Early Head Start / Head Start Substitute II - Teacher, Lakeside

Rate: $19.58/hr, up to 35 hrs/wk. All persons hired will verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States.

About the role

The Substitute Teacher works with all children in the classroom and assists the Center Director in developing appropriate Early Childhood Education programs that meet the developmental needs of children and their families. Works under the supervision of the Center Director and performs duties in the Director’s absence, as assigned. Assists with record-keeping responsibilities and in facilitating parent participation.

Responsibilities

• Directly supervise and assist children in performing activities.
• Responsible for classroom operations, including developing developmentally appropriate lesson plans (language development, pre-math skills, Individual Education Plan (IEP), and developmental assessment goals).
• Demonstrate appropriate staff and child interactions.
• Implement appropriate room arrangement and classroom environment, set goals, implement and monitor improvement plans and objectives, implement child assessment systems including ongoing observation and collection of work samples, plan classroom activities, and manage behavior.
• Assist the Center Director in supervising assigned Teacher Aides, parent and community volunteers, interns, Special Needs Teacher Aides, and role model appropriate teaching techniques.
• Encourage positive staff/child interactions.
• Coordinate and/or administer screenings of children (audio, vision, height, weight, anemia, IEP, mental health, developmental) as needed; complete proper documentation and conduct follow-up referrals.
• Communicate daily with families, assist with parent meetings, and work with parents.
• Conduct parent/teacher conferences a minimum of two times per year per child.
• Coordinate and carry out a minimum of two home visits per year per child.
• Disseminate all Head Start operational directives and other information to center staff and parents.
• Help identify family needs and develop family action plans.
• Assist in the ongoing recruitment and enrollment of eligible children for the program.
• Participate in and follow through with successful public school transition planning.
• Implement family-style meal services and nutritional activities for children and their families using CACFP guidelines.
• Complete reports as assigned by supervisor with accuracy and timeliness.
• Maintain strict child and family confidentiality.
• Participate in family staffing and conduct associated follow-up activities as required.
• Conduct health and safety checks in the classroom and playground; report needed repairs timely.
• Oversee inventory and control of classroom supplies and materials.
• Work with center staff to ensure the center is kept sanitary and within local, state, and national health and safety regulations.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Assist in the supervision of assigned Teacher Aides and Special Needs Teacher Aides.
• Carry out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws, including interviewing and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; mentoring and counseling; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

Requirements

• Experience and training equivalent to an Associate of Arts Degree or higher in Early Childhood Education or a related field with 18 hours of ECE and student teaching.
• Experience in a preschool program.
• Must meet all health and licensing regulations as prescribed by the Arizona Health Services Department.
• Current, valid Arizona Driver’s License.
• Must obtain Department of Public Safety Fingerprint Clearance Card, Food Handlers Certification (if required by the County Health Department), and CPR and First Aid Certification.

Skills

• Self-motivated with preschool classroom or related experience.
• Ability to communicate effectively in English (verbal and written).
• Knowledge of Early Childhood Education.
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships with people of varied social, cultural, and educational backgrounds.
• Bilingual proficiency and/or experience working in a multicultural setting preferred.
• Ability to read, comprehend, and carry out instructions in written, oral, or diagram form.
• Ability to write simple correspondence.
• Effective presenting information in one-on-one and small group situations.
• Basic arithmetic skills (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division) using units of American money, weight, volume, and distance.
• Ability to apply common sense understanding and deal with problems involving concrete variables in standardized situations.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

• Regularly required to stand, walk, use hands to finger/handle/feel, reach with hands and arms, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, and talk and hear.
• Occasionally required to sit, climb or balance.
• Must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required: close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
• Occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions.
• Noise level in the work environment is usually loud.

Benefits

• Paid sick leave.