General Summary

Plan, organize and implement content rich learning experiences that guides, encourages, and advances the intellectual, emotional, and physical development of children towards school readiness success. Teachers establish and maintain safe, nurturing, and healthy learning environments that cultivate self-directed and independent lifelong learners. Teachers will encourage parents to be active participants in their child(ren)’s education.

Primary Responsibilities

1. Plan, document and implement lesson plans, incorporating individualization and utilizing research-based curricula with fidelity.

2. Implement effective teaching practices that promote positive outcomes by promoting growth in the developmental progression described in the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework: Ages Birth to Five. Utilize child assessment data and developmentally appropriate learning experiences in planning and implementing a collaboratively designed lesson plan to improve teaching and learning outcomes.

3. Responsible for the documentation of attendance, education, health, nutrition, mental health, transition, and parent family engagement and disabilities into the appropriate program software, portfolio, or child’s file.

4. Perform appropriate screenings and assessments within the required time frame.

5. Conducts at least two home visits and two parent-teacher conferences per year, with more frequent conferences conducted as appropriate.

6. Implement positive teacher-child interactions utilizing the appropriate observation tool and behavior curriculum/framework at all times.

7. Implements the classroom’s emergency procedures, including the posting of procedures, locations and telephone numbers of emergency response systems, emergency evacuation routes, notifying families of emergencies and other procedures and the maintenance of up-to-date family contact information and authorization for emergency care. Conducts and documents monthly fire drills. Conducts and documents severe weather drills every three months.

8. Implements the classroom’s medication administration procedures, including storing all medications under lock, administering medication and maintaining individual records of dispensed medication.

9. Assures that the child’s outdoor and indoor environments are safe and clean at all times, including storing outdoor equipment such as wagons and tricycles and storing dangerous materials and potential poisons under lock and key.

10. Supervises and implements “Active Supervision” to ensure the safety and well-being of all children at all times. Maintains child/staff ratio and ensures that no child is left alone or unsupervised. Assures the classroom’s environment is developmentally appropriate for each child, including children with disabilities.

11. Coordinates with Family Advocates in making referrals for services for children and their families; assists Family Advocates in obtaining physicals, dentals, immunizations and other necessary documentation from parents.

12. Comply with the Head Start Program Performance Standards, Minimum Standards for Child Care Licensing, CACOST’s Head Start Birth to Five 0-5 Program policies and procedures, School Readiness Goals, the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework (ELOF), and the Parent, Family and Community Engagement (PFCE) Framework.

13. Promotes attendance and assures that the classroom maintains full enrollment and meets the average daily attendance requirements.

14. Responsible for promoting and collecting In-Kind on a monthly basis from parents and community members.

15. Supports parent involvement and development by maintaining open communication with parents concerning their child’s needs and strengths; conducts Parent Committee meetings and offers opportunities for parents and family members to be involved in the program’s education services.

16. Ensures teacher aide complies with program policies, procedures and expectations. Responsible for supervising and monitoring teacher aide’s daily responsibilities which include maintaining daily reports, active involvement in instructional planning and delivery, safe and orderly environments. Teachers will include teacher aides in children’s progress monitoring, individualization and small group activities. Teachers will conduct, at a minimum, annual performance evaluations and will monitor the teacher aide’s attendance through Novatime.

17. Complies with the Program’s confidentiality policies.

18. Any other duty as assigned by the Operations Manager.

Work Experience

Must attend 24 clock hours of professional development and staff training per year to include: active supervision, safety practices, training that improves child and family outcomes, training on methods to handle suspected or known child abuse and neglect cases that comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws, and any other trainings as outlined by the Head Start Performance Standards and Child Care Regulation from the State of Texas.

Prior supervisory experience is preferred.

Prior experience teaching in a Head Start preschool setting is preferred.

Bilingual ability (Spanish/English) is preferred.

Valid Texas Driver's License.

Must pass DFPS background check.

Must pass an annual physical.

Education/Certifications/Licensure

As prescribed in section 648A(a)(3)(B) of the Head Start Act, associate’s or baccalaureate Degree in child development, early childhood education or equivalent to a major relating to early childhood education, with experience teaching preschool-age children. Transcripts are required to validate educational requirements.

Advanced degree in early childhood or a Baccalaureate or advanced degree and coursework equivalent to a major relating to early childhood education, experience teaching preschool-age children.

Skills

Frequent significant decision and problem solving abilities.

Good communication skills is necessary.

Ability to work as a team member collaborating with staff, parents and community resources.

Ability to supervise pre-school children and ensure a safe environment including the ability to monitor and respond to events going on at all times in classroom and outdoor play areas. This includes the physical ability to move quickly in order to respond to children who are very active and may need restraint or redirection in order to insure their safety or the safety of others in the environment.

Physical Requirements If a preliminary offer of employment is extended, a physical will be required before the offer can be accepted.

Able to perform the following physical requirements of the position with or without reasonable accommodation: critical sensory requirements include general vision; specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Hear or listen in the normal range (corrected) and speak and give directions clearly. Able to walk, sit, stand, kneel, crouch, crawl, reach, lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects up to 10 lbs., and occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds.