-year equivalent certification Level II: An Associate's degree in Early Childhood Education or a related degree with a minimum of 18 credit hours of Early Learning coursework. Level III: A Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education or a related degree with a minimum of 18 credit hours of Early Learning coursework. One year of experience working in early childhood programs CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS Driver qualifications are required for this position. Valid driver license, insured vehicle available for use on the job, and a satisfactory drive record for the previous three years are required. Successful registration with the Central Background Registry of the Child Care Division. CPR/First Aid Certification or the ability to obtain within 60 days of hire. Food Handlers Card or the ability to obtain within 30 days of hire. Candidate must pass pre-employment physical examination, renewable every two years. Candidate must pass pre-employment and random drug/alcohol screenings. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES Demonstrated proficiencies in Microsoft Office (including Outlook), videoconferencing platforms, and web tools. Demonstrate tact, diplomacy, and empathy when communicating with clients, staff and community partners. Effective interpersonal communication skills, in both oral and written form. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employee will also perform other reasonably related business duties as assigned by immediate supervisor and other management as required.

Requirements

High School Diploma or General Education Degree (GED)
Level I: CDA or one-year equivalent certification
Level II: An Associate's degree in Early Childhood Education or a related degree with a minimum of 18 credit hours of Early Learning coursework.
Level III: A Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education or a related degree with a minimum of 18 credit hours of Early Learning coursework.
One year of experience working in early childhood programs
Valid driver license, insured vehicle available for use on the job, and a satisfactory drive record for the previous three years are required.
Successful registration with the Central Background Registry of the Child Care Division.
CPR/First Aid Certification or the ability to obtain within 60 days of hire.
Food Handlers Card or the ability to obtain within 30 days of hire.
Candidate must pass pre-employment physical examination, renewable every two years.
Candidate must pass pre-employment and random drug/alcohol screenings.
Demonstrated proficiencies in Microsoft Office (including Outlook), videoconferencing platforms, and web tools.
Demonstrate tact, diplomacy, and empathy when communicating with clients, staff and community partners.
Effective interpersonal communication skills, in both oral and written form.

Responsibilities

Classroom Utilizes infant and toddler curriculum and lesson planning procedures to create and implement flexible learning opportunities based on children's needs, strengths, and interests.
Develops close relationships with children through nurturing and responsive interactions, along with consistent routines to maintain a continuity of care.
Supports the social-emotional growth of infants and toddlers by using individualized responses and approaches based on their temperaments and needs.
Utilizes consistent responses to infants' and toddlers' actions and behaviors to support learning and provide positive redirection.
Builds social-emotional growth and language development through engaging and connecting with children during large- and small-group time, meal times, diaper changing, and bottle-feeding.
Integrates developmentally appropriate movement and physical activities and routines that support health and learning.
Assesses and modifies the learning environment to support the changing ages, interests, and characteristics of infants and toddlers.
Ensures safety in the classroom at all times, with appropriate supervision of children, utilizing the transition and counting form and procedure.
Ensures children are released only to parent/guardians or authorized adults.
Office/Paperwork Effectively uses the ChildPlus and Teaching Strategies Gold databases to enter or obtain information.
Completes Progress Checkpoints for child assessment, using information obtained from child observations.
Shares information with program administration and parents.
Writes an article for parent newsletter each month.
Staff Development/Meetings Attends a variety of classes, workshops, seminars, pre-service training and other Head Start Teacher trainings, and keeps current on developments in early childhood education, and developmentally appropriate practices.
Attends a variety of meetings including individual reflection meetings, region meetings, site team meetings, debriefing after observations, and other meetings as necessary.
Attends IFSP meetings or Triage meetings when necessary to support children with social-emotional or developmental concerns.
Keeps current on and complies with program and agency policies and procedures, Head Start Performance Standards, and other applicable regulations.
Parent Involvement Maintains daily communication with parents by providing information about their child's day, including information about diapering, toileting, meal times, rest times, and activities.
Conducts home visits twice per month per family, presenting child development materials and providing resources to Early Head Start families.