Teacher FSA - Birch Run Annex

Saginaw Intermediate School District•Saginaw, MI

About The Position

The Lead Teacher/Family Services Advocate works with Family Services and the broader team to support child development and positive outcomes for children and families while complying with Head Start Performance Standards. The position plans and implements a safe, healthy, and developmentally appropriate learning environment for young children, promoting developmental growth and kindergarten readiness. It also provides family support and intervention, referrals, parent engagement, and coordination of program services, while monitoring family progress toward identified goals and maintaining accurate records. The employee may be reassigned among classrooms or centers as program operations require and may serve as the program director for child-care licensing purposes. The role combines family advocacy and preschool classroom responsibilities. Family Services duties include assessing family needs, developing and following up on family partnership agreements, supporting enrollment and attendance, coordinating health and disability services, facilitating parent programming and events, collaborating with community agencies, and maintaining family and program records. Classroom responsibilities include creating a safe and stimulating learning environment, supporting children’s development and behavior, implementing curriculum, screening and assessing development, supervising children during meals, and helping maintain licensing ratios. The position also supports parent-teacher conferences, home visits, Parent Club meetings, classroom communications, volunteers, and children’s transitions to local schools. It requires collaboration with families, coworkers, schools, and community partners; compliance with applicable Head Start and Michigan child-care regulations; ongoing training; and maintaining required professional certifications. The position directly supervises Associate Teachers, classroom Program Support Aides when applicable, and classroom volunteers when applicable. Employment is contingent on acceptable tuberculosis screening, a clear criminal records check, an initial health exam, and drug screening. The role requires travel to visit families and agencies and may include occasional evening or weekend work, distant travel, and overnight travel. The work takes place in a preschool classroom and may involve exposure to communicable diseases, moderate-to-loud noise, riding a bus, and varied physical activities, including lifting up to 75 pounds.

Requirements

Bachelor’s or advanced degree in Early Childhood Education, or a bachelor’s degree plus coursework equivalent to a major in Early Childhood Education and experience teaching preschool.
Previous experience working with young children, preferably preschool.
Must be willing to obtain administrative training within six months of employment.
Must be willing and able to obtain and maintain Basic First Aid and CPR certification.
Valid driver’s license and minimum automobile insurance coverage required by the state; must be insurable by the Saginaw ISD Head Start insurance carrier to drive agency vehicles, if applicable.
Knowledge of social work principles and practices, human behavior, customer service delivery, health services in the Saginaw area, family-centered practices, computer data entry, filing, and recordkeeping.
Ability to maintain strict confidentiality regarding children, families, and staff in accordance with policies and legal requirements, including FERPA and HIPAA.
Ability to read and interpret reports, regulations, and periodicals; write reports, business correspondence, and manuals; and present information and respond to questions.
Computer proficiency, including Word and Excel, email, and data-entry functions; knowledge of ChildPlus and Teaching Strategies Gold or willingness to learn them.
Knowledge of basic supervision, early childhood development and education, active supervision, child-abuse and neglect reporting, and state and federal child-care licensing regulations.
Ability to exercise professional judgment, follow directions, take initiative, and communicate patiently and tactfully with children, families, staff, management, referral sources, and the public.
Ability to work with children at all developmental levels and demonstrate professionalism, flexibility, patience, emotional maturity, and respect for children and adults.
Ability to engage in mutually respectful, goal-oriented partnerships with families, respect their cultures, languages, values, and structures, and support parents as their children’s first and lifelong educators.
Knowledge of basic food preparation, serving, and sanitation procedures.
Education or experience collaborating with parents in the education of their children.
Must meet post-offer conditions: acceptable tuberculosis screening, clear criminal records check, initial health exam, and drug screen; must have Department of Human Services child abuse and neglect clearance.
Ability to meet the physical demands of the position, including lifting up to 75 pounds, sitting on the floor and in child-sized chairs, bending, stretching, standing, stair climbing, kneeling, crouching, and reaching.
Must be able to travel to families, agencies, meetings, and conferences, including potentially by car, bus, airplane, or train and, in some cases, overnight.
Some evening and weekend work may be required for home visits, conferences, meetings, and events.

Nice To Haves

ZA or ZS teaching endorsement is strongly preferred.
Bilingual English/Spanish abilities.
Previous case management experience with young children and families.
Previous supervision experience.
Knowledge of local resources, customs, and language.
Current and former Head Start employees, students, and parents receive preference for qualified vacancies.

Responsibilities

Work with families to complete written needs assessments and develop and implement family partnership agreements.
Help families identify strengths, address concerns, navigate challenges, and achieve goals; make referrals and follow up on progress, including referrals for emergency or crisis assistance.
Identify, recruit, and enroll eligible children, including children with disabilities; maintain full enrollment and a waiting list; and support children’s transitions into and out of the program.
Review child absences with program staff and initiate appropriate family support procedures; assist with outreach as needed.
Coordinate with program staff and community agencies to help families meet health and disability requirements, including finding medical homes, arranging transportation, and sending appointment reminders.
Ensure completion of medical, health, dental, and disability requirements and attend IEP meetings when requested.
Promote parent participation in Head Start programming; organize, schedule, facilitate, and present at parent functions; support parent club officers and meetings; and provide appropriate resources to families.
Build and maintain positive partnerships among families, schools, staff, and community partners, serving as a liaison to support engagement and trust.
Plan and implement school-wide workshops, meetings, and family events focused on parent education and engagement.
Advocate for Head Start and families in the community; attend relevant committee, collaboration, community, enrollment, and outreach events; and coordinate referrals to community agencies.
Communicate and collaborate with team members, share program information with teachers, and participate in delivering services that meet program performance standards.
Maintain accurate, current records, files, reports, child records, referral tracking, health and dental documentation, family partnership outcomes, and ChildPlus data; provide data for the annual Program Information Review.
Document in-kind and other allowable costs toward the non-federal share requirement.
Plan and deliver Head Start services in accordance with Head Start Performance Standards and Saginaw ISD Head Start Operational Procedures.
Create a safe, healthy, stimulating, and developmentally appropriate learning environment for children from birth through age five, including children with varying abilities; complete daily health and safety checks and maintain visibility of children.
Foster children’s self-esteem, self-direction, self-control, social-emotional development, and school readiness using positive, developmentally appropriate practices and guidance.
Implement program curricula and comply with curriculum overlays, supplemental curricula, Michigan child-care licensing requirements, and Head Start standards.
Screen, observe, and assess children regularly; analyze information and plan or make referrals based on individual needs.
Participate in recruitment activities and transportation services; supervise and eat nutritionally prepared meals with children as a curriculum activity.
Cover other classrooms when needed to meet licensing ratios.
Submit scheduled paperwork and progress reports; supervise or order supplies, take inventory, maintain the Parent Club budget, and collect and analyze program data for continuous improvement.
Attend required training, workshops, online training, and cluster meetings; remain current on applicable regulations, developmentally appropriate practice, and occupational health and safety practices.
Maintain required professional certifications, complete and maintain First Aid and CPR certification and required licensing training, and participate in ongoing professional development.
Facilitate monthly Parent Club meetings, arrange and document parent-teacher conferences and home visits, and write a monthly classroom newsletter.
Model, mentor, and supervise classroom volunteers; coordinate with local schools on shared activities, registration, and transitions.
Support family safety, health, financial stability, goals, and aspirations, and connect families with resources and activities that strengthen family well-being and children’s learning.
Use active supervision strategies to maintain children’s safety, including positioning, counting, face-to-name checks, listening, anticipating behavior, engaging, and redirecting.
Maintain confidentiality and comply with applicable child abuse and neglect reporting and child-care licensing requirements.
Direct and evaluate Associate Teachers, classroom Program Support Aides when applicable, and classroom volunteers when applicable; serve as the first step in conflict resolution.