Head Start Teacher

Southwest Oklahoma Community Action Group, Inc.

JOB DESCRIPTION FOR BIRTH TO FIVE SCHOOLS TEACHER

Status: Non-Exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act

Pay Rate: Pay levels are as follows:

Level 1: $14.50 hourly – Child Development Associate (CDA) pursuing Associate Degree in Early Childhood or

Child Development

Level 2: $16.00 hourly – Associate Degree in Early Childhood or Child Development.

Level 3: $20.00 hourly – Has related Bachelor Degree with hours equal to ECE Associate and furthering studies.

Level 4: See Highly Qualified Teacher job description.

Supervisory Relationships: Directly supervised by the School Supervisor. Position does not have supervisory duties but does provide general instructions to the assigned Assistant Teacher and volunteers.

Purpose: The purpose of the Birth to Five Schools Teacher is to provide comprehensive early childhood experiences in the classroom. Ensure that each child has the opportunity to accomplish the performance measures. Responsible for implementing the Performance Standards requirements in the lessons and activities.

Principal Duties & Responsibilities:

1. Plans and implements daily lesson plans and other center activities using Creative Curriculum and available resources. Lessons and activities will adhere to Performance Standards, DHS Licensing Regulations, and agency policies. Learning experiences will be designed to advance intellectual and physical development of children and prepare them for the transition to the next phase of their education. Eats meals with the children to aid in the development of social skills. Eats/drinks only same food as the children.

2. Has direct interaction with the children and participates in their daily activities. Ensures that activities are age-appropriate. Helps children develop and appreciation of books, problem-solving through early math and science, and develop phonemic, literacy, and print awareness, as well as language and vocabulary.

3. Recruits volunteers. In-kind donations and volunteer time is documented on the proper forms and turned in monthly. Promotes parent interest and encourages participation in center activities. Attends parent center committee meetings as assigned.

4. Uses ROMA principles to establish performance management goals and to improve the focus on program and family outcomes.

5. Assist in medical/dental screenings, mental health screenings (including observation notes), administering Brigance Testing, and IEP development of center enrollees. Completes two (3 for full year) home visits and required documentation for each student.

6. Plans, prepares, and conducts at least two (3 for full-year) Parent/Teacher Conferences per year.

7. Completes paperwork and reports as required. Types of paperwork includes children’s folders, anecdotal notes, and tracking of services. Uses Teaching Strategies GOLD on-line to document and track individual child goals.

8. Sweeps and mops the classrooms, cleans the children’s bathroom, sanitizes children’s bedding and toys as required by Head Start and DHS Licensing guidelines.

9. Serves as a bus monitor on transportation routes as assigned by the School Supervisor.

10. Responsible for assisting in emergency medical care, safety, fire prevention, and sanitation of staff, children, and center environment.

11. Other related duties as assigned.

Performance Expectations:

1. Confidentiality of children and family information is mandatory.

2. Teaching children appropriate behavior for social settings is an important aspect of Head Start. Employees are expected to model appropriate behavior such as using proper tone of voice and maintaining control of the classroom.

3. Provides a positive learning environment for the children through encouragement and interaction with the children. Supports the parent as the primary educator of the child.

3. Must be able to work in a positive manner with children ages 3- 5 from a variety of backgrounds, including children who have disabilities. Able to relate to problems of low-income and minority families.

4. Attend training as required. Must maintain any training or certification requirements. Training may require some evenings, weekends, and/or overnight travel.

5. Comply with program procedures and licensing guidelines and follows best practices. Stays current with early education trends and practices and adapts as changes are introduced. Abides by SOCAG Personnel Policies and adheres to Performance Standards.

6. Ensure children’s safety by enforcing safety rules and procedures. Follows other safety rules such as wearing closed-toe shoes (no sandals), bus safety rules, and various other program procedures.

7. Must be able to complete written documentation and computer data entry as assigned.