Floating Teacher- Preschool Head Start

Applicants must upload the following required clearances: Act 24 Arrest and Conviction Report, Act 34 Pennsylvania Criminal History Clearance, Act 151 Pennsylvania Child Abuse Clearance, and Act 114 Federal Criminal History Clearance. Links to these clearances can be found at TIU 11 Human Resources.

About the Role

This position serves as the lead worker in a classroom of Head Start and PreK Counts children by planning, implementing, and supervising all classroom activities in the absence of the regular assigned teacher. The role works with typically developing children and children with disabilities. As part of a large system of services, this position also serves as a social service referral person, shares responsibility for parent involvement, and models school readiness information and skills for parents. The floating teacher collaborates with the education managers to assist in utilizing the CLASS and ECERS-3 assessment tools to promote quality early childhood education programming. The position may be reassigned to various classrooms or centers as needed for program operations, including daily, short-term, or long-term periods.

Responsibilities

• Program Development
  • Attend all required training and workshops.
  • Stay up-to-date on Head Start Program Performance Standards, Head Start Act, PreK Counts/OCDEL regulations, and other applicable practices.
  • Develop curriculum that meets school readiness needs for individual children and the program as part of short or long-term teacher assignments.
  • Prepare weekly daily lesson plans with objectives posted for parents, volunteers, and visitors.
  • Develop individual plans for each child, including goal setting and activities to meet established outcomes.
  • Schedule and document home visits and parent-teacher conferences as required.
  • Assist education managers in completing CLASS and ECERS-3 assessments and follow-up meetings to set quality improvement goals.
  • Maintain strict confidentiality regarding enrolled children, families, and staff.
  • Prepare a safe, healthy, and developmentally appropriate learning environment.
  • Develop individual training plans for supervised staff during long-term assignments.
  • Support classrooms by providing out-of-classroom workdays for tasks such as office days, home visits, and conferences.
• Preschool Program Implementation
  • Supervise all classroom activities, field trips, and outdoor activities.
  • Plan and provide developmentally and linguistically appropriate curriculum and experiences.
  • Direct special needs or problems to the appropriate manager or specialist.
  • Implement learning experiences that advance intellectual and physical competence, including literacy, numeracy, language development, and problem-solving skills.
  • Align lesson plans with the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes and Framework.
  • Support social and emotional development and provide positive guidance and discipline.
  • Maintain professionalism and continue professional development in early childhood theories and practices.
  • Share pertinent information with Family Services Workers to ensure coordinated services.
  • Supervise and model nutritious meals with children to teach good nutrition and social skills.
  • Encourage children to serve themselves and eat in a family-style manner.
  • Provide a stable classroom routine and environment responsive to participant needs.
  • Screen, observe, and document children as required.
  • Understand and follow regulations for occupational disease and injury prevention, including universal precautions.
• Recordkeeping
  • Submit daily attendance records to the main office.
  • Submit monthly progress reports to the supervisor as scheduled.
  • Supervise or order supplies and take inventory as requested.
  • Submit monthly bills and reports to the central office in a timely manner.
  • Maintain child records in cooperation with the Family Services Worker.
  • Gather and maintain individual, family, and classroom data for documentation and assessment.
  • Document in-kind and other allowable costs applied toward the non-federal share requirement.
• Parent and Community Engagement
  • Set up systems to meet program needs for parent engagement in each classroom.
  • Establish positive and productive relationships with families, focusing on trust and rapport.
  • Participate in the orientation of parents to Head Start throughout the year.
  • Facilitate and support monthly Parent Committee meetings at the center.
  • Schedule and document parent-teacher conferences and home visits.
  • Involve parents in educational activities, emphasizing their role as the principal influence on child development.
  • Train parents to increase their knowledge, understanding, and skills in child development.
  • Identify and arrange for parents to volunteer in the classroom, work as substitutes, or participate in other activities.
  • Collect monthly in-kind records from parents and submit them to the office assistant.
  • Write a classroom newsletter every other month beginning in October and contribute to the program newsletter as requested.
  • Promote Head Start positively in the community.
  • Orient and supervise all classroom volunteers.
  • Work closely with local school systems for shared activities, registration, and smooth transitions.
• Supervision
  • Plan and direct the work of supervised staff.
  • Observe and provide feedback to Assistant Teachers, Program Aides, and other staff on at least a weekly basis.
  • Make daily job assignments and provide instruction in performing job duties.
  • Set classroom standards and goals for staff, monitor progress, and submit performance appraisals.
  • Provide daily supervision of classroom staff and volunteers.
  • Conduct competency assessments and performance evaluations of assigned staff and volunteers.
  • Make personnel decisions or submit recommendations to the supervisor as needed.
  • Determine training needs and make recommendations to meet program goals.
  • Develop and support individual development plans for assigned staff.
• Training
  • Participate in all training and professional development activities required under Head Start Program Performance Standards, the Head Start Act, OCDEL, and program plans.

Requirements

• Extensive knowledge and skills in early childhood development.
• Understanding of Head Start Program Performance Standards, the Head Start Act, OCDEL Early Learning Standards, and the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes and Framework.
• Knowledge of community service resources.
• Basic knowledge of supervision principles.
• Knowledge of state and federal regulations pertaining to child abuse and neglect, and childcare licensing requirements.
• Ability to perceive the needs of children and work well with staff, children, and families.
• Ability to organize and direct classroom activities.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and accurate records reflecting children’s needs and progress.
• Demonstrated knowledge, skills, and a positive attitude in early childhood education.
• Ability to communicate ideas and instructions orally and in writing.
• Proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing English to understand and be understood by others.
• Ability to write reports and business correspondence.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret educational journals.
• Ability to speak before groups of individuals.
• Bilingual skills (English/Spanish) are helpful.
• Ability to calculate figures such as percentages and overtime.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to interpret instructions and summarize conclusions and recommendations.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality at all times.
• Ability to exhibit patience and tact when communicating with children, families, staff, and the public.
• Ability to project professionalism in daily activities.
• Must be willing and able to obtain Basic First Aid and CPR certification.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or a related field preferred. A related field includes 6 courses in early childhood plus six months of experience working with preschool children.
• Previous supervision experience preferred.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred.