Description: Job Overview The main responsibilities of the Head Start Director teacher include the daily, on-site operations of the Head Start Classroom(s) in compliance with Head Start Performance Standards, Child Care Regulation Standards, state, and local ISD regulations, and AVANCE policies and procedures.

Job Responsibilities Child Growth and Development Provide emotional support through establishing a positive climate, being aware of and responsive to children, and encouraging child expression and autonomy. Use strategies for behavior management, such as clear behavior expectations, being proactive and redirecting misbehavior. Foster classroom productivity and maximize learning time, while engaging children with a variety of modalities and materials. Provide instructional support through concept development, fostering children’s analysis and reasoning, engaging in feedback loops, and modeling and supporting high-quality language. Ensure classroom arrangement, materials and displays are organized and conducive to children’s learning and reflective of the different ages and stages of development of each child, including children with disabilities. Implement AVANCE’s chosen curriculum with fidelity, being aware of the big ideas while also following all assigned guidance and resources. Supports ISD PreK certified teacher in preparing or modifying weekly lesson plans and implementing small-group activities, read-aloud, circle time, and other curriculum components. Provide children with a consistent classroom routine and facilitate all parts of the routine to support child learning. Interact with children intentionally throughout the day to provide differentiated support. Collect documentation of children through ongoing observation, embedded and direct assessment activities. Complete quarterly assessment checkpoints, reliable, for each child. Work with ISD PreK certified teacher to analyze child assessment data and use it to plan and individualize. Complete developmental and social-emotional screenings on all children within prescribed time frames. Complete theme based Individualized Learning Plans to identify specific goals and implement developmentally appropriate strategies for each child in class. Integrate Individual Education Plans (IEPs) or referral action plans for children with diagnosed or suspected special needs. Implement PBS practices and Program Wide Expectations. Provide classroom experiences that are developmentally, linguistically, culturally and age-appropriate for the children served. Work with ISD PreK certified teachers to establish and maintain a safe, healthy learning environment, including full supervision of children at all times, in accordance with Head Start and childcare licensing requirements. Supervise mealtimes and “family style dining” with children. Supervise all classroom field trips and outdoor activities.

Communication and Service Coordination Work with ISD PreK certified teacher schedule and complete two home visits and two parent-teacher conferences each year. Encourage and engage family members to serve as classroom volunteers. Collaborate with family services staff to support families in implementing family life practices, extending learning into the home, and meeting expectations for attendance. Collaborate with the ISD administration, ISD PreK certified teacher and all other staff in the center. Share pertinent information with family services, disabilities/mental health or health/nutrition staff, as needed, to meet the needs of individual children and families. Participate in case conferences as appropriate. Participate in team and 1-1 meetings, regularly scheduled and as needed, to ensure coordination of services across the Head Start program. Actively participate in the Head Start community, including staff meetings, mandated training, committee meetings, and other program-wide functions as needed, including some evening activities. Communicates AVANCE, Head Start, and/or licensing policies and procedures as necessary at center level to families and staff.

Record Keeping and Reporting Maintain required documentation of activities, including child and family information, assessment data, volunteer logs, etc. Support documentation of monitoring, coaching and training activities, adhering to AVANCE’s existing systems (CAFCP, Shine Insight, Paycom, etc.) whenever applicable. Complete monthly reports on area activities and progress toward goals with recommended modifications to plans, submit to Zone Director as scheduled. Ensure employee licensing folders are up to date and accurate.

Ongoing Monitoring/Self-assessment Participate in ongoing reflective coaching and self-assessment. Conducts monthly facilities health and safety monitoring to assure timely communication with Operations team regarding outstanding health and safety concerns. Analyzes and mitigates risk to the region (health and safety, licensing issues) by proactively monitoring; developing an action plan and coordinating with ELL/CCP providers and FS lead to execute the plan.

Planning and Implementation Implement AVANCE’s chosen curriculum with fidelity, being aware of the big ideas while also following all assigned guidance and resources. Follow all guidance and expectations to support implementation of AVANCE’s Parent-Child Education Program. Works in coordination with HQ and local leadership to carry out other monitoring and quality improvement activities.

Establish and maintain a safe, healthy, and positive learning environment Ensures that facilities, materials, and equipment are safe, appropriate, and conducive to learning and reflective of the different ages and stages of development of each child, including children with disabilities. Follow all health and hygiene practices, including handwashing, sanitizing, and universal precautions. Comply with all ISD safety measures. Ensure all health and safety checklists are completed in the determined timeframe.

Support the social and emotional development of children. Establish positive and productive relationships with families through building rapport and trust. Know and understand AVANCE’s and Zapata CISD’s School Readiness Goals, Texas Education Agency (TEA) standards and strive to help all children achieve them

Other Duties Ensure all AVANCE center staff comply with relevant standards, policies and procedures. Familiar with the personnel policies and procedures. Participates in assigned meetings, events and training as required. Performs other duties as assigned.

AVANCE Core Competencies Execution & Accountability Problem Solving & Decision-Making Communication & Influence Collaboration & Teamwork Stakeholder Focus Adaptability & Continuous Learning

Requirements: Education Required: Associate/bachelor's degree in early childhood education – OR – Associate/bachelor's degree in related field with at least six college courses in Early Childhood Education plus experience teaching preschool aged children OR – state awarded preschool teacher certification with experience teaching preschool aged children

Work Experience Required: At least 1 year of experience in leadership and management or completion of management training course

Additional Skills Demonstrated ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment; demonstrated flexibility to handle multiple priorities. Ability to interact effectively with people from diverse backgrounds. Must be honest, dependable and able to meet deadlines. Self-motivated and able to work independently.

Travel Ability to travel to various sites: Dependable transportation is required daily with a valid driver’s license, a clean driving record (subject to annual MVR (Motor Vehicle Report) check and policy), current auto liability insurance and be bondable by AVANCE, Inc. Travel required up to 10% of the time for work-related site visits, meetings, and functions.

Equipment Standard office equipment generally used includes: Telephone Personal Computer (monitor, keyboard, and mouse) or Tablet Printer/Photocopy Machine Calculator Fax Machine

Working Conditions Work is generally performed in an office environment. Noise level in the work environment is moderate to occasionally loud (examples: business office with computers and printers, light to moderate traffic, human voices). May be required to operate a motor vehicle during the course of duties.

Mental and Physical Demands Maintain emotional control under stress; work with interruptions and deadlines; walking, standing, stooping, bending, pulling and pushing, use hands to finger, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; occasional: lifting/carrying, pulling/pushing 10-30 pounds.?Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Environmental Factors Occasional exposure to: biological hazards (communicable diseases, bacteria, insects, mold, fungi, etc.). Occasional expose to weather related conditions when working in outside environment /neighborhoods and events.

ADA/ADAAA Statement

AVANCE is committed to equal opportunity in employment for persons with disabilities and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), as amended, and any other applicable state and federal laws. Accordingly, AVANCE does not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities in regard to application, hiring, advancement, discharge, compensation, training or other terms, conditions and privileges of employment. Moreover, it is AVANCE’s policy to provide reasonable accommodations in employment to qualified individuals with disabilities so that they can perform the essential functions of the job, unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of AVANCE’s business or would change the essential functions of the position. Retaliation against an individual with a disability for utilizing this policy or seeking a reasonable accommodation is prohibited. Individuals with any questions or requests for accommodation should contact the Human Resources Department.