JOB DESCRIPTION

Position Title: Head Start Teacher

Location: Pine Bluff

Employment Status: Full-time

Immediate Supervisor: Education Coordinator

Titles of Position Supervised: None

Major Objectives: Demonstrate excellent teaching practices, maintain the security and safety of the children, and implement an educational program that is developmentally appropriate and congruent with the Head Start Program Performance Standards and Arkansas Minimum Licensing Requirements.

Responsibilities:

•  Maintain and promote a safe and healthy environment for young children by:
  • Attending Staff Meetings
  • Supervising indoor and outdoor play areas in such a way that children are easily monitored.
  • Learning and following regulations/requirements for operating a Head Start classroom.
  • Following safety standards and participating in emergency response drills.
  • Checking to be sure equipment and supplies are safe, durable, adequate, and varied.
  • Following appropriate discipline guidelines to include offering positive reinforcement, redirection, setting realistic expectations, and setting clear and consistent limits.

• Manage classroom by:
  • Following daily lesson plans and creating a positive, stimulating, and peaceful environment.
  • Creating individualized plans and home tasks for each child.
  • Assessing children and creating individualized goals from these assessments.
  • Encouraging parents to participate and volunteer in the classroom.
  • Developing relationships with children which are consistent and supportive.
  • Understanding the importance of meeting both the needs of the group and individual children.
  • Eating and interacting with children at meal and snack times.
  • Understanding/following all attendance, health check, and family contact procedures.
  • Following established behavioral expectations and guidelines for disciplining children.

• Demonstrate physical and mental abilities by:
  • Supervising children to ensure a safe learning environment including the ability to monitor and respond to events going on at all times in the classroom, outdoor play areas and on field trips. This includes the physical ability to move quickly in order to respond to children who are very active and may need restraint or redirection in order to ensure their safety or the safety of others in the environment.
  • Responding appropriately (both mentally and physically) to an emergency or crisis situation.
  • Daily kneeling, stooping, bending, and sitting on the floor to attend to children’s needs.
  • Occasional lifting up to 40 pounds.

• Assists with ongoing documentation and site accountability including, but not limited to:
  • Attendance
  • Assessments
  • Child Goals
  • Individualized Lesson Plans
  • Home Tasks
  • Portfolios
  • Home Visits
  • Parent/Teacher Conferences
  • Incident Reports
  • In-Kind

•  Establish effective relationships with children, parents, members of the community and staff of the Head Start Program by:
  • Assisting with recruitment and enrollment of Head Start children.
  • Helping to make parents feel welcome and part of the overall program.
  • Assisting in planning and conducting a Head Start orientation for parents each August and as children enter the program.
  • Building trusting and respectful relationships so parents will feel comfortable in sharing information on sensitive issues and confidence their privacy will be respected.
  • Conducting parent/teacher conferences and home visits throughout the year.
  • Engaging parents in the lesson plans, home tasks, and other periodic activities.
  • Identifying and reporting child abuse and neglect in, so far as possible, a helpful rather than punitive manner toward the abusing or neglecting parents/caretakers.

• Keeps Management informed by:
  • Participating in staff meetings.
  • Submitting assigned paperwork according to timelines.
  • Contributing ideas and information as requested.

•  Protects program integrity and client privacy by keeping any and all program information gained through employment at CSO absolutely confidential during and after this employment.

• Demonstrates a commitment to lifelong learning by participating in Staff Development training and attending relevant and approved workshops.
  
  
• Contributes to team effort by:
  • Welcoming new and different work requirements; exploring new opportunities to add value to the organization; helping others accomplish related job results as and where needed.
  • Completing any other duties as assigned.

Pay: $21.63-24.04 per hour

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Professional development assistance
• Vision insurance
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