Preschool Teacher

Objective And Position Summary

The Preschool Teacher is responsible for promoting school readiness by preparing children and their families for school success as well as life success as it is related to this position. To provide high quality developmentally appropriate care and education for children aged 3-5 in a center-based classroom for HELP NM ECD Program. Work as part of a center based inter-disciplinary team to support the children in all areas of development while providing education, health and social support to families. Abide by all state and federal regulations that apply to care and education of young children including revised Head Start Program Performance Standards, NM Child Care Licensing, and HELP NM ECD Policies and Procedures. Actively always supervises children by sight and sound and in all environments. Maintain all health and safety regulations to create an optimum learning environment. Facilitate health practices to keep children safe in indoor and outdoor environments.

Primary Duties And Essential Functions

• Demonstrate competency to provide effective nurturing teacher-child interactions, plan and implement learning experiences which ensure effective curriculum implementation and use of assessment and promote children’s progress across the standard described in the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework: Ages Birth to Five and applicable state early learning and development standard, including for children with disabilities and dual language learners.
• Implement Office of Head Start initiatives. Provide task-based training and mentoring/modeling to new co-teachers, substitutes and volunteers. Attend designated center meetings. Assist and participate in parent involvement services.
• Maintain and keep all necessary and required certifications current.
• Supervise children by sight and sound at all times and in all environments. Maintain all health and safety regulations to create an optimum learning environment. Facilitate health practices in all indoor and outdoor learning environments. Establish and maintain a safe, supportive environment in the classroom, outside in playground, while engaged in walking children to and from various site locations. Create a safety plan for classroom and outside play area, to include and not limited to; zoning, verbal hand-off, counting children at every classroom transition, before and after leaving classroom or bus. Incorporate Office of Head Start safety guidance and protocols; refer to Office of Head Start health and safety screening guidance and ITERS into classroom arrangement and daily practices.
• Assess Development & Learning: Using designated research-based assessment tools, administer, record, analyze and assess child development information in accordance with assessment guidance directions provided assessment authors. Implement assessment system such as Smart Teach. Maintain daily documentation and data input and recordkeeping. Conduct Parent /Teacher conferences and Home Visits. Guide and assist parents on how to complete developmental screenings.
• Ongoing Social, Emotional, and Physical Care: Develop trust-based partnership relationships with parents & children. Respond quickly in a soothing and tender manner to cries or calls of distress. Immediately care for children’s personal hygiene needs during routines such as toilet support, cleaning, feeding, and changing soiled or wet clothes/diapers. Engage children in conversation during routine care. Assist in Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) duties such as: implement CACFP Family Style Meal service during daily meals. Eat CACFP meals with children & engage in conversation with children. Handling food when assisting in classroom, log temperatures, document Point Meal of Service and Daily Meal Production Record for Infants.
• School Readiness Development: Engage in high quality teacher child interactions selected curriculum within a dual language environment. Implement Teaching Strategies curricula as outlined in curriculum manuals, engage in weekly intentional planning for creation of weekly lesson plans, engage in multiple daily learning interactions and conversations with children to build vocabulary and concept knowledge, develop and implement daily/weekly educational plans, Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP)/Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Develop transition plans with parents and annually conduct school readiness transition home visit.
• Home School Connections: Develop and implement learning activities via Learning Genie. Provide parents with information and resources to assist them in supporting program school readiness goals, child development goals and that reinforce curricula learning experiences for the child and parent.
• Professional Development: Attend designated training courses and conferences. Engage in and apply Practice Based Coaching experiences individually or in small groups facilitated by designated site staff, Instructional Coaches, or Education Coordinator. Implement suggestions, guidance and assignments received from coaches. Engage in use of technology to support coaching dialogue: video and photos are used to support staff professional development.
• Enrollment and Recruitment: All staff are required to participate in enrollment and recruitment events throughout the program year, based on current enrollment and waitlist data.

Minimum Qualifications And Competencies

• Education/Background:
• Education & Years of Experience
• High School diploma/GED AND Child Development Associate (CDA) or be willing to obtain CDA within 6 months of hire required. Upon completion of CDA, must be willing to begin coursework toward obtaining a Bachelor’s degree.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred
• Obtain Teaching Strategies GOLD inter-rater reliability certification within 6 months of hire
• Minimum of 6 months experience in teaching preschool aged children
• Bilingual English/Spanish (preferred)
• Other Qualifications:
• Valid Driver’s license and current Auto Insurance
• TB test or Chest X-ray
• NM ECECD Background Clearance
• First Aid/CPR Certified or must obtain within first 6 months of employment
• We recognize that our success is driven by great talent, and that's why we provide a comprehensive and competitive suite of benefits to serve you and your family. Full-time employee’s benefits below:
• Generous Paid Holiday
• Employee Recognition Program
• Paid Time Off & Paid Sick Days
• Free Preventative Services & Wellness Rewards
• Medical, Dental, and Vision for Spouse/Domestic Partner & Children to age 26
• Health Savings Account & Flexible Spending Account
• Life + Disability options
• Employee Assistance Program
• Telemedicine & Concierge Services
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Pet Care, Life Mart Purchase Discounts
• Tuition Reimbursement for qualifying degrees
• Mileage & Cell Reimbursement for qualifying roles
• Identity Theft Protection
•  Voluntary Benefits