Teacher: Head Start (52 wk)

Action for Boston Community Development•Boston, MA

7d•$29 - $40•Onsite

About The Position

The Teacher is responsible for the care and education of a group of children as part of a teaching team. The Teacher plans and implements the Education Component objectives of the Performance Standards and promotes the mission of ABCD Head Start & Children’s Services by communicating it to staff, families, and the community. The role must comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, standards, and program policies, including requirements of ACF, Massachusetts EEC and DESE, IDEA, Chapter 766, BFEN, and ABCD. Staff who care for or work with children are mandated reporters of suspected child abuse and neglect and must immediately inform their supervisor. Assignments may support Early Head Start or Head Start. All communications are subject to Head Start confidentiality policy. The Teacher provides children with a safe, nurturing, healthy, individualized, developmentally appropriate learning environment. The role balances child-initiated and teacher-led activities as well as quiet and active learning, supports children's growing independence in daily routines, and supervises Teacher Assistants and classroom volunteers. The Teacher integrates health, safety, nutrition, dental health, and family learning into educational activities and engages parents in their children's education and development. The role includes screening and assessing children, using diagnostic evaluations to set goals, creating lesson plans and individualized activities, implementing written IEPs, observing children, maintaining records, participating in team meetings, conducting at least two home visits per family and three parent/teacher conferences per year, and participating in periodic field trips. The Teacher also mentors Teacher Assistants in professional training, attends meetings, maintains EEC requirements such as staff-to-child ratios and classroom supervision, and performs other related duties as assigned or required by law. The Teacher reports to the Program Director on matters relating to employment terms and center operations. Candidates need computer skills, knowledge of Microsoft Office and the ability to use other databases as required. They should work professionally and cooperatively with teaching teams, staff, and parents; be sensitive to the educational and socioeconomic needs of the families served; and be able to work with a culturally diverse, low-income population. Bilingual ability is preferred where appropriate. The role requires ongoing professional development, professional boundaries, and confidentiality of child and family information. Education and experience requirements vary by level: Teacher I requires an associate degree in early childhood education, or an associate degree plus coursework equivalent to a major in early childhood education and experience teaching preschool-age children; Teacher II requires a bachelor's degree or equivalent coursework and preschool teaching experience; Teacher III requires a master's degree or equivalent coursework and preschool teaching experience. EEC Preschool Teacher certification and bilingual ability in a language spoken by families served by ABCD are preferred at each level. Physical demands include lifting and moving preschool children, equipment, and furniture; staying alert during nap supervision; monitoring children by sight and sound; responding quickly to emergencies; and attending to children with disabilities, including those who are physically challenged.

Requirements

Teacher I: Associate degree in early childhood education, or an associate degree with coursework equivalent to a major relating to early childhood education and experience teaching preschool-age children.
Teacher II: Bachelor's degree in early childhood education, or a bachelor's degree with coursework equivalent to a major relating to early childhood education and experience teaching preschool-age children.
Teacher III: Master's degree in early childhood education, or a master's degree with coursework equivalent to a major relating to early childhood education and experience teaching preschool-age children.
Necessary computer skills and working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications; ability to use other database systems as required for data collection.
Professional conduct and good interpersonal skills, including the ability to work cooperatively with a teaching team, program staff, and parents.
Knowledge of and sensitivity to the educational and socioeconomic needs of children and families served by Head Start.
Ability to work with a culturally diverse, low-income population.
Ability to lift and move preschool-age children, equipment, and furniture; remain alert during nap supervision; supervise children by sight and sound; respond quickly to emergencies; and attend to children with disabilities.
Maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries and engage in ongoing professional development.

Nice To Haves

EEC Preschool Teacher certification.
Bilingual ability in a language spoken by families served by ABCD.

Responsibilities

Provide preschool children with a safe, healthy, nurturing, individualized, developmentally appropriate environment and varied learning experiences.
Balance child-initiated and teacher-led activities and quiet and active learning activities.
Help children develop independence in eating, toileting, dressing, and hygiene through age-appropriate tasks.
Provide technical assistance and supervision to Teacher Assistants and classroom volunteers.
Integrate health, safety, nutrition, dental health, and family-related learning into educational activities.
Develop activities and strategies that engage parents in the educational program and support their understanding of child development.
Participate in child screening and educational assessment, use diagnostic evaluations to develop goals, and create and implement lesson plans and individualized activities.
Develop and implement written Individual Education Plans (IEPs) for children with special needs.
Observe children daily and maintain records of observations and parent communications.
Participate in team meetings, conduct at least two home visits per family per year, and hold at least three parent/teacher conferences per year.
Participate in periodic field trips.
Mentor Teacher Assistants enrolled in professional training.
Attend meetings as necessary and maintain EEC requirements, including staff-to-child ratios and classroom supervision.
Promote the ABCD Head Start & Children’s Services mission and communicate it to staff, families, and the community.
Comply with applicable laws, regulations, standards, policies, confidentiality requirements, and mandated-reporter obligations.
Engage in ongoing staff development, maintain professional boundaries, and protect confidential child and family information.
Report to the Program Director on matters relating to terms of employment and center operations.
Perform other related duties as assigned or required by state or federal law.