Teacher FSA - Adams

Saginaw Intermediate School District•Saginaw Charter Township, MI

1d•$45,128 - $79,115•Onsite

About The Position

The Lead Teacher/Family Services Advocate works with Family Services and the wider program team to support child development and positive outcomes for children and families in accordance with Head Start Performance Standards. The role leads a preschool learning environment that is healthy, safe, and developmentally appropriate, supporting children’s progress toward kindergarten readiness. It also provides family services, referrals, and intervention; promotes parent involvement and engagement; builds partnerships with families and community resources; coordinates services; and monitors progress toward family goals. The position maintains accurate program and family records, may be reassigned among classrooms or centers as operational needs require, and may serve as the program director for child care licensing purposes. The position combines family advocacy and case coordination with preschool classroom leadership. It supports enrollment, attendance, health and disability requirements, parent programming, community collaboration, child screening and assessment, curriculum implementation, classroom safety, and family events. The role also supervises an associate teacher and, when applicable, classroom support aides and volunteers. The position follows Head Start requirements, Saginaw ISD procedures, Michigan child care licensing regulations, and other applicable rules. The position is based in a preschool classroom with child-sized furniture and seating. Travel is required for family and agency contacts and may be required for meetings or conferences, including overnight and out-of-state travel in some cases. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required for family and community events. The role involves exposure to communicable diseases, potentially moderate-to-loud noise, and a range of physical activities, including sitting on the floor, bending, stretching, standing, climbing stairs, kneeling, crouching, reaching, and lifting up to 75 pounds. Riding a bus may be required. Post-offer conditions include tuberculosis screening, criminal background clearance, a health exam, and drug screening.

Requirements

Bachelor’s or advanced degree in Early Childhood Education, or a bachelor’s degree with coursework equivalent to a major in Early Childhood Education and experience teaching preschool.
Previous experience working with young children, preferably preschool.
Willingness to obtain administrative training within six months of employment.
Willingness and ability to obtain and maintain Basic First Aid and CPR certification.
Valid driver’s license and state-required minimum automobile insurance coverage; must be insurable by the Saginaw ISD Head Start insurance carrier to drive agency vehicles, if applicable.
Ability to maintain strict confidentiality in compliance with policies and applicable legal requirements, including FERPA and HIPAA.
Knowledge of social work principles and practices, human behavior, customer service delivery, health services in the Saginaw area, family-centered practices, data entry, filing, and recordkeeping.
Extensive knowledge and skills in early childhood development and early childhood education, including developmentally appropriate practices and the ability to work with children at all levels of development.
Computer skills, including Word and Excel, email, and data entry; familiarity with ChildPlus and Teaching Strategies Gold or willingness to learn them.
Knowledge of basic supervision, child abuse and neglect reporting requirements, child care licensing regulations, food preparation, serving, and sanitation procedures.
Ability to use active supervision strategies to maintain children’s safety, including positioning, counting, face-to-name checks, listening, anticipating behavior, engaging, and redirecting children.
Ability to read and interpret reports, regulations, and periodicals; write reports, business correspondence, and manuals; present information; respond to questions; and perform basic arithmetic.
Ability to exercise professional judgment, follow directions, take initiative, communicate patiently and tactfully, and maintain professionalism.
Ability to build mutually respectful, goal-oriented partnerships with families; respect family culture, language, values, and structures; support parent-child relationships and parents’ role as educators; and coordinate family services as part of a comprehensive team.
Acceptable tuberculosis screening results, a clear criminal records check, an initial health exam, and a drug screen after a job offer and before employment.
Department of Human Services child abuse and neglect clearance; mandated reporter responsibilities.
Emotional maturity, cooperation with program aims, respect for children and adults, flexibility, patience, good personal hygiene, and physical and mental health that do not interfere with job responsibilities.
Ability to meet the physical demands of the position, including lifting up to 75 pounds and performing the listed classroom and travel-related activities.

Nice To Haves

ZA or ZS teaching endorsement; 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 is helpful.
Current and former Head Start employees, students, and parents receive preference for qualified vacancies.

Responsibilities

Work with families through home visits and other appropriate settings to assess needs, develop and implement family partnership agreements, identify strengths and concerns, provide intervention strategies, make referrals, follow up on goals, and connect families with emergency or crisis assistance.
Identify, recruit, and enroll children, including children with disabilities; maintain full enrollment and a waiting list; support transitions into and out of the program; analyze attendance patterns with staff; and assist with outreach.
Coordinate with program staff and community agencies to help families meet health and disability requirements, obtain medical homes and transportation, attend appointments, complete required screenings and documentation, and participate in IEP meetings when requested.
Promote and organize parent involvement and programming; facilitate and support Parent Club meetings; provide resources; and help parent officers run meetings effectively.
Build and maintain partnerships among families, schools, staff, and community organizations, acting as a liaison and advocating for Head Start and families.
Plan and implement school-wide workshops, meetings, and family events that support parent education and engagement.
Attend community and collaborative meetings and events, develop community partnerships, and coordinate referrals to agencies for family support and intervention.
Communicate and coordinate with team members to meet program standards and individual family needs.
Maintain accurate and timely records, files, reports, referral tracking, health and dental documentation, ChildPlus data, family partnership outcomes, and data for the annual Program Information Review.
Understand, generate, and document in-kind and other allowable costs toward the non-federal share requirement.
Attend required training, workshops, online training, and cluster meetings; stay current on Head Start standards, Michigan child care licensing regulations, and relevant practices.
Deliver Head Start services in accordance with Head Start Performance Standards and Saginaw ISD Head Start Operational Procedures.
Establish and maintain a safe, healthy, stimulating, and developmentally appropriate learning environment for children from birth to age five with all abilities; use the Daily Health and Safety Checklist and maintain visibility of children.
Promote self-esteem, self-direction, self-control, and school readiness through positive teaching practices, curriculum development, and curriculum implementation.
Support children’s social and emotional development and provide positive guidance and developmentally appropriate responses to challenging behaviors.
Follow program curricula and supplements, Michigan child care licensing requirements, and Head Start standards.
Screen, observe, and assess children regularly; analyze assessment information and plan or make referrals based on individual needs.
Participate in recruitment and transportation services; supervise and eat meals with children to model nutrition and social skills; and cover other classrooms as needed to meet licensing ratios.
Submit scheduled weekly and monthly paperwork and progress reports; order or supervise supplies and take inventory as requested; maintain the Parent Club budget and child records; and collect and analyze data for program planning and continuous improvement.
Maintain professional certifications, obtain and maintain required First Aid and CPR certification and licensing training, and participate in ongoing professional development.
Schedule and document parent-teacher conferences and home visits; write a monthly classroom newsletter; and model, mentor, and supervise classroom volunteers, including parents.
Work with local school systems on shared activities, registration, and smooth transitions, and support family safety, health, financial stability, goals, and aspirations.
Supervise the Associate Teacher and, when applicable, the classroom Program Support Aide and classroom volunteers; serve as the first step for conflict resolution.