Infant Toddler Teacher

Regina Coeli Child Development Center•Hammond, LA

About The Position

The Infant Toddler Teacher provides a safe, supervised educational setting for children in the Early Head Start environment, including the classroom, outdoor play areas, and field trips. The role promotes children's social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development; encourages parent involvement; develops individual goals; assesses children's progress; and supports their transition into kindergarten. The teacher must comply with Federal Head Start Performance Standards, Louisiana licensing requirements, and applicable agency policies and procedures. The teacher develops and delivers developmentally appropriate curriculum, maintains a safe and healthy environment, documents child and family information, and builds relationships with families and colleagues. The position also includes parent conferences and home visits, collaboration with Family Advocates and other agencies, participation in program improvement and professional development, and assistance with classroom, facility, and food-service needs.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED, plus a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential with an infant/toddler setting, or a college degree from an accredited institution in Early Childhood Education, child development, or a related field.
Experience teaching in an early childhood setting with infants and toddlers.
Ability to adapt curriculum for children with varied needs, including at-risk, special-needs, gifted, and culturally diverse children.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Intermediate to advanced computer skills, including internet and email.
Ability to supervise preschool children and maintain safety in classrooms, outdoor play areas, and on field trips, including responding quickly to active children who may need redirection.
Ability to respond appropriately to emergencies or crisis situations.
Ability to sit with children during family-style meals and eat the same Head Start lunch to model good nutritional habits.
Ability to drive occasionally for home visits, sometimes in outlying areas.
Pass a criminal background check and a physical examination every three years.
Complete a tuberculosis test every three years.
Maintain current First Aid and CPR certification; training is provided.
Valid driver's license and driving record compliant with RCCDC insurance carrier requirements.
Ability to lift up to 50 pounds and frequently kneel, crawl, stoop, bend, and sit on the floor to attend to children's needs.
Ability to work in an active environment with changing climate and noise levels.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual English/Spanish skills are highly desirable.

Responsibilities

Follow Head Start Program Performance Standards, Louisiana licensing requirements, the RCCDC written work plan, and agency policies and procedures.
Maintain professional, respectful relationships with staff and families, including respect for culture, diversity, and ethnicity.
Participate in annual program self-assessment and continuous quality improvement initiatives.
Maintain the confidentiality of children's records.
Report indoor and outdoor safety hazards and report signs of illness, discomfort, or unusual behavior to Family Advocates and Specialists.
Report suspected child abuse or neglect to the Department of Children & Family Services.
Develop and use integrated curriculum plans that reflect mandated elements, parental and cultural influences, and children's developmental needs.
Follow a consistent schedule of group experiences, choice time, music and movement, motor activities, skill development, meals, and transitions.
Provide interactions and an environment that support children's development and participation.
Establish weekly individual and group educational goals that include other Early Head Start content areas.
Prepare classroom materials and create or change learning centers as needed.
Promote and reinforce parental engagement, model appropriate behavior and positive guidance, and communicate regularly with parents about children's progress.
Conduct required parent-teacher conferences and home visits to assess and support children and families and share information about progress and educational strategies.
Help plan and conduct regular parent meetings with team members.
Work with appropriate agencies on specialized planning for children and families as needed.
Document baselines and ongoing assessments in CC Gold according to agency benchmarks.
Document classroom issues, parent contacts, and home visits in PROMIS.
Support Family Advocates with documentation of particular family and child concerns during scheduled staffing.
Assist with food service and other classroom needs as requested.
Attend meetings, trainings, and appropriate professional development activities.
Help maintain facility security and general upkeep and assist with equipment and supply inventory.
Assist with generating in-kind contributions and perform other duties as requested.