Head Start Teacher

Job Description

Job Overview

Provides a successful, safe and supervised educational setting for pre-school aged children or infants/toddlers while they are in the Head Start environment (classroom, outdoor play area, and field trips). Plans and develops individual goals for children, provides on-going assessment on progress and facilitates transition into Head Start or other pre-school settings. Supports parents in their role as primary caretakers and educators of their children and encourages their involvement in all aspects of the program. Maintains on-going contact with families and works with all other components (health, nutrition, family services, mental health, special services, parent education and resource/referral) to integrate services into the family setting.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal Head Start Teacher candidate will have a minimum of an Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Education or a related field with 15 credit hours in Early Childhood Education, and two years of experience teaching Head Start, Early Head Start, pre-school or kindergarten age children.

Salary

Minimum: $18.75- $22.95/per hour

Core Competencies

• Customer Commitment - Proactively seeks to understand the needs of the customers and provide the highest standards of service.
• Dedication to Professionalism and Integrity - Demonstrates and promotes fair, honest, professional and ethical behaviors that establishes trust throughout the organization and with the public we serve.
• Organizational Excellence - Takes ownership for excellence through one's personal effectiveness and dedication to the continuous improvement of our operations.
• Success through Teamwork - Collaborates and builds partnerships through trust and the open exchange of diverse ideas and perspectives to achieve organizational goals.

Duties and Responsibilities

Note: The following duties are illustrative and not exhaustive. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. Depending on assigned area of responsibility, incumbents in the position may perform one or more of the activities described below:

• Plans, develops and implements daily lesson plans that provide for educational and enrichment activities for preschool age children that meet federal performance standards.
• Plans and arranges classrooms into distinctive learning areas that promote an effective learning environment.
• Screens and assesses preschool aged children to determine developmental/educational needs and develops and implements individual education plans that comply with federal performance standards.
• Monitors meal and snack periods, classroom and restroom activities, and playground activities to ensure a safe environment for young children.
• Documents children's progress or lack thereof and completes all required manual and computerized forms and reports in accordance with federal requirements.
• Initiates referrals to the appropriate Lead Teacher by submission of required paperwork.
• Plans classroom activities for parent and community volunteers.
• Attends and participates in workshops and other meetings to acquire and disseminate information.
• Communicates with parents through parent conferences, written correspondence, telephone and home visits to apprise them of child's progress, upcoming events, classroom activities, individual education plan changes, and other relevant information.
• Conducts health checks on children for health concerns, including ringworm, head lice or other health conditions, and reports to appropriate nurse.
• Reports suspected child abuse and neglect to designated state agency.
• Plans, coordinates and oversees field trips for assigned children.
• Requests supplies and equipment to be ordered for use by children in the classroom.
• Serves as a bus monitor in the transportation of children and engages children in song and other developmentally appropriate activities during ride.
• Assists in the transportation of special needs children by lifting child into seat and fastening safety belt.
• Inspects classrooms and grounds to ensure the safety, orderliness, sanitation and cleanliness of facilities.
• Discusses plans and coordinates concerns regarding the child and family with other Head Start staff.
• Performs First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) as needed.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Job Specifications

• Knowledge of developmentally appropriate practices for early childhood education.
• Knowledge of behavior modification theories and practices relating to early childhood development.
• Knowledge of current educational techniques and practices relating to early childhood development.
• Skill in making presentations to groups.
• Skill in verbal communication with pre-school age children.
• Ability to resolve conflicts between pre-school age children.
• Ability to plan, organize and implement early childhood education curriculums.
• Ability to remain in a seated position on the floor for extended periods of time.
• Ability to collect, organize and evaluate data and develop logical conclusions.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to prepare and maintain work related reports and files.
• Ability to handle confidential information.
• Ability to use a computer and related software.
• Ability to follow established procedures.
• Ability to administer CPR and First Aid.
• Ability to implement safety procedures.
• Ability to work effectively with others.

Physical Requirements

• Regular kneeling, stooping, bending, and sitting on the floor to attend to children's needs.
• Ability to lift and carry up to fifty (50) pounds.
• Ability to provide physical assistance in the transportation of special needs children.

Work Category

• Medium work - Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

Minimum Qualifications Required

• Graduation from an accredited four- year degree granting college or university with a major in Early Childhood Education or a related field with 18 credit hours in Early Childhood Education; AND
• One year of experience teaching Head Start, Early Head Start, pre-school or kindergarten age children; OR
• Associates Degree from an accredited college or university with a major in Early Childhood Education or a related field with 18 credit hours in Early Childhood Education; AND
• 2 years of experience teaching Head Start Early Head Start, pre-school or kindergarten age children; AND
• Obtain within 90 days of employment 40 clock hours from the Florida Department of Children and Families; AND
• Developmentally Appropriate Practices for Infant/Toddlers or Preschool Course (10-hours); AND
• Introductory Child Care Training (30-hours); AND
• Child Growth and Development (6-hours); AND
• Behavioral Observation & Screening (6-hours); AND
• Health, Safety & Nutrition (8-hours), Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect (4-hours); AND
• Child Care Facility Rules and Regulations (6-hours).

Emergency Management Responsibilities

In the event of an emergency or disaster, an employee may be required to respond promptly to duties and responsibilities as assigned by the employee's department, the County's Office of Emergency Management, or County Administration. Such assignments may be for before, during or after the emergency/disaster.

Additional Job Requirements

A department, depending on the nature of its mission and operations, may require that employees in all or certain positions in this job classification:

1. Maintain the ability to pass the background checks required for the position. These background checks may include but are not limited to:
   1. Criminal History Background Check using Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS)
   2. Level 1 and Level 2 Background screening (Ch. 435 Florida Statutes)
   3. Child Abuse, Abandonment and Neglect Record Check using the State Automated Child Welfare Information System (SACWIS)
   4. Sex Offender and Sexual Predator record check using the list maintained by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE)
2. Possess the necessary job-related license(s) or certification(s) that may include possession of a Florida Driver License (Class E)

For more information regarding background screenings, please visit