Teacher Associates E

Catholic Charities Careers•Perrine, FL

3d•Onsite

About The Position

This is an exempt position responsible for conducting developmentally appropriate instruction and activities for children according to Head Start Performance Standards, Council on Accreditation (COA), and National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) guidelines. The role ensures compliance with Performance Standards, Department of Children and Families (DCF) licensing, Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Program requirements, and federal, state, and local laws. All documentation must adhere to regulatory body requirements, including Catholic Charities Policies and Procedures, Head Start/Early Head Start (HS/EHS) contract, and program accreditation standards. The incumbent must demonstrate sensitivity to the service population’s cultural and socioeconomic characteristics, professionalism, organizational skills, and adherence to safety practices.

Requirements

Knowledge and command of the structure and content of the English language, including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Ability to read Standard English text.
Ability to write grammatically correct routine correspondence/reports, including but not limited to lesson plans, parent-teacher reports, incident reports, referral forms, and anecdotal notes.
Ability to speak basic English using appropriate vocabulary and grammar while communicating with children.
Proficiency in the use of Head Start and Catholic Charities databases.
Effective communication with parents/guardians, children, and staff.
Maintenance of an appropriate level of professionalism with supervisors, subordinates, parents/guardians, and volunteers.
Development and maintenance of constructive and cooperative working relationships with all staff within departments and/or job functions.
DCF 45 hours (Introductory 30 Child Care Training Hours, 10 Hour Special Needs and 5 Literacy Hours).
A Bachelor or associate’s degree in child development or early childhood education with 18 credits in early childhood education with experience teaching preschool-age children; OR
A bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with 18 credits in Early Childhood Education; OR
A bachelor’s degree or associate degree plus 18 credits in Early Childhood Education.
Supervisory teaching experience.

Nice To Haves

In conjunction with the Education Coordinator, supervise and evaluate the Teacher Aide.

Responsibilities

Maintains knowledge of specific safety rules and is responsible for managing the education, care, safety, and well-being of each child.
Develops and implements daily lesson plans using strategies aligned with funding source requirements, addressing individual children's needs, creating meaningful learning experiences, and scaffolding learning objectives to stimulate development.
Arranges the classroom-learning environment according to NAEYC guidelines, encourages high-level play, promotes and challenges student thinking and problem-solving, and modifies the environment to reflect children's interests and growth.
Fosters and collaborates with families to effectively prepare children for kindergarten transition.
Promotes and maintains universal health and safety precautions, including proper handwashing, sanitizing and disinfecting areas, and correct use of gloves when handling body fluids.
Maintains and follows all safety and inspection checklists to ensure a safe, clean, and sanitary environment in the classroom, bathroom, and outdoor facilities at all times.
Actively supervises students at all times, including nap time.
Demonstrates regular attendance, punctuality, and maintains a professional work image.
Completes and records assessments for children within 45 days according to Head Start guidelines.
Completes a minimum of 15 hours of in-service training each year, including VPK mandatory training and other training required by CCADM.
Provides health examinations and TB screening results to the Human Resources Department every two years.
Assures that all screenings and evaluations are conducted accurately and in a timely manner as per each program’s guidelines and due dates.
Promotes regular school attendance and makes timely referrals of any child with suspected special needs, health concerns, and consecutive absences to the case manager.
Conducts daily Health and Safety checklists and reports any suspected child abuse and neglect immediately pursuant to Florida law.
Conducts a minimum of two (2) home visits as needed, per program guidelines.
Follows and implements active supervision and makes timely and accurate records; reports any accidents or unusual incidents to the supervisor.
Adheres to all Catholic Charities Policies and Procedures, including maintaining sufficient knowledge and understanding of those policies.
Adheres to all regulatory guidelines, including agency policy and procedures, Center guidelines and practices, Head Start regulations and performance standards, DCF, and any applicable accreditation guidelines.
Conducts appropriate Classroom Health and Safety Checklists as required and ensures zero (0) monitoring deficiencies in the classroom.
Complies with USDA Food Program guidelines regarding recommended portions, family-style serving, menu/nutrition discussions and activities, and involves parents in developing and implementing healthy nutrition habits.
Maintains confidentiality as stipulated in the Head Start Standard of Conduct and Catholic Charities Policies and Procedures.
Engages in positive interactions and conversations during lunch and snack activities to promote language and back-and-forth exchanges with children.
Attends professional meetings, conferences, and/or workshops to maintain and improve professional competence, exhibiting professionalism in speech, actions, and appearance as a representative of Catholic Charities.
Establishes and maintains positive family relationships to effectively conduct and document parent/teacher conferences per program guidelines, communicating regularly and sharing daily incidents with parents/guardians.
Obtains written consent from parents or guardians for special events, including field trips.
Works collaboratively as educational partners to plan assignments that support and enhance student learning.
In conjunction with the Education Coordinator, supervises and evaluates the Teacher Aide and volunteers.
Participates in annual performance evaluations of the Teacher Aide.
Conducts training for the Teacher Aide and volunteers as necessary.
Ensures that all children are dropped off and picked up by a parent/legal guardian or authorized person who does not pose a risk, as indicated in the child enrollment form and center’s card.
May be required to work past normal work hours in case of situations at the center.
Measures accurate weight and height of children and appropriately documents obtained measures.
Ensures attendance is completed on a daily basis within the allotted time frame.
Ensures timely and accurate data entry in all required databases.
Makes timely and accurate recordings of daily meal counts per the CCFP and agency meal count documentation process.
Completes and is accountable for all required or requested training topics, a minimum of 15 hours as per DCF, COA standards, Head Start, VPK, CCFP, and any other applicable regulatory requirements, and as requested by supervisor.
Performs assigned duties consistently in an efficient, professional, and courteous manner.
Performs all other duties as assigned by supervisor.