Teacher FSA - Birch Run Annex

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 broader team to support child development and positive outcomes for children and families in compliance with Head Start Performance Standards. The position leads a preschool classroom, planning and implementing a safe, healthy, and developmentally appropriate learning environment that promotes children’s development and kindergarten readiness. It also provides family support, referrals, intervention strategies, and coordination of program services; builds partnerships with families and community resources; and monitors family progress toward identified goals. The position maintains accurate records and data, may be reassigned to other classrooms or centers as operationally necessary, and may serve as program director for child care licensing purposes. The role combines family services advocacy and preschool program implementation. Family-service work includes assessing family needs, developing and implementing family partnership agreements, supporting enrollment and attendance, helping families meet health and disability requirements, facilitating parent involvement, coordinating referrals, and collaborating with community agencies. Classroom duties include establishing a developmentally appropriate environment for children from birth to age five, supporting learning and social-emotional development, conducting screenings and assessments, and following Head Start and Michigan licensing requirements. The position supervises an Associate Teacher, classroom Program Support Aide when applicable, and classroom volunteers when applicable. It requires a bachelor’s or advanced degree in Early Childhood Education, or a bachelor’s degree with coursework equivalent to an Early Childhood Education major, along with preschool teaching experience. ZA or ZS endorsement is strongly preferred. The employee must be willing to obtain administrative training within six months and maintain required First Aid and CPR certification and other applicable training. Salary is set by the ECEA CBA: $45,128–$65,436 for a bachelor’s degree, or $47,949–$79,115 for teaching certification ZA/ZN/ZS. The job involves travel to contact families and agencies and occasional evening or weekend work for events. The work takes place in a preschool classroom with child-sized furniture and may involve exposure to communicable diseases, moderate to loud noise, and riding a bus. Physical activities include sitting on child-sized chairs and the floor, bending, stretching, extended sitting or standing, climbing stairs, kneeling, crouching, reaching, and lifting up to 75 pounds. Post-offer conditions include acceptable tuberculosis screening, a clear criminal records check, an initial health exam, and a drug screen; a child abuse and neglect clearance is also required.

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 and required licensing training.
Valid driver’s license and automobile insurance at least at the state-required minimum; must be insurable by the Saginaw ISD Head Start insurance carrier to drive agency vehicles, if applicable.
Ability to maintain strict confidentiality in accordance with program policies and applicable legal requirements, including FERPA and HIPAA.
Knowledge of social work principles, 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 education, developmentally appropriate practices, and working with children at all developmental levels.
Computer skills, including Word, Excel, email, and data entry; knowledge of ChildPlus and Teaching Strategies Gold or willingness to learn them.
Knowledge of basic supervision, child care licensing requirements, state and federal child abuse and neglect reporting regulations, and basic food preparation, serving, and sanitation.
Ability to read and interpret reports and regulations, write reports and business correspondence, present information, perform basic arithmetic, follow directions, and take initiative.
Ability to use active supervision strategies, maintain awareness of children, and support children’s safety and problem-solving.
Ability to communicate patiently and tactfully with children, families, staff, management, referral sources, and the public; demonstrate professionalism; and build respectful, goal-oriented partnerships with families.
Ability to travel to families, agencies, meetings, and conferences, including possible overnight and out-of-state travel.
Acceptable tuberculosis screening results, clear criminal records check, initial health exam, and drug screen after a job offer and before employment; child abuse and neglect clearance is required.
Ability to meet the physical demands of the position, including lifting up to 75 pounds and performing classroom-related sitting, standing, bending, stretching, stair climbing, kneeling, crouching, and reaching.
Emotional maturity, willingness to cooperate 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.
Education or experience collaborating with parents in the education of their children.

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 is helpful.
Current and former Head Start employees, students, and parents receive preference for vacancies for which they are qualified.

Responsibilities

Work with families through home visits and other appropriate settings to assess needs, develop and implement family partnership agreements, identify strengths and challenges, support goal achievement, and make and follow up on referrals.
Identify, recruit, and enroll eligible children, including children with disabilities; maintain full enrollment and a waiting list; support transitions; and respond to attendance patterns with appropriate family support.
Coordinate with program staff and community agencies to help families meet health and disability requirements, including access to medical care, transportation, appointment reminders, and completion of program requirements; attend IEP meetings as requested.
Promote parent participation in Head Start programming; organize, schedule, facilitate, and present parent activities; provide family resources; and support parent club officers and meetings.
Build and maintain collaborative relationships among families, schools, staff, and community partners to increase family engagement and trust.
Plan and implement school-wide workshops, meetings, and family events that support parent education and engagement.
Advocate for Head Start and families in the community; attend collaborative meetings and events; build community partnerships; and coordinate referrals for family support and intervention.
Communicate and collaborate with team members to meet program standards and individual family needs.
Maintain accurate, current records, files, reports, referrals, health and dental tracking, ChildPlus data, family partnership outcomes, and annual Program Information Review data.
Document in-kind and other allowable costs toward the non-federal share requirement.
Attend required training, workshops, online training, and cluster meetings; remain current on Head Start standards, licensing regulations, and applicable practices.
Establish and maintain a safe, healthy, stimulating, and developmentally appropriate learning environment for children from birth to age five, including children with differing abilities.
Use safety checklists and active supervision practices to protect children and maintain visibility and awareness in the classroom.
Promote self-esteem, self-direction, self-control, school readiness, and social-emotional development through curriculum implementation, positive guidance, and developmentally appropriate support for challenging behaviors.
Follow program curricula, supplemental curricula, Michigan child care licensing requirements, and Head Start Performance Standards.
Screen, observe, and assess children regularly; analyze data; and plan or make referrals based on individual needs.
Participate in recruitment and transportation services; supervise and eat meals with children as a curriculum activity; and cover other classrooms when 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 gather and analyze child, family, and classroom data for planning and continuous improvement.
Facilitate monthly Parent Club meetings; schedule and document parent-teacher conferences and home visits; and write a monthly classroom newsletter.
Model, mentor, and supervise classroom volunteers, including parents, and work with local school systems on shared activities, registration, and transitions.
Support family safety, health, financial stability, life goals, and aspirations; facilitate family networks and group activities; and help families use community resources.
Maintain professional certifications and complete required First Aid, CPR, licensing, and professional development requirements.
Exercise professional judgment, maintain confidentiality, follow child abuse and neglect reporting requirements, and demonstrate professionalism, patience, flexibility, and respect for families’ cultures, languages, values, and structures.