Teacher

Responsible For: Education Role

Reports To: Education Manager

Exempt Position: No

Position Summary:

The Teacher is responsible for providing instruction and supervision in a safe and healthy learning environment for children aged 3-5 years. Plans and implements program curriculum to fidelity by providing learning opportunities in all developmental domains. Provides screening, on-going assessment, and individualization for each student. Works in collaboration with other component units and parents to ensure that the educational, health, and social-services needs of children and their families are met. Encourages involvement of families in all aspects of the program.

Meets the Head Start Performance Standards requirements, Montana Childcare Licensing regulations, STARS to quality program, and Child Start, Inc. Head Start policies and procedures. Maintains confidentiality regarding PII (Personally Identifiable Information) for children, families staff members and Child Start, Inc. Head Start’s governing bodies (Board of Directors, Policy Council).

Duties and Responsibilities:

Classroom Functions:

• Create and maintain a safe, healthy learning environment.
• Classroom set up: meets High Scope curriculum standards and guidelines.
• Set a clear, consistent schedule that is developmentally appropriate.
• Plan and provide age/developmentally appropriate learning opportunities to students to support growth in the areas of language, literacy, social and emotional development, math, science, social studies, creative arts, and physical development.
• Create lesson plans that address all areas of development following the chosen curriculum two weeks in advance. Post lesson plans in the classroom weekly.
• Include in lesson plans individualization for each student and reflections for the week.
• Utilize and implement CLASS strategies appropriately in the classroom to create an optimal learning environment.
• Promote and model good health and nutrition practices for students.
• Monitor the health and safety of students while at school.
• Follow active supervision practices to ensure safety of all children at all times.
• Document child’s developmental progress using program’s data collection systems and reports.
• Complete a developmental screening for each student within the first 45 days of attendance.
• Take anecdotal records for each student and enter into the Assessment Tool weekly, assess 3 times per school year.

• Guide students’ behavior in positive ways that support total growth and development following Child Start, Inc. Head Start’s Child Guidance policy and Behavior Management procedure.
• Playground cleanup.

Collaboration:

• Actively seek to involve parents and families in the educational process and development of their child.
• Communicate regularly with parents via phone calls, newsletters, e-mails, flyers, school activities, and meetings to form mutually supportive relationships.
• Conduct required home visits and parent-teacher conferences to share developmental progress and set appropriate goals.
• Work collaboratively with all components of Child Start Inc. to provide comprehensive services for children and families.
• In cases of Dual Language Learners, when possible, provide student information in family’s home language and use interpreters to communicate with them.
• Collaborate with all staff to support a positive working environment.
• Maintain a positive working relationship with your Teacher Assistant to ensure the students are receiving a quality educational experience.
• Provide appropriate work direction and oversee the daily responsibilities of substitutes, volunteers, paraprofessionals, and parents while in the classroom.
• Make referrals to the appropriate support system for further assessment and additional support of children’s needs.
• Meet with support staff and/or agencies to participate in the development of plans/strategies to ensure child’s success.
• Participate in all required program meetings and training.
• Complete all tasks in the required time frame.
• Follow Child Start Inc.’s procedure for any absences.
• Participate in program-wide events.

General Responsibilities:

• Ability to take direction and accept flexibility in job expectations.
• Ability to understand and follow written and verbal instructions.
• Intermediate to advanced computer skills, including familiarity with internet and email communication.
• Ability to prioritize, organize, identify and solve problems, and effectively handle multiple tasks.
• Physical ability to move quickly in order to respond to children for safety purposes.
• Ability to respond appropriately to an emergency or crisis situation.
• Ability to identify and solve problems constructively.
• Attends and participates in all required service-area and program-wide meetings and training.
• Ability to work and communicate effectively and appropriately with staff members, children, parents and the community.
• Promotes a positive work environment.
• Able to perform duties in an active environment.
• Ensures the Head Start Performance Standards and state childcare licensing requirements are followed.
• Abides by Child Start, Inc. Standards of Conduct and Policies and Procedures to accomplish agency goals.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by a person in this position. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all duties that may be performed in such a position.

Qualifications, Education and Experience :

This position requires at least an Associate of Arts degree in Early Childhood Education (AA ECE) or an AA degree in a related field, and coursework equivalent to a major relating to early childhood education, with experience of teaching preschool children.

Required:

• Must be 18 years or older.
• Must be in possession of a valid Montana Driver’s License.
• Must possess at minimum an AA ECE degree
• Must complete required health screenings, immunizations, and physical.
• Must pass a comprehensive State and FBI fingerprint background check.

Preferred:

• One year experience working with children in a Head Start, day care or preschool setting.
• BA/BS in Early Childhood Education or Child Development.
• Training in child development, classroom management, child abuse prevention, positive guidance, social work, communication, and organization.
• Proficiency with Excel, ChildPlus, Microsoft Office Suite, and/or other record keeping software
• Strong verbal and written communication abilities.
• Strong problem-solving skills and a proactive approach.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships with stakeholders.

Working Conditions:

Tasks that involve possible exposure to blood, bodily fluids, or tissues. Risk involved with travel on national flights, main highways, side streets, and rural roads during business travel, including travel to meetings and training events. Tasks may involve handling implements or utensils, use of public or shared bathroom facilities or telephones and personal contacts. Possible exposure to communicable diseases. This is a job that is a mixture of desk work, highly active classroom and outdoor environment, standing for long periods of time, and visits in the community and in participant households. This job may require you to lift items up to 50 lbs. in weight. The ability to successfully perform the job in this manner is required.