Key Responsibilities

• Provide infants and toddlers with joyful, nurturing, safe, healthy, individualized environment and the varied experiences which help them develop socially, intellectually, physically, and emotionally in a manner appropriate to their age and stage of development in relationship to the overall goal of social competency.
• Provide a balance between individual and small group activities designed to enhance children's development and learning as they practice existing skills and develop emerging ones.
• Provide a balance of open ended exploration, teacher directed activities, structured activities and sensory-based play activities to foster children's curiosity, engagement, reasoning and problem solving.
• Provide care such as diapering, toileting, feeding, dressing and hygiene in a relaxed and individualized manner to foster children's emotional development and help them gain independence and autonomy in completing these tasks.
• Provides supervision to classroom volunteers to facilitate the implementation of developmentally appropriate learning activities.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• Ensure the integration of the educational aspects of the various Head Start components by developing opportunities and activities for children to learn about health, safety, nutrition, dental health and families.
• Develop activities and strategies for involving parents in the educational aspects of the program in order to improve their understanding of child development specifically as it relates to infants and toddlers and facilitate their role as the principal influence in their child's education and development.
• Possesses necessary computer skills and working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications. Ability to use other database systems as required for data collection.
• Behave in a professional manner.
• Exhibit good interpersonal skills; work cooperatively as a member of a teaching team, with other program staff and parents.
• Possess bilingual ability where appropriate.
• Demonstrate a knowledge of and sensitivity to the educational and socioeconomic needs of the children and families served in Early Head Start.
• Possess the ability to work with a culturally diverse low-income population.

• Ensures individualized and quality educational programming by participating in:
• The screening and educational assessment of children.
• The use of diagnostic evaluations to develop long and short term goals for each child.
• The development and implementation of developmentally appropriate lesson plans and individualized activities.
• The implementation of written IFSP goals (Individualized Family Service Plan) for all children with special needs.
• Daily observations of children.
• Record keeping activities (e.g. completion of daily care sheets, keeping records of daily observations of children and of communication with parents).
• Team meetings.
• A minimum of two home visits per family per year.
• A minimum of four Parent/Teacher conferences per year. 
• Periodic field trips.

• Promotes the mission of ABCD Head Start & Children's Services. Builds an understanding of the program by communicating this mission to staff, families and the community.
• Engages in ongoing staff development to expand professional skills. 
• Maintains professional boundaries in relationships with staff and families. 
• Maintains confidentiality of child and family information at all times.

• Attends meetings as necessary.
• Maintains the EEC requirements including staff to child ratios, classroom supervision, etc.
• Performs any other related duties or responsibilities contained in this job description, otherwise assigned or as required by state or federal laws.
• Reports to the Program Director for all matters relating to terms of employment and center operations.

• Lift, carry, move and place infant and toddler age children onto or into classroom equipment (e.g. changing tables, cribs, strollers and buggies).
• Move infant and toddler age children in strollers, buggies and other equipment. 
• Remain alert during naptime supervision.
• Supervise and monitor children both by sight and sound at all times.
• Respond to children in the case of an emergency in order to ensure safety, such as the capability to react quickly and chase after a child if he or she runs towards danger or tries to leave the classroom.
• Attend to the needs of children with disabilities, including physically challenged children.
• Lift and move equipment and furniture as necessary to facilitate the execution of classroom activities.