Head Start Teacher

About the Role

To provide a successful, safe, and supervised educational setting for children in the Head Start environment (classroom, outdoor play area, and field trips). To promote the social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development of Head Start children relative to the Creative Curriculum, Head Start Performance Standards/Domains, and Licensing guidelines. To encourage parental involvement in all aspects of the program. To develop individual goals for children, provide ongoing assessment of progress, promote positive child outcomes, and facilitate transition into kindergarten.

Responsibilities

• Make frequent significant decisions to assure developmental progress of children.
• Supervise pre-school children and ensure a safe learning environment, including monitoring and responding to events in the classroom, outdoor play areas, and on field trips.
• Respond appropriately (both mentally and physically) to emergency or crisis situations, including the physical ability to move quickly, restrain, or redirect children to ensure safety.
• Perform daily tasks involving kneeling, stooping, bending, and sitting on the floor to attend to children's needs.

Performance Indicators

• Child Contact/Classroom Time (40%)
  • Meet the needs of all children, including those with special needs, gifted children, and culturally diverse populations.
  • Integrate all Head Start service areas into classroom time.
  • Develop and utilize lesson plans reflecting mandated elements, parental and cultural influences, and promoting social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development.
  • Implement ongoing early child/family literacy activities.
  • Individualize one-to-one and group activities to reflect the unique needs and strengths of all children.
  • Follow a consistent schedule including small/large group experiences, choice time, music and movement, motor activities, skill development, meals, and transitions.
  • Encourage experimentation, exploration, problem-solving, cooperation, socialization, and choice-making; ask open-ended questions and listen respectfully.
  • Provide an atmosphere that promotes and reinforces parental involvement.
  • Conduct ongoing assessments using the Creative Curriculum and Teaching Strategies Gold web-based tool.
  • Work with agencies to develop specialized planning for children/families as needed.
  • Supervise and monitor children at all times; respond to emergencies, provide first aid/CPR, and prevent the spread of bloodborne pathogens.
• Written Documentation (20%)
  • Maintain accurate records, including assessments, special education documentation, screening instruments, anecdotal observations, transition documents, and parent/teacher conference forms.
• Collaborative Service Delivery/Home Visits (15%)
  • Provide classroom supervision and effective communication for teacher assistants and volunteers.
  • Ensure teamwork with teacher assistants and others assigned to the class.
  • Participate in team meetings to plan and deliver collaborative services across all areas, including transportation safety.
  • Meet regularly with parents and staff regarding each child’s status and progress.
  • Conduct regular home visits and parent/teacher conferences for assessment, support, and information sharing.
• Curriculum Development (20%)
  • Assess individual and group needs, attending to special needs, interests, strengths, and concerns.
  • Develop balanced, developmentally appropriate lesson plans with parental involvement, addressing each child’s specific strengths and needs.
  • Establish daily and weekly goals promoting individual and group educational plans, including other Head Start service areas.
  • Prepare and adapt classroom materials to support lesson plans and learning centers.
  • Adapt curriculum to meet individual goals identified in children’s individualized plans.
• Miscellaneous (5%)
  • Attend meetings, trainings, and professional development activities.
  • Ensure general classroom maintenance, sanitization, laundry, and facility security.
  • Maintain an inventory of classroom equipment.
  • Perform other duties as requested.

Requirements

• Strong knowledge of child development, family dynamics, and the needs of children.
• Minimum educational requirement: Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or a related field with classes focusing on early childhood education/development. An associate degree in early childhood education may be accepted if the employee is enrolled in a bachelor’s degree (ECE) program; failure to progress toward the degree will result in relinquishing the position.
• Diploma/transcripts required to validate the degree or related classes.
• Preferred: Two years’ experience in a preschool classroom with the ability to adapt curriculum for special needs, gifted, and culturally diverse populations.
• Ability to apply early childhood development theory in daily activities and adapt to individual children’s needs.
• Excellent communication skills, including listening and writing.
• If a licensed driver, must have a valid Virginia Driver’s License and proof of current auto insurance.
• Employment conditional on immediate enrollment in the Child Care Division - Criminal History Registry.
• Must present current TB test results within 10 working days and a physical within 30 days of employment.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage for employees and dependents, with 75% of premium costs covered by the employer. Coverage begins on the first day of the month following hire.
• Retirement plan with dollar-for-dollar matching contributions up to 3% after one year of service.
• Eleven paid holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, President’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, the day after Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day.

About Us

The Hampton Roads Community Action Program (HRCAP) is a nonprofit community action agency serving residents of southeastern Virginia for over 50 years. As an award-winning organization, HRCAP contributes to the economic stability of individuals, families, and the community through programs in education, training, work experience, emergency services, housing counseling, and other strategies. HRCAP is committed to improving quality of life and breaking the cycle of poverty.