Preschool Teacher - Head Start

Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency • Salem, OR

10d • Onsite

About The Position

Join our Head Start team! The Head Start Teacher works with children to promote their growth in the areas of social-emotional, physical, cognitive, and language development. This position has multiple openings available. Now offering a $1,500 hiring incentive bonus for new Preschool Teachers hired! GENERAL DESCRIPTION The Head Start Teacher works in partnership with Teacher Assistants and Classroom Aides to promote the growth of preschool children 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 GED; and Associate Teacher: Pre-School Certificate or CDA, and enrollment in an Early Childhood Degree program. Teacher I: Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Education or a related degree with a minimum of 18 credit hours of Early Learning coursework. Teacher II: Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education or a related degree with a minimum of 18 credit hours of Early Learning coursework. Two years of experience in early childhood programs.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED; and Associate Teacher: Pre-School Certificate or CDA, and enrollment in an Early Childhood Degree program.
• Teacher I: Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Education or a related degree with a minimum of 18 credit hours of Early Learning coursework.
• Teacher II: Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education or a related degree with a minimum of 18 credit hours of Early Learning coursework.
• Two years of experience in early childhood programs.
• 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.
• Demonstrates tact, diplomacy and empathy when communicating with clients, staff and community partners.
• Demonstrated proficiencies with Microsoft Office (including Outlook), videoconferencing platforms, and web tools.
• Effective interpersonal communication skills, in both oral and written form.

Responsibilities

• Ensures safety in the classroom at all times, with active supervision of children, utilizing the transition and counting form and procedure.
• Ensures children are released only to parent/guardians or authorized adults.
• Records children's daily attendance, working with site team to determine the cause of absences.
• Provides for the development of children's cognitive, physical, social-emotional and language skills through implementation of curriculum, lesson planning and individualization.
• Conducts developmental and social-emotional screenings for each child, with input from parents.
• Provides follow up to concerns, including the provision of resources, or referrals for children with identified developmental or social-emotional needs.
• Provides a safe environment for children/groups of children during classroom time utilizing Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS) strategies and Trauma Smart concepts.
• Maintains an acceptable and positive level of guidance in individual and group situations reacting to emergency situations with competence and a calm attitude.
• Partners with Education and Inclusion & Support staff, families, and Willamette Education Services district staff to ensure the full participation of children receiving Early Intervention or Early Childhood Special Education Services.
• Utilizes strategies provided by Education and Inclusion & Support staff regarding the social-emotional needs or mental health concerns of children.
• Conducts and records child observations to utilize in setting goals, individualizing and completing assessments.
• Creates lesson plans utilizing a variety of curricula to address children's individual goals, taking into account each child's characteristics, strengths, and needs.
• Effectively uses ChildPlus and applicable databases to enter or obtain information.
• Completes regular child assessments, using information obtained from child observations.
• Shares information with program administration and parents.
• Conducts a minimum of two home visits and two education conferences per year.
• Completes Ouch Reports and Accident Reports when a child is injured at school, providing parent with appropriate paperwork for insurance if child will receive medical attention.
• Documents all conversations with parents/guardians or other relevant individuals in ChildPlus Family Documentation Log.
• Completes required paperwork to initiate support for child/family needs.
• Uses office time efficiently to make and receive parent phone calls, order supplies, preparing children's work to go home, preparing materials for activities, and other office work as needed.
• Verifies and submits weekly Meal Counts and Attendance forms.
• 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, IFSP meetings, Skill-Building Plan meetings, and other meetings as necessary.
• Keeps current on and complies with program and agency policies and procedures, Head Start Performance Standards, and other applicable regulations.
• Attends and contributes to child/family staffing meetings.
• Provides regular opportunities for parent participation by training parents who volunteer in the classroom.
• Participates in planning for and implementing monthly parent meetings.
• Participates in classroom orientations at the beginning of the school year.
• Provides tools, resources and opportunities for parents to engage with their children utilizing developmentally appropriate practices.
• Develops and maintains relationships with parents/guardians, to ensure consistent and frequent communication.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree