Lead Primary Caregiver

Description

EXEMPT: No SALARY LEVEL : $24.50-$26.25 per hour DEPARTMENT: Early Childhood Education LOCATION: Sonoma County Early Head Start Centers

REPORTS TO: Area Supervisor HOURS : FT M-F 40 hours per week

APPROVAL DATE: 08/25/2024 APPROVED BY: HR Director

AGENCY BACKGROUND: The objective of Sonoma Community Action Network (Sonoma CAN) is to partner with low-income families and individuals to help them achieve economic and social empowerment, build community, and advocate for social and economic justice. Sonoma CAN operates a wide variety of programs benefiting low-income Sonoma County residents.

Our Mission: Sonoma CAN is a catalyst of equitable transformation, aligning partners and resources to implement values-based, data-driven, community-led solutions that help families reach their full potential.

Our Vision: We see our Sonoma County transformed into an empowered community of thriving families where every child is raised with joy, justice, and connection.

Our Promise: Sonoma CAN changes people's lives, embodies the spirit of hope, improves communities, and makes America a better place to live. We care about the entire community, and we are dedicated to helping people help themselves and each other.

Working at SonomaCAN

At Sonoma Community Action Network (SonomaCAN), we believe that a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives strengthen our team and help us better serve our community. We are committed to fair hiring practices and a workplace where employees are treated with respect and have the opportunity to grow professionally.

We make employment decisions based on qualifications, merit, and organizational needs. Our hiring process complies with all federal, state, and local laws related to equal employment opportunity and nondiscrimination. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and encourage individuals who meet the qualifications to apply.

TOTAL COMPENSATION PACKAGE: The pay for this position ranges from $24.50 to $26.25 per hour, depending on experience. Sonoma CAN offers a generous benefits package available on the first day of the month after your date of hire that includes:

• Medical insurance through Kaiser or Sutter is 80-95% paid by the employer for employee premiums, plus 50% paid by the employer for dependent coverage
• Elective dental, vision insurance, FSA, and Accident insurance
• Employer-paid $10k of life insurance with expandable options
• Employer-paid Long-term Disability Insurance
• 401(K) plan with a 2% contribution and an additional 1% matched contribution after one year of service
• Employee assistance program, CalPerks
• 3 weeks vacation (paid during Spring and Winter school breaks) increases at 6 years of service
• 96 hours of sick time per year (4 hours accrued per pay period) based on full-time work
• 1 floating personal day
• 16 paid holidays

SUMMARY OF THE POSITION:

Under the direction of the Area Supervisor, the Lead Primary Caregiver administers Early Head Start center operations, coordinates activities for infants and toddlers as guided by Head Start Performance Standards, adheres to procedures and policies, and follows California State Community Care Licensing regulations. This position is responsible for the daily operations and oversight of the assigned center. This position will carry out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the Agency's policies and applicable federal and state laws.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Coordinate and monitor the work of center staff, volunteers, and parents
• Supervise and support all children in the classroom
• Supervise: Primary Caregiver, Classroom Assistant, and any other assigned staff
• Adhere to the Child Assessment/Observation System & Family Partnership System Timeline
• Ensure and participate in a minimum of 2 parent home visits and two conferences per child. The first home visit is done in partnership with the Family Outreach Worker
• Solve practical problems and deal with a variety of situations with good judgment
• Assess children, develop individualized routines, and develop developmentally appropriate plans and curriculum
• Have meaningful, respectful conversations with children throughout each day
• Plan and facilitate daily learning activities for children based on children's interests in alignment with the Creative Curriculum to support School Readiness in all learning domains
• Reinforce the role of the parent as primary caregiver and educator of the child
• Work in partnership with service area managers and center staff to better assess the needs of the children and families to ensure quality services to children and families
• Support and serve as a resource to the families and work with them in assessing their strengths, interests, and needs, and make referrals as appropriate
• Build a close, personal relationship with each child, while creating a warm, accepting, and developmentally appropriate environment which encourages the cognitive, physical, emotional, and social development of the infant/toddler and family
• Maintain warm, friendly, and professional working relationships with children, parents, and coworkers
• Plan, assign, and direct work which includes: yearly performance appraisals, monthly one-on-one meetings, and helping to address complaints and resolve problems
• Approve staff time cards and time off requests
• Communicate with the supervisor and other classroom staff to develop a plan for coverage when other staff are not present
• Provide on-the-job training and support, assessing the skill level of the employee and developing a plan for individual growth and professional development
• Ensure and share in the daily cleaning and sanitization procedures of the classroom, classroom equipment, and outside play yard; maintain health and safety standards for children, classroom volunteers, and staff; Promote good health and nutrition and provide an environment that contributes to the prevention of illness
• Maintain classroom files on children and ensure confidentiality of client records and information
• Coordinate and cooperate with consultants and specialists on items relevant to the center and children, ensuring maximum use of services and resources
• May include collaboration/coordination of program services with other community entities: i.e., early intervention, those serving children with diagnosed disabilities, State Child Care programs
• Actively participate in the distance learning model of instruction when required
• Participate in staff meetings, consultant meetings, trainings, and appropriate special events, as scheduled
• Participate in the team-building process within the program by using established communication channels constructively and productively, which enhances the team effort while maintaining confidentiality
• The health, safety, and supervision of all children in the program are of the utmost importance. Therefore, every employee is responsible for the care and supervision of children while they are present at the center
• Understands and implements Head Start Procedures and Head Start Performance Standards
• Other relevant duties, as assigned

Requirements

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below represent the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Working knowledge of the principles and practices of child development and adult learning styles
• Understanding of the principles of bilingual and multicultural education
• Basic personal computer skills with word processing and email experience
• Establish and maintain a healthy learning environment
• Support children's social and emotional development
• Basic oral and written communication skills
• Bilingual, Spanish/English preferred.
• Knowledge of and sensitivity to culturally diverse groups and persons from low-income families.
• Basic skills in reading, analyzing, and interpreting procedures and governmental regulations.
• Basic ability to write reports and correspondence. Basic ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of parents, children, and staff.
• Basic ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
• Basic ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

EDUCATION/CERTIFICATES and/or EXPERIENCE

1. BA in Early Childhood Education/Child Development or related field; OR AA with 24 ECE/CD units (incl. core units) and the willingness to complete a BA and be enrolled within 6 months of the start of employment
2. 3 units of Adult Supervision
3. Teacher Permit within 6 months of hire
4. 3 units or 16 hours of Health and Safety Training
5. A minimum of 12 months of teaching experience with 6 months of supervision experience

In Addition to the above:

• Six months of teaching experience in a preschool/infant-toddler classroom
• High School diploma or GED or equivalent
• Before beginning work, one must be able to pass the Community Care Licensing criminal record clearance, must be up to date on immunizations, and have a current (within one year) TB clearance and Health Screening Report.
• Current Pediatric First Aid, CPR, and Health and Safety Course.
• Bilingual in Spanish & English preferred. If the bilingual assessment is passed, you would qualify for additional bilingual pay.

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS:

• Highly dependable, takes initiative, has good judgment, and can function with minimal supervision.
• A sincere interest in the development of all children and in building partnerships with families.
• Work effectively in a team environment and actively participate in joint problem solving; willingly cooperates with co-workers

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to sit at a desk and may occasionally use a computer. The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, and taste or smell. The employee must frequently lift and/or move objects weighing up to 20 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move objects weighing up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. The employee drives, approximately 10% of the time, to meetings, trainings, and home visits as scheduled throughout the year. The employee spends approximately 15% of the time writing and/or keyboarding.

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

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee works in outside weather conditions for a minimum of 45 minutes a day. The noise level in the work environment is typically moderate, but can occasionally be noisy.

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

OTHER DUTIES

Please note that this job description is not intended to be a comprehensive listing of all activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee in this role. Duties, obligations, and activities are subject to change at any time, with or without notice.