Head Start Teacher

About the Role

Supporting the growth of healthy children and families, positive parenting, and school readiness. Provide and coordinate education services to selected low-income and special needs children. Responsibilities include developing classroom curriculum, scheduling and carrying out home visits, and assisting the Education Manager in ensuring all Performance Standards within the Education Component are met.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for assigned classes of children and designated home visits and parent conferences per child, per year.
• Plan and evaluate daily classroom activities that are developmentally appropriate, respond to individual children’s goals, and reflect the diversity and culture of the class.
• Ensure classroom and curriculum meet Program Education Component Performance Standards.
• Conduct developmental screenings, assessments, and referrals for children with suspected disabilities or special needs.
• Develop Individual Goal Plans (IGP forms) in partnership with parents.
• Attend and participate in IFSP and CRM meetings as scheduled.
• Complete assessments three times per year and make referrals as needed in consultation with Advocate and Education Manager.
• Collaborate with Specialists and Parents to ensure children with disabilities receive recommended services.
• Work cooperatively with Specialists in the classroom and coordinate activities with their requirements.
• Ensure a safe environment and provide continuous supervision for all children.
• Create a developmentally appropriate environment within the classroom in collaboration with other site Education staff.
• Follow all aspects of the Procedures for Bus Safety Protocols.
• Maintain neat and clutter-free classrooms, storage areas, and office space.
• Ensure the class is supplied with all needed materials and supplies.
• Maintain CLASS scores at or above expected thresholds and achieve TS Gold Reliability.
• Utilize PBIS in classroom practices and accurately enter child behavior observations into an electronic database.
• Maintain complete and accurate child files, forms, and reports within allotted timelines.
• Include Assistant Teacher, Classroom Aide, and parent volunteers in classroom planning.
• Model effective ways to guide young children in the classroom.
• Lead planning for monthly family nights and participate in them with other center staff.
• Complete a monthly newsletter for families.
• Facilitate parents as primary teachers of their children through home visits and parent conferences.
• Provide parenting skills and child development information, and model age-appropriate, constructive ways to work with young children.
• Partner with parents to set educational goals for each child and plan individual goals in coordination with classroom curriculum.
• Coordinate and refer with the Advocate when family issues arise.
• Provide day-to-day direction, assess performance, and deliver evaluations for Assistant Teacher and Classroom Aide.
• Arrive to work on time and actively participate in all required activities, meetings, and trainings.
• Be a respectful, cooperative, and reliable team member.
• Project a professional work image and adhere to position-related policies and procedures.
• Perform all work in compliance with the Clackamas County Children’s Commission Code of Conduct.
• Respect and maintain confidentiality of information regarding children, families, and program operations.
• Develop professional work goals and training plan in consultation with supervisor, and participate in training as requested.

Requirements

• Associate’s degree (bachelor’s degree preferred) in early childhood education (ECE) or Associate’s degree (bachelor’s degree preferred) in any field plus both:
  • 15 or more credits of college coursework relating to early childhood education
  • At least 6 months of experience teaching preschool-age children
• Knowledge of Head Start preferred.

Skills and Abilities

• Ability to positively interact with families of various cultural and socio-economic backgrounds.
• Ability to use a positive approach in directing and redirecting child behavior.
• Ability to take a leadership role in the classroom.
• Ability to work cooperatively as a member of a team.
• Good computer and data entry skills.
• Ability to possess and maintain a valid driver’s license and insured vehicle available for use on the job (or have alternative transportation).
• Ability to possess and maintain compliance with State of Oregon Criminal Background Registry.
• Ability to possess and maintain current First Aid/CPR certification.
• Ability to obtain and maintain an Oregon Food Handler’s Card.

Working Conditions

• Work with physically active three- to five-year-old children for one class period (3.5-7.5 hours).
• Extensive standing and walking.
• Moderate sitting, kneeling, and bending.