Head Start Preschool Teacher

Head Start Teacher

Position Title: Head Start Teacher

Date Created/Amended: January 2024

Department: Head Start

Location: Horace Mann Early Learning Center or other assigned district location

Full-Time/Part-Time: Full Time

Appointment Term: 10 months

Reports To: Director of Early Childhood Programs & Education Manager

Salary/Hourly Rate: $24,541 - $59,387/year based on education and experience and full-day or part-day classroom

Position Summary Information:

A Lead Teacher is expected to plan and implement responsive, developmentally appropriate programming to promote social emotions, physical, and intellectual growth through a culture of safety aligned with the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework, The Creative Curriculum, and Conscious Discipline.

Performance Responsibilities:

• Emphasize nurturing and responsive practices, interactions, and environments that foster trust and emotional security.
• Plan and implement intentional programming that supports social-emotional, physical, and cognitive growth aligned with the developmental progressions described in the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework: Ages Birth to Five as well as supplemental curricula.
• Maintain certification to ensure reliable and current documentation of child outcome data is entered and used to drive intentional lesson planning and individualization.
• Ensure developmentally appropriate learning experiences include language, literacy, social and emotional development, math, science, social studies, creative arts, and physical development.
• Recognize bilingualism and biliteracy as strengths and implement research-based teaching practices that support their development.
• Implement well-organized learning environments with developmentally appropriate schedules, lesson plans, and indoor and outdoor learning experiences that provide adequate opportunities for choice, play, exploration, and experimentation.
• Include teacher-directed and child-initiated activities, active and quiet learning activities, and opportunities for individual, small group, and large group learning activities.
• Support the delivery of a comprehensive child development program through a culture of safety designed to provide children with a full range of developmental experiences.
• Practice Active Supervision at all times.
• Complete at least 15 hours of annual professional development in addition to initial training requirements and certifications.
• Communicate respectfully and collaboratively within the teaching team, including itinerant teaching staff.
• Ensure intentional and engaging interactions to develop thinking skills daily in the classroom, using the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) as a guide. Teachers will be observed and expected to maintain quality thresholds.
• Demonstrate time management and advanced technical skills. Teaching staff are expected to utilize Google Suite applications, assessment software, and attendance software daily.

Additional Skills:

• Demonstrate professionalism at all times. Professionalism includes, but is not limited to: good personal hygiene, neat appearance consistent with dress code, reliability, respectful interactions with others, and commitment to the children and families of our program without bias.
• Demonstrate emotional maturity when working with children while maintaining composure.
• Demonstrate a willingness to support the goals of the agency and abide by the Rock Island Milan School District Head Start Personnel, Policies, and Procedures.
• Participate in staff meetings, training sessions, conferences, workshops, parent involvement activities, and other professional activities.
• Supervise and encourage the development of assistant teachers, aides, volunteers, and other personnel in the classroom.
• Assist with recruitment of families and screenings of children.
• Work with Social Service staff to engage parents and encourage family participation in the program.
• Use communication and writing skills that include written narratives, parent conferences/home visits, lesson plans, and documentation of children's learning using correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
• Maintain good physical and mental health with the ability to lift 25 pounds. Physical demands include sitting on the floor, standing, bending, and moving with children.
• Make provisions for being available to students, parents, and staff for education-related purposes outside the instructional day when required or requested by the administration.
• Maintain confidentiality throughout all exchange of information, including records, data, etc.
• Ensure access to reliable transportation.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Education:

• Associates Degree in a related field and coursework equivalent to a major relating to Early Childhood Education

Recommended Education:

• A baccalaureate degree 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.

Physical Demands/Work Environment:

The usual and customary methods of performing the job's functions require the following physical demands: occasional lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling; and significant fine finger dexterity. Generally the job requires 20% sitting, 40% walking, and 40% standing. The job is performed under minimal temperature variations and is generally a hazard free environment.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.