Columbus Urban League

Human Resources - Teacher

Job Title:	Teacher
Department:	Head Start
Reports To:	Center Manager
Status:	Non-exempt

Summary:

This position serves as the lead worker in a classroom of Head Start children by planning, implementing, and supervising all classroom activities. This position works with typically developing children and children with disabilities. Because this position is one part of a large system of services provided to children and families, this position also serves as a social service referral person and shares responsibility for parent involvement in the program. The position of Teacher works in tandem with the rest of the parts of the system as an integrated team to support the goals of the program. The position may be reassigned to various classrooms/centers as deemed necessary for program operations. The position may serve as “Center Manager” for child care licensing purposes.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Treat Head Start participants, community members and fellow staff with positive regard as defined in Head Start’s mission statement.

Attends and participates in all required meetings, activities, pre-service and in-service training and workshops.

Remains up-to-date on information that pertains to the needs of the children in the program including Head Start Performance Standards, childcare licensing regulations and other applicable regulations and practices.

Works as a team member with the assistant teacher, education staff, parents and parent committee members to develop curriculum that is meaningful and meets the individual and program needs.

Responsible for the weekly preparation of daily lesson plans, which includes objectives to be posted for parents, volunteers and visitors in the classroom.

Develops an individual plan for each child to include goal setting based on identified needs and prescriptions for objectives and activities to meet established goals (outcomes) through daily observation of children.

Schedules home visits and parent-teacher conferences with families as required and on an as-needed basis and documents these events.

Maintains strict confidentiality with respect to Head Start children, families and staff in accordance with established policies and procedures.

Prepares a safe, healthy learning environment for children that is developmentally appropriate and experientially based

Arrange classrooms into recognizable functional areas.

PRESCHOOL PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION

Supervises all classroom activities, field trips and outdoor activities.

Plans and provides a developmentally and linguistically appropriate curriculum and experiences in a manner appropriate to the ages, languages and cultures of children served.

Directs any special needs problems to the center manager.

Participates in meetings to discuss specific programming for children.

Plans and implements learning experiences that advance the intellectual and physical competence of children including improving the readiness of children for school by developing their literacy and phonemic, print and numeracy awareness, their understanding of the use of language, their understanding and use of increasingly complex and varied vocabulary, their appreciation of books and their problem solving abilities.

Implements education lesson plans and daily programs for children in accordance with each child's need, based on a method of observing and recording children’s interests and current levels of functioning.

Supports social and emotional development and provides positive guidance and discipline.

Maintains a commitment to professionalism and continues own professional development so that decisions are based on knowledge of early childhood theories and practices.

Shares pertinent information with Center Manager and Family Advocate to ensure coordinated services that meet the needs of individual children and families.

Supervises and eats nutritionally prepared meals with the children as a curriculum activity, to model good nutrition and proper social skills.

Provides a stable classroom routine and environment.

Ensures a well-run, purposeful program responsive to participant needs.

Screen, assess and observe children documents as required.

Understands regulations associated with prevention of occupational disease and injury, including the exercise of universal precautions and the prevention of contamination.

RECORDKEEPING

Submits monthly progress reports to the supervisor as scheduled.

Submit to supervisor supplies needed and takes inventory as requested.

Maintains child records in cooperation with the Center Manager.

Gathers and maintains individual, family and classroom data for documentation, on-going assessment, evaluation and recording keeping for successful individual and program planning.

Understands, generates and documents in-kind and other allowable costs applied toward the non-federal share requirement.

Monitors attendance daily. Contact parent/guardian after two absences.

PARENT INVOLVEMENT AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS

Sets up system to assure program's needs for parent involvement in each classroom are met.

Establishes positive and productive relationships with families focusing on a relationship of trust and rapport with the parents of the children.

Participates in the orientation of parents to Head Start throughout the year.

Attend and support monthly Parent Committee meetings at the center.

Schedules and arranges meetings, and documents parent-teacher conferences and home visits as required.

Participates in the training of parents as requested.

Involves parents in the educational activities of the program:

To emphasize their role as the principal influence on the child's education and development

To assist parents to increase their knowledge, understanding, skills and experience in basic child development.

Identifies and arranges for parents to participate as volunteers in the classroom and work as substitutes as well as other volunteer activities.

Collects monthly in-kind records from parents participating and submits to center manager.

Assist in writing a classroom newsletter monthly beginning in October and provide center news for the program newsletter as requested.

Positively promotes Early Head Start in the community.

Directly orients, trains and supervises all classroom volunteers assigned in cooperation with the position with the responsibility for assigned classroom volunteers.

Works closely with local school system(s), as appropriate, for shared activities, registration and smooth transition.

SUPERVISION

Plans and directs the work of the assistant teacher. Observes and gives feedback to Assistant Teacher, and other staff as assigned on at least a weekly basis.

Makes daily job assignments within the classroom; provides instruction in performing job duties and models appropriate classroom practices.

Becomes thoroughly familiar with CDI Head Start Human Resources Policies and Procedures and adheres to them.

Sets the standards of the classroom and goals for Assistant Teacher and other classroom staff, monitors progress toward goals, provide regular feedback and submit performance appraisals in a timely manner.

Provides daily supervision of all classroom staff, monitors employee performance and classroom activities. Conducts competency assessments and performance evaluation of assigned staff and volunteers.

Assist in the development and support the individual development plan for assigned Assistant Teacher.

All other duties as assigned, ensuring the implementation of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).

Positions supervised:	Assistant Teacher
	Classroom Volunteers (if applicable)

Education and/or Experience:

Minimum requirement is a current CDA credential with preschool endorsement or one-year certificate or higher in ECE or AA or higher with 6 courses in ECE plus experience teaching preschool. One-year practical experience in formal classroom setting. Bilingual preferred (English/Spanish). Previous supervision experience preferred. Must be willing and able to obtain Basic First Aid, communicable disease, child abuse and neglect and CPR Certification and maintain certification. Acceptable tuberculosis screening results, a clear criminal records check and an initial health exam are required post job offer and prior to employment. Current and former Head Start/Early Head Start parents will receive preference for employment vacancies for which they are qualified.

Knowledge and Abilities:

Extensive knowledge and skills in the field of early childhood development. Knowledge of various service resources in the community. Some knowledge of the basics of supervision. Knowledge of the state and federal regulations pertaining to child abuse and neglect and childcare licensing requirements. Knowledge of local resources, language and customs helpful.
Ability to be perceptive of the needs of children and to work well with staff, children and parents/families. Ability to organize and direct classroom activities. Ability to maintain confidentiality. Ability to maintain accurate records, which reflect the needs and progress of children. Ability to demonstrate knowledge, skills and a positive attitude in the field of early childhood education.

Ability to communicate ideas and instructions orally and in writing.

Ability to speak, read and write English well enough to understand and be understood by others.

Ability to write reports and parent correspondence.

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general educational journals.

Ability to speak before groups of individuals.

Bilingual skills helpful (English/Spanish).

Physical Demands

Occasional need to provide gentle physical restraint to children.

May be required to lift up to 45 pounds.

Some exposure to communicable diseases.

Noise level in work environment may be moderate to loud.

Travel by car, bus, airplane or train may also be required associated with attendance at conferences, meeting and other duties carried out at distant locations in and out of state and in some cases where some overnight travel may be required.

Work is typically performed in a classroom setting and some office work required.

Some evenings and weekend work may occasionally be required for events such as home visits, parent - teacher conference, Parent Committee meetings, social and community events.