Teacher - Head Start

Head Start Classroom Teacher

Responsible for a Head Start classroom of 3- to 5- year- old children. Position works collaboratively with an assistant teacher, family members and other staff to achieve positive outcomes for children of all abilities.

Salary Grade: 10

Department Profile: Throughout its history, Mississippi State University-Extension (MSU-ES) has demonstrated a deep and abiding commitment to programs that directly impact young children and their families. In the past decade, MSU-ES has distinguished itself as Mississippi's premier infrastructural support of high-quality early childhood education.

Area of Specialization: MSU-Extension Head Start Programs - Hancock County

Anticipated Appointment Date: October 2025.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Primary teacher for a classroom of 3 to 5 year-old children.
• Demonstrates a warm, calm, and unhurried manner.
• Serves as a role model for children and families.
• Provides for the education, care, safety, and well-being of all children in the group.
• Meets the children's emotional, social, physical, and intellectual needs.
• Plans and implements developmentally appropriate learning activities.
• Maintains a cooperative relationship with children, co-workers, and parents.
• Demonstrates increasing understanding of child growth and development in working with children, in talking with parents, and in recording activities.
• Attends staff meetings, reports problems of child or room management to the Center Director promptly.
• Attends in-service training, keeps current on developments in field of child development.
• Follows personnel policies of the MSU-ES Head Start Program and the University.
• Stays up-to-date and adheres to MS Child Care Licensing Standards and Head Start Performance Standards.
• Manages a safe, clean, and pleasant environment for young children.
• Provides peer coaching to other teachers, assistant teachers, floaters, and substitute teachers.
• Models exemplary classroom practices for other teachers especially those detailed in the Teacher Success Rubric and CLASS.
• Assists in on-boarding new staff.
• Plans and facilitates PLCs under the guidance of the Center Director.
• Provides individualized plans for each child in classroom to promote the development of each individual child.
• May serve as bus monitor when needed.
• Schedules home visits and parent-teacher conferences as necessary and properly documents these meetings.

The teacher is responsible for a Head Start classroom of 3-5 years old children. S/he works collaboratively with an assistant teacher, family members and other staff to achieve positive outcomes for children of all abilities. The teacher's role encompasses effective practice in the following as outlined in our Teacher Success Rubric (TSR): CLASS teacher-child interactions, Learning environment, Curriculum, Child assessment, Meeting all children's needs, Working with families, Professional growth and collaboration. Performs any related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Education: AA/AS in Early Childhood Education or related field.
• Substitution: An equivalent combination of related education and related experience may be considered for this position.
• Licensures: Meets required standards as specified by the State Department of Health/Child Care Licensure Standards for staff including finger printing and background check. Must have a valid driver's license and reliable transportation. Obtain certification in CPR and First Aid.

Preferred Qualifications:

• BA/BS in Early Childhood Education, Child Development or related field, or state awarded preschool teacher certification with experience teaching preschool-aged children, or BA/BS in related field with at least six college courses in Early Childhood Education plus experience teaching young children.
• Experience teaching preschool children including group experience with children four years and younger.
• Certification in CLASS

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Current understanding of MS Child Care Licensing requirements
• Current understanding of Head Start Performance Standards
• Able to anticipate the needs of children
• Must be able to organize and execute daily activities
• Works well with other staff
• Intermediate computer literacy skills in email, Microsoft Office

Working Conditions and Physical Effort:

• Physical exam and background checks are required for this position.
• Travel required locally or long-distance up to 10% of the time for work-related meetings and other functions.
• Able to lift a child weighing 40 pounds, 20 times a day if needed.
• This position will be inside and outside supervising children as weather permits as well as monitoring.
• Due to the primary work with young children, some exposure to communicable disease is likely.
• Moderate to loud noise levels.

Instructions for Applying:

All applicants MUST apply online at to be considered for this position. The following documents and information are required for application: Cover Letter, Resume, Contact information for at least three professional references, Current unofficial transcript (with social security numbers removed prior to submission) An official transcript will be required if selected for employment.

Screening Date: September 20, 2025, until filled.

Restricted Clause: Position is contingent upon continued availability of funding.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement: Mississippi State University is an equal opportunity institution. Discrimination is prohibited in university employment, programs or activities based on race, color, ethnicity, sex, pregnancy, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, or any other status to the extent protected by applicable law. Questions about equal opportunity programs or compliance should be directed to the Office of Civil Rights Compliance, 231 Famous Maroon Band Street, P.O. 6044, Mississippi State, MS 39762, View phone number on click.appcast.io.

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