Head Start Associate Teacher

Full time position located in Nevada, MO (Vernon County).

Benefits

• Competitive pay
• Medical, dental, prescription drug, and vision insurance
• Supplemental and life insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Paid time off
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Credit Union benefits
• Gym discounts
• Student loan forgiveness

About the Role

The Center for Human Services (CHS) has provided exceptional opportunities for Missouri citizens with intellectual and developmental disabilities since 1955. CHS offers programs and services to assist individuals with disabilities and their families in meeting their goals and experiencing their best lives while living, working, playing, and becoming part of their communities.

The Head Start Associate Teacher supports learning environments, experiences, and instruction appropriate to students' needs in social, emotional, physical, approaches to learning, and cognitive development.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrates respect for the capabilities, backgrounds, and cultural differences of families, children, coworkers, and the public consistent with trauma-informed practices regardless of race, color, religion, or disability.
• Follows the agency's cultural competencies and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Code of Ethical Conduct.
• Develops and maintains respectful relationships with families and children to ensure daily needs are met through responsive caregiving practices.
• Supports the Head Start Teacher in implementing a curriculum that complies with the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework (ELOF), Performance Standards, Missouri Accreditation requirements, state regulatory guidelines, and CHS policies and procedures.
• Assists in developing and implementing individual school readiness and group lesson plans that reflect parent input and cultural relevance, promoting learning domains found in the ELOF.
• Follows a consistent schedule including small and large group experiences, free play, music and movement, large and small motor activities, skill development, routine care, family-style meals, and effective transitions.
• Ensures required child-to-staff ratios are always met.
• Develops professional development goals and coaching/training plans in consultation with supervisor and actively pursues those goals.
• Supports the Head Start Teacher in entering data and documentation into Child Plus and Desired Results Development Profile (DRDP) assessment.
• Ensures files are confidentially maintained and supports the Head Start Teacher in keeping comprehensive and ongoing portfolios for each child, including weekly observations, examples of the child’s work, child individual/coping plans, and child’s individual goals.
• Completes training as stated by CHS policy HRD-P-022 – Training.
• Promotes a positive safety culture to make CHS a safe workplace.

Requirements

• High school diploma or general education degree (GED).
• At a minimum, one of the following: completion of the Preschool CDA credential or comparable credential, or a degree from an accredited college in a directly related field (experience working with young children preferred), or the ability to obtain a CDA within 6 months of hire.
• Must attend continuing training classes designed to broaden professionalism, education, and skills involving childcare and child development as required by Federal and State regulations.
• CDA required within 1 year of hire.
• 1 year of experience working directly with young children 3-5 years of age.
• Strong computer skills.
• Must maintain Infant Toddler CPR, First Aid, and AED certification.
• Must provide proof of personal valid vehicle insurance.
• Medical exam and TB assessment required prior to hire and every 5 years thereafter.
• Background screening, including fingerprinting, required prior to hire and every 5 years thereafter.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of Paycom platform, Child Plus, Creative Curriculum, DRDP, and Head Start Performance Standards.

Schedule

Full time (35 hrs./wk), Monday-Friday. Specific shift times to be determined.