Early Head Start Teacher

Title: Early Head Start Teacher

Immediate Supervisor: Early Head Start Center Manager

Staff Supervised: None

Job Classification: Exempt, Full Time

Organization Overview

United Way of Acadiana is committed to serving Acadia, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Martin, Iberia, and Vermilion parishes. United Way fights for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in our community. Our mission: to unite people and organizations with passion, expertise, and resources to create more opportunities for a better life. Our vision: an educated, prosperous, and safe Acadiana where all individuals and families are empowered to achieve their full potential.

Basic Job Summary

The Early Head Start Teacher is responsible for working with all United Way Early Learning Center (UW-ELC) staff to better meet the developmental needs of Early Head Start children and their families as prescribed by the Head Start Performance Standards. This position provides quality services in the timeline mandated by the Head Start Performance Standards. The Teacher is responsible for supporting the social and emotional development of children and encouraging the support and participation of the families of the children in the UW-ELC program.
This job operates in a professional environment. This role routinely involves standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines. Occasionally, an employee might be asked to carry/transport heavy items up to 40lbs.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Early Head Start Teacher is responsible for working with all United Way Early Learning Center (UW-ELC) staff to better meet the developmental needs of Early Head Start children and their families as prescribed by the Head Start Performance Standards. This position provides quality services in the timeline mandated by the Head Start Performance Standards. The Teacher is responsible for supporting the social and emotional development of children and encouraging the support and participation of the families of the children in the UW-ELC program.

• Demonstrate knowledge of Head Start Performance Standards policies and procedures.
• Assist Center Manager in meeting all regulations and standards for providing a safe and healthy educational environment and an environment conducive to learning for enrolled children and their families.
• Encourage parents to fully participate possible in all scheduled programs or center-based parent activities.
• Plans and maintains a safe, clean, learning environment, and assures the well-being and safety of children in their care.
• Establish a caring professional relationship and a climate of mutual trust and respect for families.
• Plan and implement activities with children between the ages of zero and three, with the curriculum provided and Head Start mandated outcomes.
• Follow the Head Start Performance Standards, all UW-ELC policies and procedures, and the UW-ELC written plan work.
• Maintain a cooperative attitude of working together with other teachers, volunteers, parents, and program specialists in planning and implementing classroom activities.
• Plan and implement daily activities that engage children in literacy, language, and math activities using songs, books and games that are integrated with prescribed themes/topics.
• Use assessment information for individually interacting with children during learning center times and other times for teaching identified concepts.
• Maintain accurate and current assessment information noting child’s progress across all developmental domains utilizing anecdotal notes and/ or examples of children’s work.
• Accurately completes all paperwork, including home visit forms, parent/teacher conference forms, lesson plans, and transition forms.
• Develop and implement weekly lesson plans that are consistent with the program curriculum and EHS guidelines.
• Encourage and models language expansion, extended learning and problem-solving strategies throughout the day.
• Maintain discipline and supervision of children during all Head Start activities as outlined in UW-ELC Discipline Policies and Procedures.
• Assure child- staff ratios are always maintained.
• Monitor children on the playground to assure safe and appropriate play and monitor play areas to assure safety and cleanliness of the equipment. Assures that all children are always visible.
• Respond to crisis or emergency situations that may occur by providing First Aid or CPR, preventing the spread of blood borne pathogens, and assessing the need for emergency services.
• Protect all children from physical punishment or verbal abuse by anyone in any program activity and immediately report any such incident to the ELC Center Manager or person in charge.
• Observe children to detect signs of illness, injury, emotional disturbances, learning disorders, speech problems, or other special needs and report those signs immediately to the ELC Site Services Director for needed follow-up.
• Observe children for any suspected or disclosed signs of child abuse or child neglect and report them immediately to the ELC Center Manager or person in charge in accordance with the UW-ELC Child Abuse/Neglect Reporting Policy and Procedures.
• Sit with children during mealtimes and eat the same “Type A” lunch as children, providing a model for good nutritional habits (unless prohibited from doing so by dietary or doctors concerns).
• Visit each child’s home at least twice per year as indicated on the planning calendar, meeting with parents, becoming familiar with the child’s home environment, and getting to know the family.
• Hold at least three parent/teacher conferences per year as designated on the planning calendar to share each child’s progress with parents.
• Work cooperatively with other teachers and family service workers assigned to her/his classroom as a team to involve all parents with their children and to encourage the active participation of all parents in the program.
• Perform home visits for those enrolled in the home-based program until the official opening of your designated site.
• Maintain accurate attendance records daily.
• Maintain 85% average daily attendance, discounting excused absences, each month.
• Work cooperatively with the assigned family service workers following up on all children who are absent, contacting the parents to determine the reason for absence.
• Safeguard all classroom supplies and equipment, and accounts for any misused, damaged, or missing supplies or equipment.
• Responsible for cleaning and general maintenance of classroom.
• Open or close site as needed.
• Participate and attend all trainings as required.
• Perform any other job-related tasks deemed necessary.
• Execute special projects and assignments as needed.

Education

• A minimum of a Child Development Associate Credential (CDA) in Infant and Toddler Education associate or bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Placing a high priority on customer relationships
• Assessing and analyzing information and technology needs.
• Identifying and implementing strategies for effective management of donor/financial information.
• Efficiently and accurately capturing donor/gift information
• Balance promoting United Way and collecting key donor/investor information.
• Good oral and written communication skills.

Experiences

• Minimum of three - five years' experience in early childhood education.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to present complex data in a clear and accessible manner.
• Passion for the work United Way of Acadiana is committed to doing in the community.

Requirements Before Hire

• Proof and maintenance of a valid driver’s license
• Proof and maintenance of Vehicle Insurance
• Must pass a Louisiana State Police Background Check
• Must complete employment health screening and TB testing