Early Head Start Teacher

Early Head Start Teacher

One of the following is required for an early head start teaching position: Bachelor's degree or associate's degree + infant/toddler CDA, bachelor's degree or associate's degree with infant/toddler CDA within two years, or an associate's degree in early childhood education.

The Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties Head Start Consortium is looking for a teacher to plan, organize, coordinate, and implement a comprehensive education program at the center level that is developmentally appropriate and meets the individual needs of the children. This is a full-year, full-time or part-time position.

The teacher is responsible for the care and education of a group of children and is a team member with other teachers. The teacher plans and implements the curriculum in accordance with the Early Head Start Performance Standards and Developmentally Appropriate Practices as defined by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). This position requires active participation with other members of the teaching team, various Head Start staff, and parents to assess and address the needs of individual children. The teacher works under the direct supervision of the Head Start Manager/Principal assigned to the site. The teacher is expected to present a positive and professional image of Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties Head Start Consortium and the Early Head Start Division, and actively and effectively participate on committees and work teams as requested.

The teacher must adhere to HEAD START and Early Head Start performance standards, Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties Head Start Consortium policies and procedures and state mandates regarding the reporting of child abuse and neglect.

This position has frequent contact with the Head Start Manager/Principal for supervision and direction, and with other teaching staff to implement the educational curriculum. Regular contact exists with other staff for information sharing, with parents, with LEAs, Partners of the Early Head Start Program and with schools for transitioning children to public schools or other educational settings.

Minimum hiring requirements include a CDA focus on infants and toddlers and must present evidence. An associate's degree in early childhood education/development or related field is preferred. One or more years of classroom experience with infants and toddlers in a licensed childcare center based program, or other Head Start program, or public schools is required. Spanish speaking is preferred.

The teacher must be able to read, analyze, and interpret technical/medical/legal information. Ability to respond to routine inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community. Ability to effectively communicate with individuals and groups. Ability to apply concepts such as averages, ratios, fractions, and percentages to practical situations. Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete and/or abstract variables where only limited information or standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written or verbal form. Ability to prioritize projects or assignments based on limited supporting information, and to develop creative alternative solutions.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. The employee must have the physical ability to consistently and competently perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear in order to communicate in person or over the telephone with employees, applicants, and other customers. This position must also be able to travel to customer sites when necessary, and may occasionally need to put in hours beyond the standard workweek in order to meet customer demands. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; reach; bend; grasp objects, and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to sit. This position must frequently lift and/or move up to 20 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus. The employee is required to have fine motor skills for legible and accurate writing of reports, charting, scheduling and correspondence. This position is required to visit customer homes and other required locations. This position must be able to work with all individuals in a positive manner, and must be familiar with stress management and conflict resolution techniques. Must be able to tolerate a high degree of stress, and have the physical agility and emotional stamina to respond quickly, appropriately and effectively to emergency situations.