Job Information
Sweetwater Independent School District Early Head Start Teacher in Sweetwater, Texas
**EARLY HEAD START JOB DESCRIPTION POSITION: Early Head Start Teacher STATUS: Full Time Position QUALIFICATIONS: Must be at least 18 years of age High School Diploma or GED Valid Texas Drivers License
Head Start Performance Standard 1302.91(e)(1) As prescribed in section 645A(h) of the Act, a program must ensure enter-based teachers that provide direct services to infants and toddlers, in Early Head Start centers have a minimum of a Child Development Associate (CDA credential or comparable credential, and have been trained or have equivalent coursework in early childhood development with a focus on infant and toddler development. Current First Aid/AED/CPR certification for infant and toddler or must be willing to obtain or have current First Aid/AED/CPR certification for infant/toddler/adult. Knowledge and skills appropriate for working with infants and toddlers including development and safety issues, and for working with parents. REPORTS TO: ISD Building Principal/Director JOB GOAL: To comply with all federal guidelines (Head Start Performance Standards, Policies and Procedures, Head Start Act), all Texas State Child Care Licensing Procedures, and all local Head Start policies in providing children and families with all Early Head Start services for providing quality services to children and families. To help children progress toward the overall school readiness goal of social competence through providing children with a learning environment and varied experiences that help them develop socially, intellectually, physically, and emotionally in a manner appropriate to their individual age and development
MISSION STATEMENT:
To provide high quality comprehensive services including education to promote self-sufficiency in children and families while collaborating with the school districts and community partners. PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES PLANNING Plans and posts daily schedule in classroom.
Writes daily lesson plans and keeps them posted.
Includes objectives, concepts, and strategies for meeting Infant/Toddler Creative Curriculum continuum in written lesson plans.
Provides for special needs of individual children in written lesson planning.
Includes Program aides, parents and volunteers in planning.
Follows daily schedule and written plans.
Sets up learning centers.
Prepares needed materials in advance.
Knows and complies with minimum Child-Care Licensing Standards and participates with Teaching Team in performing daily checks to ensure compliance with those standards
Maintains awareness and compliance with Head Start Performance Standards and Head Start Act.
Ensures proper and adequate documentation and completion of required reports
Maintains job related confidentiality. CLASSROOM
Maintains an orderly and safe classroom environment
Knows which children for which he/she has responsibility
Knows each childs name and has information showing each childs age
Supervises children at all times, adjusting appropriately for different ages and abilities of children
Ensures the children are following procedures to help maintain a safe environment
Interacts routinely with children in a positive manner
Promotes feelings of security and trust in infants and toddlers by being warm, supportive, and comforting and by establishing strong and caring relationships. Fosters developmentally appropriate independence in children through planned but flexible program activities
Fosters a cooperative rather than a competitive atmosphere
Shows appreciation of childrens efforts and accomplishments
Ensures continuity of care for children by sharing with incoming caregivers' information about each childs activities during the previous shift and any verbal or written instructions given by the parent.
Maintains current training in infant and child development including safety issues such as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
Demonstrates competency, good judgment, and elf-control in the presence of children and when performing assigned responsibilities.
Relates to children with courtesy, respect, acceptance, and patience
Provides toddlers with experiences and opportunities that allow them to develop
Collaborates with ESC to conduct developmental screenings of infants and toddler's motor, language, social, cognitive, perceptual, and emotional skills.
Demonstrates sensitivity, cultural respect, and positive manner in relating with children and assisting Early Head Start parents and staff
Reports suspected abuse, neglect, an exploitation to CPS or to law enforcement
Completes all required training as specified in the minimum Child-Care Licensing Standards and maintains record for CDA renewal.
Promotes Positive Behavior Practices directed to teaching the child acceptable behavior and self-control. 2 April 21, 2023
Reinforces positive behavior with verbal and/or nonverbal encouragement
Reminds child of behavior expectations daily by using clear, positive statements at eye level with the child
Redirects children to prevent behavior problemsUses language with children to prevent behavior problems
Deals with individual problems consistently and on an individual basis, consistent with the childs level of understanding.
Refrains from raising voice or using voice in a threatening manner
Use brief, supervised separation from the group, when appropriate for the childs age and development, which is limited to no more than on minute per year of the childs age
Treats children with respect at all times
Takes time to help children reflect on their actions and behaviors
Implements ESC Head Start discipline policies PARENT INVOLVEMENT
Attends monthly parent meetings whenever possible.
Maintains an open, friendly and cooperative relationship with the childs family, encourages involvement in the program and promotes parent-child bonding and nurturing parent-child relationships.
Assumes responsibility of notifying parents of upcoming meetings, training and events
Recruits, trains and utilizes parent volunteers in the classroom.
Treats parents with respect and refrains from community gossip.
Posts and maintains a bulletin board for dissemination of information to parents.
Actively recruits parents ideas and suggestions for classroom activities and curriculum planning.
Works with the Policy Council and Parent Committees as well as serving as a resource to the Parent Committees. COLLABORATION
A Supports Program Aide and parent volunteers with praise and encouragement
Cooperates with ESC staff concerning reports, policies, guidelines, etc., for the Head Start program
Completes Teaching Strategies Gold checkpoints three times a year
Follows safety and environmental checklists
Maintains current ongoing anecdotal records on children and makes entries in the childs portfolio regularly
Apprises ESC Head Start staff of classroom needs and individual needs of Head Start children
Collaborates with co-worker and education consultant to develop lesson plans
Submits monthly items as designated by the 10th of the month racking from to the ESC office
Sees that adequate health/hygiene items such as soap, towels, lotion, gloves, toothbrushes, etc. are available
Maintains equipment in good order and marks all Head Start equipment and supplies as being Head Start
Posts all emergency plans, child abuse posters, and all other items in the class at all times, as outlined in the Head Start classroom notebook