Head Start Preschool Teacher

1

JOB DESCRIPTION Head Start Teacher POSITION INFORMATION: POSITION TITLE Head Start Teacher DATE CREATED/AMENDED January 2024 DEPARTMENT Head Start LOCATION Horace Mann Early Learning Center or other assigned district location FULL-TIME/PART-TIME Full Time APPOINTMENT TERM 10 months REPORTS TO: TITLE of POSITION SUPERVISOR Director of Early Childhood Programs & Education Manager SALARY/HOURLY RATE $24,541 - $59,387/year based on education and experience and full-day or part-day classroom POSITION SUMMARY INFORMATION: A Lead Teacher is expected to plan and implement responsive, developmentally appropriate programming to promote social emotions, physical, and intellectual growth through a culture of safety aligned with the Head Start

Early

Learning

Outcomes

Framework,

The

Creative

Curriculum,

and

Conscious

Discipline. Functions and Responsibilities: PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:

Emphasize

nurturing

and

responsive

practices,

interactions,

and

environments

that

foster

trust

and

emotional

security.

Plan

and

implement

intentional

programming

that

supports

social-emotional,

physical,

and

cognitive

growth

aligned

with

the

developmental

progressions

described

in

the

Head

Start

Early

Learning

Outcomes

Framework:

Ages

Birth

to

Five

as

well

as

supplemental

curricula.

Maintain

certification

to

ensure

reliable

and

current

documentation

of

child

outcome

data

is

entered

and

used

to

drive

intentional

lesson

planning

and

individualization.

Ensure

developmentally

appropriate

learning

experiences

include

language,

literacy,

social

and

emotional

development,

math,

science,

social

studies,

creative

arts,

and

physical

development .

2

Recognize

bilingualism

and

biliteracy

as

strengths

and

implement

research-based

teaching

practices

that

support

their

development.

Implement

well-organized

learning

environments

with

developmentally

appropriate

schedules,

lesson

plans,

and

indoor

and

outdoor

learning

experiences

that

provide

adequate

opportunities

for

choice,

play,

exploration,

and

experimentation.

Include

teacher-directed

and

child-initiated

activities,

active

and

quiet

learning

activities,

and

opportunities

for

individual,

small

group,

and

large

group

learning

activities.

Support the delivery of a comprehensive child development program through a culture of safety designed

to

provide

children

with

a

full

range

of

developmental

experiences.

Practice Active Supervision at all times.

Complete

at

least

15

hours

of

annual

professional

development

in

addition

to

initial

training

requirements

and

certifications.

Communicate

respectfully

and

collaboratively

within

the

teaching

team,

including

itinerant

teaching

staff.

Ensure

intentional

and

engaging

interactions

to

develop

thinking

skills

daily

in

the

classroom,

using

the

Classroom

Assessment

Scoring

System

(CLASS)

as

a

guide.

Teachers

will

be

observed

and

expected

to

maintain

quality

thresholds.

Demonstrate

time

management

and

advanced

technical

skills.

Teaching

staff

are

expected

to

utilize

Google

Suite

applications,

assessment

software,

and

attendance

software

daily.

ADDITIONAL SKILLS:

Demonstrate

professionalism

at

all

times.

Professionalism

includes,

but

is

not

limited

to:

good

personal

hygiene,

neat

appearance

consistent

with

dress

code,

reliability,

respectful

interactions

with

others,

and

commitment

to

the

children

and

families

of

our

program

without

bias.

Demonstrate

emotional

maturity

when

working

with

children

while

maintaining

composure.

Demonstrate

a

willingness

to

support

the

goals

of

the

agency

and

abide

by

the

Rock

Island

Milan

School

District

Head

Start

Personnel,

Policies,

and

Procedures.

Participate

in

staff

meetings,

training

sessions,

conferences,

workshops,

parent

involvement

activities,

and

other

professional

activities.

Supervise

and

encourage

the

development

of

assistant

teachers,

aides,

volunteers,

and

other

personnel

in

the

classroom.

Assist

with

recruitment

of

families

and

screenings

of

children.

Work

with

Social

Service

staff

to

engage

parents

and

encourage

family

participation

in

the

program.

3

Use

communication

and

writing

skills

that

include

written

narratives,

parent

conferences/home

visits,

lesson

plans,

and

documentation

of

children's

learning

using

correct

grammar,

spelling,

and

punctuation.

Maintain

certification

to

ensure

reliable

and

current

documentation

of

child

outcome

data

is

entered

and

used

to

drive

intentional

lesson

planning

and

individualization.

Maintain

good

physical

and

mental

health

with

the

ability

to

lift

25

pounds.

Physical

demands

include

sitting

on

the

floor,

standing,

bending,

and

moving

with

children.

Make

provisions

for

being

available

to

students,

parents,

and

staff

for

education-related

purposes

outside

the

instructional

day

when

required

or

requested

by

the

administration.

Maintain

confidentiality

throughout

all

exchange

of

information,

including

records,

data,

etc.

Ensure

access

to

reliable

transportation.

Perform

other

duties

as

assigned. Required Education:

Associates

Degree

in

a

related

field

and

coursework

equivalent

to

a

major

relating

to

Early

Childhood

Education Recommended Education:

A

baccalaureate

degree

and

has

been

admitted

into

the

Teach

For

America

program,

passed

a

rigorous

early

childhood

content

exam,

such

as

the

Praxis

II,

participated

in

a

Teach

For

America

summer

training

institute

that

includes

teaching

preschool

children,

and

is

receiving

ongoing

professional

development

and

support

from

Teach

For

America's

professional

staff.

Physical Demands/Work Environment: The usual and customary methods of performing the job's functions require the following physical

demands:

occasional

lifting,

carrying,

pushing,

and/or

pulling;

and

significant

fine

finger

dexterity.

Generally

the

job

requires

20%

sitting,

40%

walking,

and

40%

standing.

The

job

is

performed

under

minimal

temperature

variations

and

is

generally

a

hazard

free

environment.

Reasonable

accommodations

may

be

made

to

enable

individuals

with

disabilities

to

perform

the

essential

functions. Acknowledgements: The above job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and standards of the

position.

Incumbents

will

follow

any

other

directives,

and

perform

any

other

related

duties

as

assigned

by

the

Superintendent.

____

__

Supervisor

Signature

Date

____

__

Employee

Signature

Date