Early Head Start / Head Start Substitute II - Teacher, St. Johns

Hourly pay: $19.58, up to 35 hours per week.

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 absence of the Director, 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 behavior management.
• Assist the Center Director in the supervision of assigned Teacher Aides, parent and community volunteers, interns, Special Needs Teacher Aides, in all activities. Role model appropriate teaching techniques and 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 to social services and other referrals.
• Communicate daily with families. Assist with parent meetings and other staff in working 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 as directed by Supervisor to center staff and parents.
• Help to identify family needs and develop family action plans.
• Assist in the ongoing recruitment and enrollment of eligible children for the program.
• Participate 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.
• Assist in the supervision of assigned Teacher Aides and Special Needs Teacher Aides, including interviewing, training, 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.
• Preschool classroom experience or related experience necessary.
• Ability to communicate effectively in English in both verbal and written format.
• Knowledge of Early Childhood Education.
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships with people of varied social, cultural, and educational backgrounds.
• Must be bondable.
• Bilingual proficiency and/or experience working in a multicultural setting preferred.
• Current, valid Arizona Driver’s License.

Skills

• Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos, and carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.
• Ability to write simple correspondence.
• Effective in presenting information in one-on-one and small group situations to customers, clients, and other employees.
• Ability to add and subtract two-digit numbers, multiply and divide with 10’s and 100’s, and perform these operations using units of American money, weight measurement, volume, and distance.
• Ability to apply common sense understanding and deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

Certificates and Licenses

• NACOG will assist with obtaining a Department of Public Safety Fingerprint Clearance Card.
• Obtain Food Handlers Certification if required by the County Health Department.
• Obtain CPR and First Aid Certification.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

• Regularly required to stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle or feel, reach with hands and arms, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, and talk and hear.
• Occasionally required to sit and climb or balance.
• Must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required include 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.