Head Start Floater

Description

Reports To: Site Manager
Primary Purpose:

The Center Floater provides flexible support across classrooms, ensuring a safe, nurturing, and engaging learning environment for children. This role assists teachers with daily activities, supervision, and classroom management while adapting to the needs of different age groups and learning settings. The floater helps maintain compliance with Head Start Performance Standards, supports meal and hygiene routines, and fosters positive interactions with children, staff, and families. This position requires adaptability, teamwork, and a commitment to early childhood education.

Essential Duties & Qualifications

Classroom Support - Assist teachers in implementing daily lesson plans, engaging children in activities, and maintaining a positive learning environment.

Child Supervision - Ensure active supervision and safety of children in classrooms, playgrounds, and common areas.

Flexible Assistance - Provide support in multiple classrooms as needed, filling in for teachers, aides, or other staff.

Meal and Snack assistance : Help with meal preparation, distribution, and clean-up while promoting healthy eating habits.

Diapering & Hygiene Support - Assist with diapering, toileting, and personal hygiene routines following Head Start health and safety guidelines.

Behavioral Guidance - Foster positive interactions, reinforce classroom expectations, and support social-emotional development.

Classroom Organization - Help maintain a clean, safe, and organized classroom environment, including setting up learning materials.

Communication & Teamwork -Collaborate with teachers, staff, and families to support the children's and program's needs.

Compliance & Policies - Follow Head Start Performance Standards, licensing regulations, and program procedures.

Professional Development - Participate in ongoing training, staff meetings, and required certifications to enhance skills and knowledge.

Other duties and projects as assigned
Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

• High School diploma or GED equivalent
• Eligible to enroll in a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential program within 30 days of start date or enroll in a degree program leading to an associate or baccalaureate degree. If enrolled in a degree program, a minimum of 15 credit hours in early childhood or child development must be completed within two years of the hire date, or the CDA credential must be earned within the same timeframe.
• Must successfully complete a background check and physical examination in accordance with program requirements
• Willing to obtain CPR and first aid certification

Preferred Qualifications

• Child Development Associate Credential (CDA)
• CPR and First aid Certification
• 3 months experience in a childcare setting

Career Progression

This position is eligible for promotion/transfer. If an appropriate position is available, the employee must meet minimum qualifications, including the promotion/transfer eligibility guidelines.

Physical Demands & Work Conditions

Travel

• This position may be required to travel up to 0-10 %

Physical Demands & Work Conditions

• Ability to stand, walk, sit on the floor, and move quickly to ensure child safety.
• Ability to assist with tasks such as feeding, diapering, and setting up learning materials.
• Lift, push, pull, move up to 50 lbs.
• Extended periods of movement between classrooms, playgrounds, and other areas.
• Work in multiple classrooms with varying age groups and teaching teams.
• May be required to shift between different classrooms or duties as needed.

The physical requirements for this position, with or without reasonable accommodation, are representative of those that must be met by an employee to perform the essential functions of this position successfully. While performing this position the employee with or without reasonable accommodation should have the ability to walk, stand, sit, kneel, speak, and hear with aid, see, read, reach with arms and hands, lift and/or move up to specified weight, and use equipment that is essential to performing the job, such as a computer, copier, fax machine, telephone, and automobile, if applicable. Specific vision requirements of this position may include color vision, seeing things close up, and the ability to adjust focus.