PRESCHOOL TEACHER - HEAD START PROG (Early Childhood Degree a must)

YWCA South Florida•Miami, FL

11d•$22 - $23•Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking a dedicated Preschool Teacher for our Head Start Program. The ideal candidate must possess an Early Childhood Degree or 18 credits in Early Childhood with a related field degree. This position is responsible for the overall organization and learning environment of the classroom, working closely with a teacher assistant in daily lesson planning, and ensuring the health and safety of the children. The role involves implementing VPK instruction, completing necessary paperwork on time, performing screenings and assessments, and communicating effectively with parents and staff. The teacher will collaborate with all staff to ensure program philosophy, values, and goals are met, adhering to Early Childhood Program Standards and regulatory requirements. Weekly meetings with the teacher(s) and assistants will focus on planning daily activities within the YWCA’s program appropriate curriculum to foster children's cognitive, social/emotional, physical, and creative skills. Activity plans will be presented weekly to the Education Specialist. The teacher will engage students through various social experiences, classroom arrangements, and support materials, promoting program objectives and managing independent and group activities in a safe environment. Preventing challenging behaviors through environmental design, appropriate schedules, effective transitions, and engaging activities is key. Encouraging positive self-image through active listening, responding, and reinforcement, using positive, non-punitive discipline techniques, and guiding children in controlling their behavior are essential. The role also includes preparing and delivering timely, accurate reports such as attendance, program reports, daily meal counts, developmental records, timesheets, leave requests, fee collections, and incident reports. Adapting to changing conditions to enhance program quality, recognizing and protecting children from health and safety hazards, and preparing and serving meals/snacks are also part of the responsibilities. This is a school-year-only position.

Requirements

A Bachelor degree in early childhood education or child development; or a Bachelor degree with 18 credits in early childhood education with experience teaching preschool-age children; or An Associate degree in early childhood education with experience teaching preschool-age children.
DCF 45 hours (Introductory Child Care Training-40 Hours and Literacy Requirement-5 hours)
CPR / First Aid certification
VPK Endorsement courses
Teaching experience, minimum of one year experience in child care services
Successful completion of background process which includes: Level 2 clearance (FBI, FDLE), clear TB test, physical examination certification, drug test and reference checks.

Responsibilities

Responsible for the overall organization and learning environment of the classroom
Works closely with teacher assistant in daily lesson planning
Ensuring the health and safety of the children
Follows COVID health and safety protocols
Implements VPK instruction
Completes HS paperwork on time
Performs 45 day screenings and assessments by due dates
Communicates with parents and maintains positive and professional relationships with parents and staff
Works with all staff and trainees including substitutes to ensure program philosophy, values, and goals are met and Early Childhood Program Standards and regulatory requirements are maintained
Meets with teacher(s) and assistants on a weekly basis to plan the daily activities within the YWCA’s program appropriate curriculum that encourage development of children’s cognitive, social/emotional, physical and creative skills
Presents activity plans on a weekly basis to the Education Specialist
Teaches students through a variety of social experiences, classroom arrangements and support materials that promote program objectives and independent and group management in an environment that protects children’s health and safety at all times as well as their needs for physical movement, sensory stimulation, fresh air, rest, and nourishment
Prevents challenging or disruptive behaviors through environmental design, schedules that meet the needs and abilities of children, effective transitions and engaging activities
Encourages the positive self image of children through active listening, responding and encouraging independence while giving verbal and non-verbal reinforcement
Uses positive, non-punitive discipline techniques
Guides children in controlling their behavior by using positive, appropriate approaches
Prepares and delivers timely, accurate reporting that can include but is not limited to attendance and program reports, daily meal counts, developmental records of each child, timesheets, leave requests, fee collections, and incident reports
Adapts and responds to changing and challenging conditions in ways that enhances program quality
Recognizes health and safety hazards and protects children from harm
Prepares and serves meals and/or snacks
Other related duties as necessary to ensure the smooth running and efficiency of YWCA Childcare Center
Adhere to the use of Universal Health & Safety Precautions as applicable