Infant Toddler Teacher

Community Action Program for Central Arkansas•Dumas, AR

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Under the overall supervision of the Early Childhood Director and the direct supervision of the Center Manager, the Infant/Toddler Teacher is responsible for implementing the educational program in the infant/toddler classroom. This role involves planning and implementing learning experiences that advance the intellectual and physical development of children, focusing on school readiness in areas such as literacy, language, vocabulary, early math, early science, and problem-solving. The teacher will establish and maintain a safe, healthy, and nurturing learning environment, supporting children's social and emotional development through positive relationships. Encouraging family involvement and maintaining professional conduct with staff, parents, and children are key aspects of the position. The role also includes implementing the curriculum, developing daily lesson plans, promoting developmentally appropriate practices, using routines for growth, providing positive guidance, promoting good eating habits, observing and individualizing for each child, and conducting ongoing assessments. The teacher will supervise children and volunteers, maintain program records, work cooperatively with staff, and be knowledgeable about learning centers. Maintaining classroom orderliness and cleanliness, assisting with training and technical assistance for other staff, and collaborating with administrative staff and consultants are also responsibilities. The position involves assisting in the assessment of the Education and Early Childhood Development Work Plan, documenting In-Kind contributions, and attending staff, parent, and IEP meetings as requested. The role requires the ability to respond to children's needs and emergencies, manage data, and ensure compliance and avoid fraud within the Early Childhood area. Non-essential functions include respecting confidentiality, participating in professional development (minimum 15 clock hours annually), handling stress, administering first aid when needed, and performing other duties as required.

Requirements

High School Diploma or GED and a Child Development Associate (CDA) with Infant/Toddler Endorsement are required.
Associate degree or bachelor degree in Early Childhood Education may also be accepted.
One year experience working with infants &/or toddlers (6 weeks to 3 years of age).
Good physical condition.
Able to lift children, able to sit and stand for long periods of time.
Participate in activities requiring bending, stooping, kneeling, and jumping.
Occasionally stand or walk on uneven surfaces.
Must be able to pass tuberculosis screening annually and initial health examination within first three months of employment.
Valid driver�s license, access to transportation with liability insurance and willing to use vehicle for Agency related travel.
Must be able to travel out of area overnight to attend training.
Able to hear and communicate orally with children and adults.
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, distance and peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
Occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
Ability to read, write and perform mathematical calculations.
Be in sympathy with the concepts of the Head Start Program.
Able to delegate responsibilities.
Able to keep confidential information without inappropriately divulging it.
Planning and organizational abilities.
Able to make decisions and work without continual close supervision.

Responsibilities

Plan and implement learning experiences that advance the intellectual and physical development of children, including improving the readiness of children for school by developing their: literacy, phonemic, and print awareness understanding and use of language understanding and use of increasing complex and varied vocabulary appreciation of books understanding of early math and early science problem-solving abilities and approaches to learning.
Establish and maintain a safe, healthy learning environment by forming positive, trusting and nurturing relationships with children.
Support the social and emotional development of children by forming positive, trusting and nurturing relationships with children.
Encourage the involvement of the families of the children and support the development of relationships between children and their families.
Maintain a professional attitude with staff, parents, volunteers, and children at all times.
Creating a warm and welcoming environment that supports children�s growth and development
Implementing the curriculum and developing and implementing daily lesson plans
Promoting developmentally appropriate practices
Using routines as opportunities for growth and learning.
Providing activities that facilitate children�s growth and development
Arranging and conducting educational home visits and parent conferences and guiding children�s behavior in positive ways.
Promote good eating habits with toddlers by conversing and encouraging good table manners when food is served.
Observing children regularly and individualizing for each child based on these observations.
Ongoing assessment of enrolled children to monitor child outcomes.
Provide supervision for children, or volunteers in the classroom.
Maintaining a high quality daily program of work and designated record keeping.
Work cooperatively with other classroom/center staff.
Is knowledgeable in all aspects of use and design of learning centers.
Responsible for the orderliness and cleanliness of the classroom.
Assist in providing training and technical assistance to other center staff in overall child development.
Work with Administrative Office staff, support staff and consultants in implementing recommendations.
Assist in the assessment of the Education and Early Childhood Development Work Plan.
Assist in obtaining and documenting In-Kind (Non-Federal Match) for parent and community activities.
Attend and participate in center staff meetings.
Participate in parent meetings and staffings as requested.
Serve as a member of the IEP Team by attending IEP meetings as requested.
Responsible for data management in child development areas.
Assist in the avoidance or appearance of fraud and ensure compliance in the overall management of the Early Childhood area.
Respect confidentiality in all aspects of the Head Start Program.
Participate in all training designed for professional development.
Document attendance of a minimum of 15 clock hours of approved professional development per year that is high-quality, sustained, intensive and classroom-focused.
Able to handle stress, tension and exasperation that contact with many children and adults may bring every day.
May be called upon to administer first aid to children or staff at any time in the program.
Perform other duties as needed and required for efficient operation of the Center, needs and welfare of the children.