Therapeutic Teacher

Job Description

Job Description

Position Title:Therapeutic Teacher

Status:Full-time; exempt status

Reports to:Early Childhood Consultation Program Manager

Supervises:N/A

Summary: Works in Head Start classrooms in collaboration with Head Start teachers and staff to support children to develop self-regulation, language, cognitive, interpersonal, motor, perceptual, and other skills with an emphasis on social and emotional development. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Interacts with children in the classroom setting to improve social and emotional development; self-regulation skills; and language, cognitive, interpersonal, motor, perceptual, and other skills that will enable the child to successfully enter a mainstream school environment.
• Collaborate with Head Start teachers to implement daily schedules, support classroom routines, limit setting, curriculum development, interpreting the underlying meaning of behaviors, and following the children’s lead in play.
• Model therapeutic and trauma responsive practices with children for Head Start teachers and staff. Shadow implementation of supportive classroom strategies. 
• Support positive teacher-child relationships in the classroom. 
• Assists to establish the therapeutic milieu in the classroom setting. Adapts oneself to the individual needs of child by setting limits, interpreting the underlying meaning of behaviors, and following the client’s lead in play.
• Coordinate and support classroom transitions for children (ex: child moving from infant/toddler room to preschool room).
• Responds to each child’s needs and/or unsafe behavior quickly and effectively by utilizing the principles of Nonviolent Crisis Intervention® training. 
• Works in collaboration with the ECC Team to develop and implement goals and strategies; program/classroom plans as needed; and to address children who exhibit challenging behaviors.
• Completes all necessary paperwork in accordance with established timeframes.
• Participates in supervision, staff training, and collaborative meetings with internal/external providers, and other meetings as required.

• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements:

1. Bachelor’s degree in human/child development, social welfare, psychology, counseling, or a related field.

2. Teacher or Master Teacher Child Development Permit granted by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing; OR twenty-four (24) semester units in the Early Childhood Education core coursework.

3. Five years’ experience working with young children in an early learning setting, preferably as a teacher or mental health consultant.

4. Must submit to fingerprinting and be cleared by the California Department of Justice and the FBI for criminal and child abuse background checks.

Physical Requirements:

Employee must be able to lift, grasp, and hold a 50-lb. dynamic load; must be able to stand, walk, sit, bend, stoop, and crouch without physical limitations. Must be able to quickly rise from sitting position on chairs and floor demonstrating rapid motor movement and responses. Must be able to work effectively in a high-noise, rapid-pace environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

1.  Fluency in both Spanish and English.

2. Teacher or Master Teacher Child Development Permit granted by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing

3. Two years’ experience working with young children who exhibit social- emotional and/or behavioral challenges.