Teacher

About the Role

Plan, organize, and implement content-rich learning experiences that guide, encourage, and advance the intellectual, emotional, and physical development of children towards school readiness success. Teachers establish and maintain safe, nurturing, and healthy learning environments that cultivate self-directed and independent lifelong learners. Teachers will encourage parents to be active participants in their child(ren)’s education.

Responsibilities

• Plan, document, and implement lesson plans, incorporating individualization and utilizing research-based curricula with fidelity.
• Implement effective teaching practices that promote positive outcomes by promoting growth in the developmental progression described in the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework: Ages Birth to Five.
• Utilize child assessment data and developmentally appropriate learning experiences in planning and implementing a collaboratively designed lesson plan to improve teaching and learning outcomes.
• Responsible for the documentation of attendance, education, health, nutrition, mental health, transition, and parent family engagement and disabilities into the appropriate program software, portfolio, or child’s file.
• Perform appropriate screenings and assessments within the required time frame.
• Conduct at least two home visits and two parent-teacher conferences per year, with more frequent conferences conducted as appropriate.
• Implement positive teacher-child interactions utilizing the appropriate observation tool and behavior curriculum/framework at all times.
• Implement the classroom’s emergency procedures, including posting procedures, locations, and telephone numbers of emergency response systems, emergency evacuation routes, notifying families of emergencies, and maintaining up-to-date family contact information and authorization for emergency care.
• Conduct and document monthly fire drills and severe weather drills every three months.
• Implement the classroom’s medication administration procedures, including storing all medications under lock, administering medication, and maintaining individual records of dispensed medication.
• Ensure the child’s outdoor and indoor environments are safe and clean at all times, including storing outdoor equipment and dangerous materials under lock and key.
• Supervise and implement “Active Supervision” to ensure the safety and well-being of all children at all times, maintaining child/staff ratio and ensuring no child is left alone or unsupervised.
• Ensure the classroom’s environment is developmentally appropriate for each child, including children with disabilities.
• Coordinate with Family Advocates in making referrals for services for children and their families; assist in obtaining physicals, dentals, immunizations, and other necessary documentation from parents.
• Comply with the Head Start Program Performance Standards, Minimum Standards for Child Care Licensing, CACOST’s Head Start Birth to Five 0-5 Program policies and procedures, School Readiness Goals, the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework (ELOF), and the Parent, Family and Community Engagement (PFCE) Framework.
• Promote attendance and ensure the classroom maintains full enrollment and meets average daily attendance requirements.
• Responsible for promoting and collecting In-Kind on a monthly basis from parents and community members.
• Support parent involvement and development by maintaining open communication with parents concerning their child’s needs and strengths; conduct Parent Committee meetings and offer opportunities for involvement in the program’s education services.
• Ensure teacher aide complies with program policies, procedures, and expectations; supervise and monitor teacher aide’s daily responsibilities, including maintaining daily reports, active involvement in instructional planning and delivery, and safe and orderly environments.
• Include teacher aides in children’s progress monitoring, individualization, and small group activities; conduct annual performance evaluations and monitor attendance through Novatime.
• Comply with the Program’s confidentiality policies.
• Perform any other duty as assigned by the Operations Manager.

Requirements

• Attend 24 clock hours of professional development and staff training per year, including active supervision, safety practices, training that improves child and family outcomes, and training on handling suspected or known child abuse and neglect cases.
• Prior supervisory experience is preferred.
• Prior experience teaching in a Head Start preschool setting is preferred.
• Valid Texas Driver's License.
• Must pass DFPS background check.
• Must pass an annual physical.

Qualifications

As prescribed in section 648A(a)(3)(B) of the Head Start Act, an associate’s or baccalaureate degree in child development, early childhood education, or equivalent to a major relating to early childhood education, with experience teaching preschool-age children. Transcripts are required to validate educational requirements. Advanced degree in early childhood or a baccalaureate or advanced degree with coursework equivalent to a major relating to early childhood education, and experience teaching preschool-age children.

Skills

• Frequent significant decision-making and problem-solving abilities.
• Good communication skills.
• Ability to work as a team member collaborating with staff, parents, and community resources.
• Ability to supervise preschool children and ensure a safe environment, including monitoring and responding to events in classroom and outdoor play areas.
• Physical ability to move quickly to respond to active children who may need restraint or redirection to ensure safety.

Physical Requirements

If a preliminary offer of employment is extended, a physical will be required before the offer can be accepted. Able to perform the following physical requirements of the position with or without reasonable accommodation:

• Critical sensory requirements include general vision; specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
• Hear or listen in the normal range (corrected) and speak and give directions clearly.
• Able to walk, sit, stand, kneel, crouch, crawl, reach, lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects up to 10 lbs., and occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds.