Teacher - Preschool Head Start - Mc Veytown, United States - Tuscarora Intermediate Unit 11

Description

Position Type:
Head Start - Juniata County

Date Posted:
3/4/2024

Location:
Juniata County Head Start - Main

Closing Date:
until filledGeneral Summary
This position serves as the lead worker in a classroom of Head Start children by planning, implementing, and supervising all classroom activities. This position works with typically developing children and children with disabilities. Because this position is one part of a large system of services provided to children and families, this position also serves as a social service referral person and shares responsibility for parent involvement in the program as well as providing & modeling school readiness information and skills to parents. The position of teacher works in tandem with the rest of the parts of the system as an integrated team to support the goals of the program. The position may be reassigned to various classrooms/centers as deemed necessary for program operations.

Fundamental Duties/Essential Functions
Duties of the position are described in major functional areas listed below. Additional duties may be assigned.

Program Development
1. Attends all required training and workshops.

1. Remains up-to-date on information that pertains to the needs of the children in the program including Head Start Program Performance Standards, Head Start Act, OCDEL regulations and any other applicable regulations and practices.
2. Works as a team member with the other education staff, parents to develop curriculum that is meaningful and meets the school readiness needs of the individual as well as program needs.
3. Responsible for the weekly preparation of daily lesson plans, which includes objectives to be posted for parents, volunteers and visitors in the classroom.
4. 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 (outcomes).
5. Schedules home visits and parent-teacher conferences with families as required and on an as-needed basis and documents these events.
6. Maintains strict confidentiality with respect to enrolled children, families and staff in accordance with established policies and procedures.
7. Prepares a safe, healthy learning environment for children that are developmentally appropriate and experientially-based.
8. Develops individual training plans for all staff supervised making it clear what is expected and what the timeframe is for completion of short and long term goals.
9. Performs other duties as assigned.

Preschool Program Implementation

1. Supervises all classroom activities, field trips and outdoor activities.
2. Plans and provides a developmentally and linguistically appropriate curriculum and experiences in a manner appropriate to the ages, languages and cultures of children served.
3. Directs any special needs or problems to the appropriate manager/specialist or supervisor.
4. Plans and implements learning experiences that advance the intellectual and physical competence of children including improving the readiness of children for school by developing their literacy and phonemic, print and numeracy awareness, their understanding of the use of language, their understanding and use of increasingly complex and varied vocabulary, their appreciation of books and their problem solving abilities.
5. Implements education lesson plans and daily programs for children in accordance with each child's need, based on a method of observing and recording children's interests and current levels of functioning. Additionally, lesson plans and daily program activities should be aligned with the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes and Framework.
6. Supports social and emotional development and provides positive guidance and discipline.
7. Maintains a commitment to professionalism and continues own professional development so that decisions are based on knowledge of early childhood theories and practices.
8. Shares pertinent information with the respective Family Services Worker to ensure coordinated services that meet the needs of individual children and families.
9. Supervises and eats nutritionally prepared meals with the children as a curriculum activity, to model good nutrition and proper social skills. Encourage children to serve themselves whenever possible and to serve food in a family style manner.
10. Provides a stable classroom routine and environment.
11. Ensures a well-run, purposeful program responsive to participant needs.
12. Screens, observes and documents children as required.
13. Understands regulations associated with prevention of occupational disease and injury, including the exercise of universal precautions and the prevention of contamination.
14. Performs other duties as assigned.

Recordkeeping

1. Submits daily attendance records to the main office.
2. Submits monthly progress reports to the supervisor as scheduled.
3. Supervises or orders supplies as needed and takes inventory as requested.
4. Submits monthly bills and reports to the central office in a timely manner.
5. Maintains child records in cooperation with the Family Services Worker.
6. Gathers and maintains individual, family and classroom data for documentation, on-going assessment, evaluation and recording keeping for successful individual and program planning.
7. Understands, generates and documents in-kind and other allowable costs applied toward the non-federal share requirement.
8. Performs other duties as assigned.

Parent and Community Engagement

1. Sets up system to assure program's needs for parent engagement in each classroom are met.
2. Establishes positive and productive relationships with families focusing on a relationship of trust and rapport with the parents of the children.
3. Participates in the orientation of parents to Head Start throughout the year.
4. Facilitates and supports monthly Parent Committee meetings at the center.
5. Schedules and arranges meetings, and documents parent-teacher conferences and home visits as required.
6. Participates in the training of parents as requested.
7. Involves parents in the educational activities of the program:

a. Emphasize their role as the principal influence on the child's education and development
b. Assist parents to increase their knowledge, understanding, skills and experience in basic child development.

1. Identifies and arranges for parents to participate as volunteers in the classroom and work as substitutes as well as other volunteer activities.
2. Collects monthly in-kind records from parents participating and submits to office assistant.
3. Writes a classroom newsletter once every other month beginning in October and provides center news for the program newsletter as requested.
4. Positively promotes Head Start in the community.
5. Orients and supervises all classroom volunteers.
6. Works closely with local school system(s), as appropriate, for shared activities, registration and smooth transition.
7. Performs other duties as assigned.

Supervision

1. Plans and directs the work of the staff supervised. Observes and gives feedback to Assistant Teacher, Program Aide where applicable and other staff as assigned on at least a weekly basis.
2. Makes daily job assignments within the classroom; provides instruction in performing job duties and models appropriate classroom practices.
3. Sets the standards of the classroom and goals for Assistant Teacher and other classroom staff, monitors progress toward goals, provides regular feedback, and submits performance appraisals in a timely manner.
4. Provides daily supervision of all classroom staff and volunteers, monitors employee performance and classroom activities. Conducts competency assessments and performance evaluation of assigned staff and volunteers.
5. Makes appropriate personnel decisions that do not require higher approval, and submits others as a recommendation to the supervisor.
6. Determines appropriate training needs to meet the program goals and objectives, and makes the necessary recommendations.
7. Develops and supports the individual development plan for assigned Assistant Teacher or other staff.
8. Performs other duties as assigned.

Training

1. Participate in all training and professional development activities as required under the Head Start Program Performance Standards, the Head Start Act, OCDEL, and as planned for by the program.

Knowledge and Abilities

1. Extensive knowledge and skills in the field of early childhood development.
2. Understand and support the Head Start Program Performance Standards, the Head Start Act, OCDEL Early Learning Standards, and the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes and Framework.
3. Knowledge of various service resources in the community.
4. Some knowledge of the basics of supervision.
5. Knowledge of the state and federal regulations pertaining to child abuse and neglect and child care licensing requirements.
6. Knowledge of local resources, language and customs helpful.
7. Ability to be perceptive of the needs of children and to work well with staff, children and parents/families.
8. Ability to organize and direct classroom activities.
9. Ability to maintain confidentiality.
10. Ability to maintain accurate records which reflect the needs and progress of children.
11. Ability to demonstrate knowledge, skills and a positive attitude in the field of early childhood education.

Language Skills

1. Ability to communicate ideas and instructions orally and in writing.
2. Ability to speak, read and write English well enough to understand and be understood by others.
3. Ability to write reports and business correspondence.
4. Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general educational journals.
5. Ability to speak before groups of individuals.
6. Bilingual skills helpful (English/Spanish).

Mathematical Skills

1. Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as percentages and overtime.

Reasoning Skills

1. Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
2. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of instructions.
3. Ability to summarize conclusions and instructions, then make recommendations and develop implementation strategies.
4. Ability to maintain strict confidentiality at all times, including the ability to recognize situations in which confidentiality is required.

Other Skills and Abilities

1. Ability to exhibit patience and tact when communicating with children, families, staff, management, referral sources and the public.
2. Ability to project professionalism in conducting daily activities.

Education and Experience

1. An AA or higher in Early Childhood Education or other AA degree or higher with 6 courses in early childhood education plus six months of experience working with preschool children is preferred. Bachelor's degree in early childhood education or related field preferred.
2. Bilingual preferred (English/Spanish). Previous supervision experience preferred.
3. Must be willing and able to obtain Basic First Aid and CPR Certification and maintain certification.
4. The program will verify references and complete a sex offender registry check. An initial health exam with acceptable tuberculosis screening results, a clear criminal records, FBI, and Child Abuse clearances check. These are required post job offer and prior to employment.
5. Current and former Head Start/Early Head Start parents will receive preference for employment vacancies for which they are qualified.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

1. An occasional need to provide gentle physical restraint to children.
2. May be required to lift up to 30 pounds.
3. Some exposure to communicable diseases.
4. Noise level in work environment may be moderate to loud.
5. Travel by car, bus, airplane or train may also be required associated with attendance at conferences, meeting and other duties carried out at distant locations in and out of state and in some cases where some overnight travel may be required.
6. Work is typically performed in a classroom setting and some office work required.
7. Some evenings and weekend work may occasionally be required for events such as home visits, parent - teacher conference, Parent Committee meetings, social and community events.