Job Title: Teacher: HS, Classroom

Department: Head Start Program

Reports To: Center Director or Site Director, as applicable

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Classification:Seasonal, Full-time

SUMMARY

The Teacher is responsible for supervising and instructing children in activities designed to promote social, physical, and intellectual growth.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

All duties are to be performed in accordance with Head Start Standards, TDFPS Minimum Standards, Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and Cen-Tex Family Services, Inc. (Cen-Tex) policies and procedures.

Must become familiar with the ethnic backgrounds and heritages of families in the program and are able to serve and effectively communicate, either directly or through interpretation and translation, with children who are dual language learners and to the extend feasible, with families with limited English proficiency.

Must be engaged in the delivery of program services, have sufficient knowledge, training and experience, and competencies to fulfill the roles and responsibilities of their positions and to ensure high quality service delivery in accordance with the program performance standards.

Plan and implement children’s individual and group activities to stimulate growth in the areas of language development; literacy; mathematics; creative arts; social and development; and physical development.

Alternate periods of strenuous activity with periods of rest or light activity to avoid over stimulation and fatigue within the children’s daily activities.

Ensure that appropriate child-staff ratio is met while delivering services and children are supervised at all times.

Participate in and assist during meal and snack time following family style meal services and guiding children in clean-up afterwards.

Maintain a safe and secure learning environment for children in your class both indoors and outdoors during all program hours, reporting any safety concerns to supervisor.

Ensure accurate records of daily attendance and meal counts are maintained.

Record observations, assessments and other required documentation for each child’s records within established guidelines.

Complete Parent Conferences and Home Visits according to agency schedule.

Promote timely and sufficient communications with center’s parents, including: their child’s progress in the program; announcements; facility and agency activities; policies; enrollment procedures; and developmental/behavioral concerns. Provide information to families, including information supporting the areas of family partnerships, nutrition, child health and community involvement.

Participate and provide support for Center Parent Meetings, approved parent activities and Staff meetings.

Provide for the health and safety of the children in the center, following procedures for hand-washing, dental hygiene practices, sanitation of toys, and toileting. Provide diapering as required. Disinfect work area surfaces as needed. Instruct children in self-help skills and personal hygiene.

Provide for the safekeeping of center files, supplies and equipment.

Participate in professional development to promote and comply with agency goals and objectives and demonstrate application of acquired knowledge while performing duties of position.

Participate as a cooperative team member with coworkers and supervisor in delivering services to children and families and supporting center operations.

Work effectively with individuals of diverse educational, socio-economic and cultural backgrounds and those with disabilities and special needs. In working with others problem solving is required to identify issues and create action plans.

Continue professional growth by participating in classes, training programs, workshops/conferences, as needed and as allowed within the agency’s budget.

Report to work at scheduled time and maintain good attendance. Perform all duties in a safe, timely and professional manner. Participate with a positive attitude and behavior in all program activities.

Provide a positive image to coworkers and the community supportive of the agency’s goals and objectives.

Perform other related duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Supervise, support and evaluate the job performance of the classroom's Teacher Assistant and Classroom Substitute Aid. Communicate related problems, concerns and training needs to Center Director.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Must be at least 18 years of age as required by the TDFPS Minimum Standards for Child-Care Centers. Must be at least 18 years of age for persons driving a vehicle on agency business, and at least 25 years of age if required to transport children and families served by the agency, as required by agency automobile insurance.

Depending on agency resources, employees may be required to provide private transportation to complete assigned duties. Employees will be reimbursed for approved mileage following the guidelines as set forth in the agency Personnel Policies.

Must be able to pass a criminal history check performed through the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE

Preferred Requirements:

Baccalaureate, or advanced degree including at least 6 college courses in early childhood education* and/or child development.

Two or more years’ experience teaching 3 or 4-year-old children in a licensed child care center, and supervisory skills and experience.

Minimum Requirements:

Associate, including at least 6 college courses in early childhood education* and/or child development.

* Courses qualify as defined per Head Start and TDFPS

Two or more years of experience teaching, or assistant teaching 3 or 4-year-old children in a licensed child care center.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Preferred Requirements: Bilingual in Spanish and English.

Minimum Requirements:

Ability to communicate in the following methods in English:

1. Read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, procedure manuals and directions and safety precautions for cleaning product usage.
2. Write routine reports and correspondence.
3. Speak effectively before groups of parents or employees of the organization.
4. Effectively present and receive information one-on-one or group situations.
5. Use effective listening skills to establish rapport with children and families in a supportive and nurturing manner.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.

Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent.

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions.

Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

CPR and First Aid.

CDA as applicable.

Driving of agency vehicles is required for this position; therefore, Class C Valid Texas Driver’s license, appropriate automobile liability insurance as established by the State of Texas, and an acceptable driving record as established by agency automobile insurance carrier.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is often required to sit on floor; climb or balance; and bend at the waist, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl in order to maintain direct eye contact with children. The employee must be able to repeatedly lift children that may weigh up to 45 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

The employee is frequently required to bend at the waist and/or knees (i.e. lifting child from crib; lifting child to place on changing table; lifting to place into high chair), stoop, kneel, or crouch while simultaneously lifting or physically supporting an infant or toddler. Safe lifting practices must be adhered to at all times for employee and child safety.

WORK ENVIRONMENT The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to noisy.

Employee will regularly be exposed to cleaning chemicals, including disinfectants and cleansers. Personal protective equipment will be provided.

May be exposed to bodily fluids.

May encounter a variety of conditions when conducting home visits. Employees must evaluate conditions presented for their safety and needs, and confer with supervisor when problems or concerns arise