Substitute Teacher

About the Organization

HELP New Mexico (HELPNM) was created in 1965 by the interdenominational New Mexico Council of Churches to support education in their community. Today, their legacy and impact carry on through HELPNM’s work as a fully-owned subsidiary of CPLC. The Office of Learning and Academic Opportunity (OLAO) provides services to children and families from birth to eight years of age. Our priority is to provide general services related to families in the areas of education, health, and social/behavioral development. OLAO also provides an intentional, coordinated approach to strengthening the family unit and combines programming for children and adults in order to build strong and stable families.

About the Role

You will provide temporary classroom coverage and support the implementation of a safe, nurturing, and developmentally appropriate learning environment for children ages 0-5 in the HELP NM ECD Program. You will assist with daily routines, classroom activities, transitions, meals, rest time, outdoor play, and active supervision while helping maintain consistency in the absence of regular teaching staff. You will work as part of the center-based team to support children’s school readiness and overall development, while following all state and federal regulations, including the Head Start Program Performance Standards, the Head Start Act, New Mexico childcare licensing requirements, and HELP NM ECD Policies and Procedures. You must actively supervise children by sight and sound at all times, maintain health and safety practices, and support safe indoor and outdoor learning environments.

Responsibilities

• Provide temporary classroom coverage and support a developmentally appropriate learning environment for children ages 0-5.
• Assist with daily routines, classroom activities, transitions, meals, rest time, outdoor play, and active supervision.
• Maintain consistency in the absence of regular teaching staff.
• Support children’s school readiness and overall development as part of a center-based team.
• Follow all state and federal regulations, including Head Start Program Performance Standards, the Head Start Act, New Mexico childcare licensing requirements, and HELP NM ECD Policies and Procedures.
• Actively supervise children by sight and sound at all times.
• Maintain health and safety practices in indoor and outdoor learning environments.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma/GED.
• Child Development Associate (CDA) credential or willingness to obtain one within 6 months of hire.
• Some experience working or volunteering with young children is preferred.
• Bilingual English/Spanish (preferred).
• TB test or Chest X-ray.
• NM ECECD Background Clearance.
• First Aid/CPR Certified or willingness to obtain within the first 6 months of employment.
• Must obtain Food Handlers card upon hire.

Skills

• Conscientious and caring with the ability to respond quickly and soothingly to children’s needs.
• Creative in planning and interacting with children to promote motor, language, social, cognitive, perceptual, and emotional growth.
• Effective communicator who can maintain open, friendly, and cooperative relationships with children and families.