Teacher HS

NATURE AND SCOPE OF POSITION

The Teacher is responsible for a Head Start classroom. This position works collaboratively with an assistant teacher, family members and other staff to achieve positive outcomes for children of all abilities.

JOB FUNCTIONS

ESSENTIAL-

• Provide emotional support through establishing a positive climate, being aware of and responsive to children, and encouraging child expression and autonomy.
• Establish and maintain a safe, healthy learning environment, including full supervision of children at all times, in accordance with Head Start and childcare licensing requirements. Conduct daily health/safety monitoring of the indoor and (as requested) outdoor environment.
• Supervise mealtimes and family style dining with children, as well as field trips and outdoor activities.
• Use strategies for behavior management, such as clear behavior expectations, being proactive and redirecting misbehavior.
• Provide classroom experiences that are developmentally, linguistically, culturally and age-appropriate for the children served.
• Foster classroom productivity and maximize learning time, while engaging children with a variety of modalities and materials.
• Provide instructional support through concept development, fostering childrens analysis and reasoning, engaging in feedback loops, and modeling and supporting high-quality language.
• Ensure classroom arrangement, materials and displays are organized and conducive to childrens learning.
• Implement the organizations chosen curriculum with fidelity, being aware of the big ideas while also following all assigned guidance and resources.
• Prepare or modify weekly lesson plans and prepare to implement small-group activities, read-alouds, circle time, and other curriculum components.
• Provide children with a consistent classroom routine and facilitate all parts of the routine to support child learning.
• Interact with children intentionally throughout the day to provide differentiated support.
• Collect documentation of children through ongoing observation, embedded and direct assessment activities.
• Complete quarterly assessment checkpoints for each child. Analyze child assessment data and use it to plan and individualize. Complete developmental and social-emotional screenings on all children within prescribed time frames.
• Complete weekly Individualized Learning Plans to identify specific goals and strategies for each child in class. Integrate Individual Education Plans (IEPs) or referral action plans for children with diagnosed or suspected special needs.
• Establish positive and productive relationships with families through building rapport and trust.
• Encourage and engage family members to serve as classroom volunteers. Collaborate with family services staff to support families in implementing family life practices, extending learning into the home, and meeting expectations for attendance. Schedule and complete two home visits and two parent-teacher conferences each year.
• Share pertinent information with family services, disabilities/mental health or health/nutrition staff, as needed, to meet the needs of individual children and families. Participate in case conferences as appropriate.
• Collaborate with assistant teacher and other staff in the center.
• Know and understand the organizations Early Learnings School Readiness Goals and strive to help all children achieve them.
• Follow all health and hygiene practices, including hand-washing, sanitizing, and universal precautions.
• Maintain required documentation of activities, including child and family information, assessment data, volunteer logs, etc.

MARGINAL-

• Provide courteous and prompt service to all internal and external clients. Prioritize and address requests and assignments in a professional manner to develop cooperative relationships and to ensure that client confidentiality is assured.
• Identify opportunities and recommend methods to improve service, work processes and financial performance, e.g. expense management. Assists in the implementation of quality improvement initiatives.
• Assist co-workers in the completion of tasks and assignments to ensure continuity of service. Orient new co-workers and actively support teamwork throughout the organization.
• Perform other duties as required.

COMPETENCIES

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies to perform the essential functions of this job.

Communication - Interacts sensitively, effectively and professionally with persons of diverse ages, lifestyles, and backgrounds (cultural, economic, racial, ethnic or professional). Has direct, honest conversations, on difficult topics when necessary and gives feedback with clear conclusions and specific examples. Receives feedback openly. Speaks and writes clearly, with professional tone and correct grammar, punctuation and spelling.

Dependability - Follows instructions, responds to management direction. Takes responsibility for own actions and keeps commitments. Commits to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals. Completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternate plan.

Integrity Acts in ways that demonstrate personal integrity and serves as a positive example of why others should trust the motives of the organization. Views himself or herself as a reflection of the organization by following through on commitments and accepting ownership of any mistakes he or she might make. Leaves others with the clear impression that integrity is a core value at this organization.

Managing Multiple Priorities Handles multiple assignments and priorities yet still fulfills all commitments. Readily accepts new responsibilities and adapts well to changes in procedures. Gives appropriate priorities to various work demands.

Professionalism Maintains a calm and professional attitude to all customers and coworkers, regardless of environment or stress.

Quality of Work - Has established a track record of producing work that is highly accurate, demonstrates attention to detail and reflects well on the organization. Is personally committed to high quality work and encourages others to have similar standards.

Safety and Security - Observes safety and security procedures and determines appropriate action beyond guidelines. Reports potentially unsafe conditions and uses equipment and materials properly.

Team Work - Balances team and individual responsibilities. Exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views. Gives and welcomes feedback. Contributes to building a positive team spirit and puts success of team above own interests. Able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives. Supports everyone's efforts to succeed and recognizes accomplishments of other team members.

PRIMARY QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• Meet one of the following Educational requirements:
  • Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education from an accredited institution, OR
  • Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood from an accredited 4 year university, OR
  • Possess an active and unencumbered state-awarded preschool teacher certification with experience teaching preschool aged children, OR
  • Bachelors Degree in related field from an accredited 4 year university with at least six college courses (12-18 credits) in Early Childhood Education plus experience teaching preschool aged children.

Certifications:

• CPR and First Aid certification required or to be obtained.

Work Experience:

• Prior experience teaching preschool aged children preferred.
• Prior Head Start experience preferred.

Special Skills:

• Bilingual Spanish-English is preferred.
• Intermediate computer literacy in email, word processing and internet navigation is required.
• Excellent decision-making and communications skills.
• High degree of tact and professionalism.
• Strong positive attitude.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITY SPECIFICATIONS

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to finger motions, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, talk or hear, taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds, up to 20 times per day with or without assistance. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to focus.

Work Environment: Work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to weather and internal climate conditions prevalent at the time. The work environment is considered to be that of a normal primary educational institution. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Exposure to blood, saliva and bodily fluids is common. Proper training and protective equipment are required to avoid direct contact from blood, saliva and bodily fluids is required.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities/PRIME TIME Family, Inc is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, veteran status, creed, ancestry, marital status or sexual orientation, gender identification, genetic information, atypical hereditary cellular or blood trait, marital status, citizenship status, victims of domestic violence, or any other protected category.