Infant & Toddler Teacher - Hiring Incentive!

Position: Infant & Toddler Teacher - Hiring Incentive! Location: New Rochelle, NY Job Id: 527 # of Openings: 8

JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE

INFANT & TODDLER TEACHER

CATEGORY

NON-EXEMPT

PROGRAM

URBAN STRATEGIES – EARLY HEAD START

WORK SCHEDULE

FIVE DAYS PER WEEK, 40 HOURS PER WEEK; 12 MONTHS PER YEAR

REPORTS TO

CENTER COORDINATOR

ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW

Urban Strategies exists to equip, resource, and connect faith- and community-based organizations that are engaged in community transformation to help families reach their fullest potential. We work with trusted faith- and community-based organizations and focus on the Latino community to engage and come alongside the whole family. Our vision is that all children and families reach their full potential. Our work is informed by our three core values: Authentic Relationships, Servant Leadership, and Intentional Compassion. Authentic Relationships are foundational to our work and move beyond a transactional nature to truly know people. They serve as opportunities for mutual development and growth and are based on the belief that all people have inherent dignity and worth. Servant Leadership is rooted in an other‑centric mindset that informs the way one leads and builds up individuals, families, and communities. Intentional Compassion describes a deliberate commitment to understand, formulate strategic responses, and activate others to reach their full potential. Our organization is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and our administrative offices are located in Johnson City, Tennessee. Our team works across the United States and Puerto Rico with direct service centers located in California, Arizona, Texas, Florida, New York, and Puerto Rico.

POSITION OVERVIEW

Teachers promote and advance the social, emotional, physical, linguistic, and cognitive development and learning of infants and toddlers. Teachers are expected to provide a successful, safe, and supervised educational setting in the classroom and outdoor play areas; develop individual goals for children, provide an ongoing assessment on progress and facilitate transition into Head Start or other pre‑school settings. Teachers encourage parent engagement in the development and growth of their children. In all work with children, teachers must meet Federal Head Start Performance Standards and Texas Early Learning Guidelines. In addition, teachers are expected to complete a professional development plan that may include university credentials.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Be knowledgeable with and adhere to the Head Start Program Performance Standards, State of Texas licensing requirements, and Urban Strategies policies and procedures. Maintain an open, friendly, professional relationship with all staff and families, including respect for culture, diversity, and ethnicity. Ensure the safety of all children and volunteers by complying with written safety standards. Monitor and ensure the confidentiality of children’s records. Assure an integrated approach to child development that includes all EHS services (health, nutrition, mental health, disabilities).

POSITION-SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Healthy and safe indoor and outdoor environment for children Detect and report signs of illness, discomfort, and unusual behavior of children to Family/Health Advocate and Center Manager. Follow the organizational process for complying with mandated reporting of suspected child abuse/neglect. Responsible for keeping classrooms, storage areas, and office space neat and clutter‑free. Responsible for following all health, safety, and sanitation policies and procedures established by the program. Report any safety hazards observed indoors and outdoors. Responsible always for the direct supervision and safety of all children. Create a pleasant, inviting atmosphere in which each child’s ethnic, cultural, and language background is accepted, respected, and supported. Use conscious discipline guidance techniques as defined in the Discipline Policy and Procedures. Responsible for setting up, documenting, and serving children daily meals and snacks appropriate to their age level. Responsible for maintaining an inventory of all classroom furniture, materials, and supplies. Curriculum/Assessment/Teaching and Learning Environment Develop lesson plans and utilize the approved curriculum, which reflects mandated elements and components, parental and cultural influences, and promotes the social, emotional, physical, cognitive, and linguistic development of all infants and toddlers inclusive of dual language learners, homeless children, children in foster care, and children with disabilities. Become proficient in the use of the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework and its alignment to the curriculum. Follow a schedule, which includes small and large group experiences, choice time, music and movement, large and small motor activities, skill development, meals, and effective transitions between activities while maintaining flexibility to meet children’s needs and strengths. Always assure a nurturing and language‑rich interaction and environment that facilitates maximum social and emotional development. Establish weekly goals that promote individual and group educational plans and that meet the health, mental health, and nutrition needs of all children. Assess each child’s growth and development utilizing educational assessments and reviewing medical records, parent input, IEP, IFSP, developmental and health screenings, and observations. Develop child and adult‑directed educational activities based on strengths, interests, and needs of children in the classroom. Document baselines, ongoing assessments, and observations in accordance with the school readiness goals/outcomes established by the program. Become proficient in the collection, recording, analysis, and use of educational child data. Attend meetings, trainings, and appropriate professional development activities to advance proficiency in child development and learning. Parent, Family & Community Engagement: Provide an atmosphere that promotes and reinforces parental engagement in child development and growth. Model appropriate behavior and positive guidance techniques. Communicate regularly with parents, regarding each child’s progress in all areas: growth, development, learning, health, mental health, and nutrition. Conduct the required parent/teacher conferences and home visits and share information on classroom progress and educational strategies at school and home. Plan and carry out home education activities in compliance with all program standards. Work with appropriate agencies in developing specialized services for children and families as needed inclusive of dual language learners, homeless children, children in foster care, and children with disabilities.

PHYSICAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

Ability to see at a normal distance, hear normal conversations and sounds, and use hands and fingers to fill out required forms. Ability to lift infants and toddlers weighing up to forty (40) pounds, twenty (20) pounds overhead, and forty (40) pounds from waist to shoulder; occasional lifting of fifty (50) pounds is required and must be able to push/pull up to fifty pounds horizontally. Ability to sit on the floor, bend at the waist, kneel and/or stoop 75% of the time. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions as long as the staff disability does not create an undue risk of injury to any enrolled children in the classroom.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

AA Degree or CDA in early childhood education with infant and toddler specialization or with training in infant and toddler development. Minimum two (2) years of successful experience as an infant/toddler teacher or caregiver. Basic computer skills. Must have a Valid Driver’s License, Personal Vehicle, and Liability Insurance required.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

BA/BS Degree in Child Development with Infant and Toddler Development. Knowledge of Head Start Performance Standards.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

Other employment requirements include the following: All EHS employees must pass a mandatory criminal background check prior to hiring and every five years thereafter. Initial health exam and state-required communicable disease screening and testing. Food Handlers Certification Card. Employment is conditional pending satisfactory results of all required tests and background checks mentioned above. Periodic physical examinations and TB clearances will be required if hired. #J-18808-Ljbffr Urban Strategies