Early Head Start/Head Start Teacher (Evergreen)

Department:

Project Eagle

Educare 3

Position Title:

Early Head Start/Head Start Teacher (Evergreen)

Job Family Group:

Professional Staff

Job Description Summary:

Project Eagle is an early childhood program focused on preparing children, engaging families, and promoting excellence for children and families in Kansas City, Kansas. Project Eagle provides home-based and center-based services to pregnant women and/or children ages birth to five through a variety of programs, the largest being Early Head Start. Project Eagle is also a member of the Educare Learning Network, part of a national initiative that serves as a platform for broader change, inspiring high-quality programs in communities, improving public policies within each state, and demonstrating a comprehensive approach to the first five years of life and learning.

The Early Head Start/ Head Start Teacher is responsible for the planning, implementation and coordination of a comprehensive education program. In partnership with the Associate Teacher, the Teacher ensures that the classroom activities and environment are developmentally appropriate, meets the individual needs of each child, and reflects the agency's philosophy and curriculum. The Teacher leads the development and implementation of individualized lesson plans for children (ages 6 weeks through 3 years or 3 years to 5 years), which encourage their social, emotional, physical, linguistic, and intellectual development in a manner appropriate to their age and stage of development.

The teaching team (the Early Head Start/ Head Start Teacher, Early Head Start/ Head Start Associate Teacher and Early Head Start / Head Start Teacher Aide) provide a safe, stimulating, and nurturing environment enriched by a high-quality early language experience and an emphasis on social and emotional growth. The Teacher is responsible for implementing all program requirements in adherence to performance and outcome standards as prescribed by funding and model requirements.

Job Description:

Job Duties

High Quality Teaching Practices

• Ensure children safety by maintaining a clean, healthy, and safe classroom environment, by conducting authorized emergency and safety procedures, and actively supervising children at all times.

• Plan and implement developmentally appropriate classroom activities and environment that intentionally support the developmental and educational goals of children’s individual education plans utilizing the High Scope Curriculum, in conjunction with the EHS/HS Associate Teacher and EHS/HS Teacher Aide.

• Support children to develop positive social relationships, provide opportunities for children to develop positive self-images and experience success, and help children develop conflict resolution skills utilizing Conscious Discipline.

• Utilize the continuity of care model to support children and families to develop safe, secure attachments.

Intensive Family Engagement

• Partner with families to build mutually respectful goal-oriented relationships that support strong parent-child relationships, family well-being, and ongoing learning and development for both parents and children.

• Interact with families through regular classroom contact and contribute to and participate in interdisciplinary meetings, child and family reviews, family conferences and home visits to develop individual child goals, share progress towards school readiness, and respond to their identified interests and/or needs

• Provide monthly classroom family engagement activities based on the interests of the children and families.

Data Utilization

• Ensure the timely completion of necessary paperwork including developmental assessments, lesson plans, parent information, incident/accident report, attendance, USDA meal counts, etc.)

• Observe, assess, and document each child's skills, behavior, growth and development.

• Assess student needs and develop individualized learning opportunities for each child.

• Understand the referral process to Part B and Part C and alert interdisciplinary team when student screenings or assessments show areas of concern

• Utilize classroom and school data to improve teaching practice, provide a high-quality early learning experience for children, and ensure school readiness.

• Ensure that all child files and portfolios are complete, accurate, and confidentially maintained.

Professional Development

• Collaborate with coworkers during team planning sessions and support of implementation of best practices in the classroom.

• Participate in ongoing professional development, coaching and reflective supervision activities and support the implementation of changes in classroom practice to promote high quality instruction.

• Share expertise and classroom experiences with other members of the school and or community.

Other

• Follow all mandates of Head Start Regulations, state and local childcare licensing regulations, and Project Eagle/Educare of Kansas City's philosophy and curriculum.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. It is only a summary of the typical functions of the job, not an exhaustive list of all possible job responsibilities, tasks, duties, and assignments. Furthermore, job duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Work Environment

• Ability to move up to 50 pounds with or without reasonable accommodations.

Anticipated Salary: $23.44/hr.

Required Qualifications
Education: Meet one of the following educational requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or closely related field

• Degree in an unrelated field with at least 30 early childhood credits

• Associate’s degree in early childhood education, Child Development, or closely related field, at least 2 years’ experience in early childhood, and enrollment in Bachelor's degree program in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or a closely related field to complete within 3 years.

• Credit hours that equal to an Associate’s degree with a main focus on Early Childhood, at least 2 years’ experience in early childhood, and enrollment in Bachelor's degree program in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or a closely related field to complete within 3 years.

This position requires a formal degree in the cited discipline area(s) to ensure that candidates have advanced knowledge, analytical skills and professional competencies necessary to perform the duties of the position.  The level of degree is commonly recognized as the standard qualification for similar roles in the public and private sector, ensuring that the university remains competitive with industry aligned practices, enhances collaboration with external partners, and supports the delivery of services and programs that meet professional and market-driven expectations.

Certification: CPR and First Aid Certified or become certified within 30 days of employment (paid for by employer).

Work Experience:

• 2 years’ experience in early childhood education.

This position requires the incumbent to pass background check including fingerprinting.

Preferred Qualifications:
Education:

• Early childhood teaching certification or graduate coursework/degree.

• Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or a closely related field

Work Experience:

• Experience working in an Early Head Start or Head Start Center-based program. 

• Knowledge of Head Start Performance Standards as demonstrated by application materials.

• Experience working as a part of a multidisciplinary team to provide high quality, developmentally appropriate care, and education for young children.

• Experience working with early intervention and children with special needs and families with unique life experiences. 

• Experience implementing curriculum. 

• Experience using assessment tools to measure children’s development and for instructional purposes. 

• Experience with research partnerships.

• Experience sharing best practices with others within early childhood (volunteers, practicum students, etc.).

Language: Bilingual Spanish/English 

Skills

• Interpersonal skills.

• Communication skills.

• Computer skills.

• Multi-tasking and time management skills.

Required Documents

• Resume

• Cover letter

Comprehensive Benefits Package:

Coverage begins on day one for health, dental, and vision insurance and includes health expense accounts with generous employer contributions if the employee participates in a qualifying health plan. Employer-paid life insurance, long-term disability insurance, and various additional voluntary insurance plans are available. Paid time off, including vacation and sick, begins accruing upon hire, plus ten paid holidays. One paid discretionary day is available after six months of employment, and paid time off for bereavement, jury duty, military service, and parental leave is available after 12 months of employment. A retirement program with a generous employer contribution and additional voluntary retirement programs (457 or 403b) are available.

Employee Type:

Regular

Time Type:

Full time

Rate Type:

Hourly

Compensation Statement:

The pay range listed for this position is determined by our compensation program using market data and salary benchmarking. A combination of factors is considered in making compensation decisions including, but not limited to, education, experience and training, qualifications relative to the requirements of the position, and funding. At the University of Kansas Medical Center, a reasonable estimate for the starting pay range will be the minimum to midpoint of the posted range, taking into account the combination of factors listed above. 

Pay Range:

$21.09 - $28.47

Minimum

$21.09

Midpoint

$24.78

Maximum

$28.47