Early Head Start Teacher

About the role

The Early Head Start Teacher, under the supervision of the Program Director, ensures the safety and well-being of each child in the program by providing a safe and healthy environment. This co-teaching position involves collaborative supervision to deliver quality early childhood experiences for children ages six weeks to three years old.

Responsibilities

• Directly supervise and develop classroom associates while managing day-to-day classroom operations.
• Plan and implement learning experiences that advance the intellectual and physical development of children.
• Encourage family involvement in the Head Start program and foster relationships between children and their families.
• Consistently implement developmentally appropriate practices that are individualized, inclusive, and integrated across all areas of a child’s development.
• Meet all federal, state, local, and program regulations, including compliance, implementation, and documentation timelines.
• Adhere to performance standards, monitoring guidelines, licensure regulations, disabilities service requirements, and complete developmental assessments, parent conferences, and home visits.
• Actively participate in teaching activities by moving around the learning environment both indoors and outdoors.
• Provide constant supervision of children during all activities and times when under direct care.
• Redirect inappropriate behaviors in a positive, supportive, and non-punitive manner.
• Respond quickly to distressed or crying children with nurturing and appropriate care.
• Utilize developmentally appropriate feeding, toileting, cleaning, and health care practices, including for children with special needs.
• Model appropriate language behaviors, including grammatically correct verbal and written communication.
• Prepare lesson plans, materials, and environments that are organized, interactive, appropriate, clean, safe, and hands-on.
• Implement transition strategies for daily activities.
• Organize classroom space into functional, clutter-free interest centers.
• Conduct and record ongoing observations of the whole child, focusing on developmental milestones.
• Complete home visits in a timely manner as required by program guidelines.
• Conduct parent conferences at convenient times and locations, emphasizing positive and developmental information.
• Administer and record developmental assessments as required by program guidelines.
• Refer suspected disabilities or abuse to appropriate authorities based on assessments and observations.
• Maintain professional behavior that is open, cordial, family- and child-centered, and aligned with the best interests of the Head Start program.
• Accurately record and submit daily attendance and meal count reports.
• Attend and participate in required meetings, trainings, professional development, and continuing education.
• Engage in family-style meal service, modeling good nutrition and social skills.
• Follow health, safety, classroom organization, aesthetic, and sanitation guidelines.
• Report suspected abuse, unsafe conditions, repair needs, complaints, accidents, and injuries as required.

Requirements

• Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• PDS documentation and transcripts.
• Ability to perform physical requirements, including kneeling, bending, squatting, lifting, pushing, pulling, and carrying objects or children up to 50 lbs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education.

Employment Requirements

• Pass a pre-employment background check, including criminal record check, drug screening, motor vehicle record (MVR), and reference check.
• Must be legally eligible to work in the U.S. without current or future sponsorship.

Employment and benefits for this role are offered through Early Childhood Development Co., LLC, managed by the YMCA of Metropolitan Atlanta, Inc.

About the YMCA of Metro Atlanta

The YMCA of Metro Atlanta is a leading non-profit focused on education, wellness, youth development, and community-building. Each year, we provide over 3,000 children with high-quality literacy and STEAM-infused learning, offer 58,000 youth and teens access to sports, camps, leadership programs, and employment opportunities, and serve over 200,000 members with wellness and connection programs. We engage 25,000 volunteers and donors to support our mission of ensuring everyone—especially children—has an equal opportunity to reach their full potential.

Location: YMCA Greene County Early Learning Center