Head Start Teacher

About the role

Come work for the Bucks IU! A great opportunity to be part of a collaborative work environment with excellent employee benefit plan options, PSERS pension plan and a flexible, school calendar work schedule.

Responsibilities

• Regular attendance and reliable on-site presence.
• Complete required professional development; maintain current knowledge of Head Start Performance Standards, childcare licensing regulations, and early childhood best practices; and apply this knowledge to classroom instruction.
• Collaborate with staff, families, and Center Committees to develop and implement developmentally appropriate curriculum, daily lesson plans, individualized learning goals, and classroom objectives that meet the individual needs of children and program requirements.
• Schedule, conduct, and document required home visits and parent-teacher conferences while maintaining a safe, healthy, inclusive learning environment that supports daily indoor and outdoor learning.
• Plan and deliver culturally, linguistically, and developmentally appropriate instruction that promotes school readiness, literacy, language, math, science, problem-solving, social-emotional development, and positive behavior through consistent routines and individualized learning experiences.
• Observe, screen, assess, and document children's developmental progress; communicate relevant information with families and interdisciplinary staff; and refer concerns to appropriate supervisors.
• Supervise children during classroom, meal, outdoor, and field trip activities while modeling healthy nutrition, appropriate social skills, and positive interactions.
• Maintain accurate child, family, classroom, and program records; complete ongoing documentation and assessments; and assist with classroom supply ordering and inventory management.
• Foster positive partnerships with families by coordinating orientations, conferences, home visits, volunteer opportunities, parent training, Center Committee activities, and ongoing communication that encourages family engagement in children's education.
• Recruit, orient, train, and supervise classroom volunteers; contribute classroom updates for newsletters; promote Head Start within the community; and collaborate with local school districts to support successful student transitions.
• Ensure compliance with Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and USDA requirements by accurately documenting, verifying, and submitting meal counts and related records.
• Assign, direct, coach, and evaluate classroom staff and volunteers by establishing performance expectations, providing ongoing feedback, monitoring classroom operations, and communicating performance concerns to supervisors.
• Attend required meetings, trainings, and parent activities; maintain compliance with Head Start, licensing, safety, and Human Resources requirements; support continuous program improvement; perform daily classroom cleaning and sanitation; and perform other duties as assigned.
• Provide guidance, support, and collaboration with colleagues and team members as needed (no direct supervisory responsibilities).
• Work in environments with moderate noise levels; accommodate elevated noise and varying behavioral or emotional support needs as required.
• Perform physical duties including sitting, standing, walking, reaching, bending, kneeling, crouching, and positioning at student level; lift up to 10 pounds frequently and up to 25 pounds occasionally, with training for greater loads when needed.
• Use close, distance, color, peripheral vision and depth perception; hear and interpret environmental sounds including student communication and alarms.
• Regular travel is required; occasional travel to meetings, trainings, conferences, Bucks IU locations, or other work-related