Teacher

Location

Monroe, LA | United States

Job description

PURPOSE OF POSITION

This position is responsible for the general and day-to-day operations of an Early Head Start center with more than one classroom assuring regulatory and legal compliance with federal, state, and local regulations and communicating with parents and the community. This position also has responsibility for a group of children as a teacher in the classroom. The position may be reassigned to various centers as deemed necessary for program operations.

This position serves as a teacher in an Early Head Start classroom with infants and toddlers by planning, implementing, and supervising all center-based activities. This position may work with infants and toddlers with developmental delays. This position is part of a large system of services provided to infants/toddlers and families, serves as a social service referral person, and shares responsibility for parent involvement in the program. The teacher works in tandem with the rest of the parts of the integrated services team approach to support the program's goals.

Role and Responsibilities

The duties of the position are described in the major functional areas listed below. Additional duties may be assigned.

EXAMPLES OF SPECIFIC DUTIES-- ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Assist in establishing and fostering a team approach, coordination of services, and sharing resources among centers within the overall program.
• Attends and participates in all required meetings, activities, pre-service, and in-service training.
• Ensures up-to-date information that pertains to the needs of the children in the program is located in the Center.
• Responsible for the weekly preparation of weekly lesson plans, which include objectives to be posted for parents, volunteers, and visitors in the classroom.
• Develops an individual plan for each child to include goal setting based on identified needs and prescriptions for objectives and activities to meet established goals.
• Schedules home visits and parent-teacher conferences with families as required and on an as-needed basis and document these events in the proper location.
• Maintains strict confidentiality concerning Early Head Start children, families, and staff in accordance with established policies and procedures.
• Implements and supports "best practices" in early education programming.
• Plans for and equips indoor and outdoor areas to meet children's developmental and safety needs in accordance with Class A Licensing.
• As stated in the Louisiana Class A Childcare Licensing, and Head Start Performance Standards provide children with sufficient and appropriate outdoor time daily.
• Responsible for monitoring and complying with Louisiana State Childcare Licensing, Head Start Performance Standards, and the Children's Coalition of Northeast Louisiana Early Head Start Operations Manual.
• Become familiar with the CCNELA Early Head Start Employee Handbooks and Operations Manual.
• Assists in the identification of items for annual inventory and center supplies.

Infant and Toddler Program Implementation

• Plans and provides developmentally appropriate activities and experiences that advance all areas of children's development (social/emotional, cognitive, physical) in a manner appropriate to age and stage of development.
• Assists in developing and implementing a developmentally appropriate group lesson plan focusing on routines and individual child interests and development.
• Provides a safe, healthy, and well-managed environment so that children will have comfortable learning and growing experiences. Sets up the physical environment to meet the changing needs of infants and toddlers.
• Displays and develops material and provides activities related to cultures of the community to increase the children's respect and understanding of their own and other local cultures.
• Models and promotes communication and problem-solving skills that assist in developing positive interactions, creating an atmosphere of acceptance, support, and encouragement, which fosters the development of positive self-concept and self-esteem in children as well as attachment, bonding, and trusting relationships.
• Demonstrates understanding of infant-toddler development and applying this knowledge in practice.
• Sits in on IFSP meetings as needed or requested.
• Participates in ongoing training and development specific to working with infants, toddlers, and their families, including infant/toddler development, communication, and safety issues.
• Works closely and cooperatively with the family service worker to promote partnerships with families.
• Displays commitment to continuing professional growth by taking classes, attending training, and keeping up to date with changes in the early childhood education field.
• Conducts developmental screening of infants and toddlers' motor, language, social/emotional, perceptual, and cognitive levels.

Recordkeeping

• Maintains filing, tracking, and documentation systems as the Operations Manual outlines.
• Submits verbal and/or written reports to Center Managers and Education/Disabilities Coordinator.
• Maintains children's master files by following the guidelines and timelines set up by management staff in accordance with Head Start Performance Standards, Operations Manual, and Class A State Childcare Licensing.

Child and Adult Care Food Program

• Contributes to the collection and editing processes of correct documentation for the Child and Adult Care Food Program.
• Be knowledgeable about CACFP requirements regarding portions and components of each meal service.
• Conduct point-of-service meal documentation to count meals when children are seated and have been offered a credible meal by USDA standards for portions and components.
• Enter point-of-meal service meal counts in appropriate forms the program uses to support claim reimbursement.

Parent Involvement and Community Relations

• Participate in setting up systems to ensure the program's needs for parent involvement are met.
• Establishes positive and productive relationships with families focusing on a relationship of trust and rapport with the parents/guardians of the children we serve.
• Encourages the involvement of the families in the program and supports the development of relationships between children and their families.
• Participates in the orientation of parents to Early Head Start throughout the year.
• Work collaboratively with Family Service Advocate in conducting Parent Committee meetings and family engagement events.
• Schedule and document parent-teacher conferences and home visits that are required.
• Provides opportunities for parent/family involvement, inviting participation inside and outside-of-classroom activities, etc.
• Involves parents in the educational activities of the program:
• To emphasize their role as the principal influence on the child's education and development; and
• To assist parents in increasing their knowledge, understanding skills, and experience in basic child development.
• Identifies and arranges for parents to participate as volunteers in the classroom.
• Collects monthly in-kind records for parents participating.
• With coordination center staff write pieces for program newsletter once a month.
• Work closely with Early Intervention therapists as appropriate for shared activities and progress notes.

Performs Other Duties as Assigned by Supervisor

Education and Experience

• Education - Minimum requirement is a current Child Development Associate (CDA) with infant/toddler endorsement or attainment within a year.
• Experience - 1 year of experience as a teacher preferred.
• Requirements for employment with Children's Coalition for Northeast Louisiana Head Start may differ from those required by the former grantee or a replacement grantee. If applicable federal, state, or local Head Start or childcare regulations, now or as amended in the future, contain additional requirements or qualifications for this position that are not explicitly stated in this Job Description, the requirements, and qualifications will apply, even if not explicitly outlined in this Job Description.
• Bilingual preferred (English/Spanish or English and other languages present in the local area). Acceptable tuberculosis screening results, a clear criminal records check (including a child abuse registry check if required by state regulations), and an initial health exam are required post-job offer and before employment. To drive agency vehicles (if applicable), one must have a valid driver's license, be insurable by the Children's Coalition for Northeast Louisiana Head Start insurance carrier, and have a Motor Vehicle Record acceptable to Children's Coalition for Northeast Louisiana Head Start. Current and former Early Head Start parents will receive preference for employment vacancies for which they are qualified.
• Must have reliable transportation and, if/when using own vehicle, must have minimum automobile coverage required by state of employment.
• Proficient leadership skills
• Self-directed and multi-task oriented
• Ability to work as a team member and to support volunteer leaders' work.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Ability to organize, coordinate, and direct projects
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office - Word, Excel, Outlook

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

• May be required to lift to 40 pounds.
• Will be required to perform physical activities to engage with toddlers/Infant including bending, squatting, getting down and up of the floor.
• Travel by car, bus, airplane, or train may also be required to attend conferences, meetings, and other duties carried out at distant locations in and out of state, and in some cases, overnight travel may be required.
• Some exposure to communicable diseases.
• The noise level in the work environment may be moderate to loud.
• Work is typically performed in a classroom, kitchen, or bus setting, and some office work will be required.
• Evenings and weekend work may occasionally be required for home visits, parent-teacher conferences, Parent Committee meetings, community, and social events.

The requirements of your Job Description are important in providing services to children and families and keeping you, children, and co-workers safe during the workday. If you are unable to perform any of the functions required in your job description due to a disability, you are invited to direct any requests for accommodation to the Program Director.

Job tags

Salary

$14.91 per hour