Head Start Teacher

Deadline to apply: September 22, 2026The Frederick YMCA Head Start is looking for a passionate Teacher focused on making a difference in the lives of children and families in Frederick County. As an early childhood educational program serving preschool aged children, we are focused on our mission to provide families of limited income with comprehensive services promoting school readiness and family engagement through a variety of partnerships to meet the needs of the Frederick Community. We are looking for experienced educators who are invested in improving child and family outcomes as part of our team to support children and families. If you are interested in utilizing your education and experience to lead a classroom in an all-inclusive early childhood program focused on positive guidance, developmentally appropriate learning experiences, and family engagement then this is the position for you!POSITION SUMMARY:This position supports the work of the Y, a leading nonprofit committed to strengthening community through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. This position serves as the lead teacher in a classroom of Head Start children by planning, implementing, and supervising all classroom activities. The Teacher facilitates an integrated approach to support the goals of the program.BENEFITS:We offer an extensive benefits package for our full-time employees which includes:Free Household MembershipMedical Dental & VisionLife insuranceShort and Long Term DisabilityRetirement benefits will vest at 12% after 2 years of employmentDiscount on childcare and other Y programsPaid Time OffBereavement leaveKNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:Extensive knowledge and skills in the field of early childhood development.Knowledge of the basics of supervision.Knowledge of the state and federal regulations pertaining to child abuse and neglect and child care licensing requirements.Knowledge of local resources, languages, and customs helpful.Ability to communicate ideas and instructions orally and in writing. Ability to speak, read, and write English well enough to understand and be understood by others.Ability to write reports and business correspondence.Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general procedures and program generated data.Ability to speak before groups of individuals.Bilingual fluency (English/Spanish) preferred.Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide.Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts and percentages.Ability to produce and interpret graphs, charts, spreadsheets and other mathematical reports.Ability to define problems, collects data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions.Ability to interpret an extensive variety of instructions.Ability to summarize conclusions and instructions, then make recommendations and develop implementation strategies.Ability to maintain strict confidentiality at all times, including the ability to recognize situations in which confidentiality is required.Ability to exhibit patience and tact when communicating with children, families, staff, management, referral sources and the public.Ability to project professionalism in conducting daily activities.This position will have intermediate to advanced knowledge of programs maintained and used by the organization, including, but not limited to Microsoft Office, Teaching Strategies GOLD, and online training courses.ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:Attends all training and workshops as required by licensing, credentialing, and Head Start Performance Standards, to include:Remains up-to-date on information that pertains to the needs of the children in the program including Head Start Performance StandardsChildcare licensing regulations and other applicable regulations and practices.Works as a team member with the other education staff, parents and Parent Committee members to implement a curriculum (Creative Curriculum) that is meaningful and meets the individual and program needs.Develops an individual plan for each child to include goal setting based on identified needs including r objectives and activities to meet established goals (outcomes). (Teaching Strategies GOLD)Schedules home visits and parent-teacher conferences with families as required and on an as-needed basis and documents these events.Maintains strict confidentiality with respect to Head Start children, families and staff in accordance with established policies and procedures.Prepares and maintains a safe, healthy learning environment for children that is positive, developmentally appropriate and reflects the programs’ curriculum. (CLASS, Creative Curriculum, Accreditation etc.)Develops individual professional development plans for all staff supervised, with Assistant Director’s guidance and approval.Supervises all classroom activities, field trips, and outdoor activities.Implements a developmentally and linguistically appropriate curriculum and experiences in a manner appropriate to the ages, languages and cultures of children served, and supports Dual Language Learners in acquiring English and maintaining their home language.Communicates any special individual child needs to the appropriate manager, and meets as needed with program specialists, consultants, and therapists working with the children and parents.Plans and prepares daily lesson plans weekly that will provide for learning experiences that advances the intellectual and physical development of children, reflective of the Head Start Early Learning Framework, Creative Curriculum, and the program’s School Readiness goals.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.Supports social and emotional development and provides positive guidance and discipline.Participates in IEP/IFSP meetings for children, collaborates with LEA, and communicates with specialists, therapists, and others as needed.Maintains a commitment to professionalism and continues own professional development so that decisions are based on knowledge of early childhood theories and practices.Shares pertinent information with family services to ensure coordinated services that meet the needs of individual children and families.Develops transition plans for children entering/exiting the program in coordination with Family Services staff, and participates in transition activities as outlined in the program’s School Readiness Goals.Supervises and eats nutritionally prepared meals with the children as a curriculum activity, to model good nutrition and proper social skills.Provides a stable classroom routine and environment.Ensures a well-run, purposeful program responsive to participant needs.Screens, observes and documents children as required.Reviews child outcome data regularly.Supervises or orders supplies as needed and takes inventory as requested.Submits bills and reports to the main Head Start office as scheduled.Maintains child records in cooperation with the family services staff.Gathers and maintains individual, family and classroom data for documentation, on-going assessment, evaluation and recordkeeping for successful individual and program planning.Inputs child assessment/observation data into the data tracking system (CC GOLD), and generates progress reports (individual and classroom level) on a regular basis; uses this information to plan instruction.Maintain individual child portfolios utilizing GOLD as required.Is familiar with the Head Start Parent, Family, and Community Engagement Framework and sets up a system to assure program's needs for parent engagement in each classroom are met.Establishes positive and productive relationships with families focusing on a relationship of trust, respect, professionalism and rapport with the parents of the children.Participates in the orientation of parents to Head Start throughout the year.Facilitates and supports monthly Parent Committee meetings at the center, in coordination with the Family Advocates.Schedules and arranges meetings, and documents parent-teacher conferences and home visits as required.Participates in the training of parents as requested.Involves parents in the educational activities of the program:to emphasize their role as the principal influence on the child's education and development; andto assist parents to increase their knowledge, understanding, skills and experience in basic child development.Identifies and arranges for parents to participate as volunteers in the classroom and work as substitutes as well as other volunteer activities.Collects monthly in-kind records from parents participating and submits to local Head Start administrative office.Writes a classroom newsletter monthly and provides center news for the program newsletter as requested.Directly orients, trains and supervises all classroom volunteers assigned in cooperation with the position with the responsibility for program volunteers.Works closely with local school system(s), as appropriate, for shared activities, registration and smooth transition.Encourages the involvement of the families in the program and supports the development of relationships between children and their families.QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS:Associate, baccalaureate or advanced degree in Early Childhood Education; orAssociate degree in a field related to Early Childhood Education and coursework* equivalent to a major relating to Early Childhood Education with at least 500 clock hours of experience in an early childhood setting teaching preschool-age children; orBaccalaureate or advanced degree in any field and coursework* equivalent to a major relating to Early Childhood Education with at least 500 clock hours of experience in early childhood setting teaching preschool-age children; orBaccalaureate degree in any field and has been admitted into the Teach For America program, passed a rigorous early childhood content exam, such as the Praxis II, participated in a Teach For America summer training institute that includes teaching preschool children, and is receiving ongoing professional development and support from Teach For America’s professional staff.YMCA CERTIFICATES/TRAININGS:Blood borne Pathogen TrainingCode of Conduct TrainingCPR, AED, and First Aid CertificationsAcceptable screening results to include comprehensive background check and initial health examMust have a valid driver’s license and be insurable by the YMCA insurance carrier and have a Motor Vehicle Record acceptable to the YCMA. #J-18808-Ljbffr Ymca-of-Frederick-County