Eligible for $1000 incentive after 90 days of employment

Immediate need for a caring and energetic individual to join our team. Ideal candidate will contribute a positive, nurturing environment that is safe, clean and organized for children between the ages of birth to 3 years old. State of the art facility with a great team atmosphere. This position is full-time and runs the entire year. High School Diploma or equivalent required with the ability to obtain a Child Development Associate Certification. Superior benefits package including ample leave time, health, dental, vision insurance, paid life insurance, and IPERS to name a few. 

EXPECTATION FOR ALL EMPLOYEES:

Supports the organization’s mission, vision, and values by exhibiting the following behaviors: excellence and competence, collaboration, innovation, respect, personalization, commitment to our community, and accountability and ownership

 GENERAL SUMMARY:

An Early Head Start lead teacher utilizes curricula that is developmentally appropriate and meets the needs of children from diverse backgrounds. The classroom teacher is responsible for participating with a team on a daily basis in planning curricula and adding the necessary parental contribution. The individual also creates and maintains relationships with every child and family and assesses their needs. The teacher evaluates the progress of each child on an on-going basis and implements the necessary modifications. An Early Head Start lead teacher makes sure the required documentation is completed and complies with the standards set by the National Head Start program. Early Head Start teachers also often conduct parent/teacher conferences and sometimes in-home visits to meet performance standards.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Document and monitor children’s progress to evaluate the ability of curriculum to meet children’s developmental needs.
2. Complete required screenings for enrolled children and ensure appropriate documentation.
3. Conduct instruction by following lesson plan while adapting plans to meet individual learning styles. Promote successful classroom performance for each student.
4. Encourage each child to develop a positive self-concept and support that self-concept by creating a developmentally appropriate environment where children are comfortable enough to verbalize feelings, question, explore, experiment and problem solve.
5. Participate in lunch time activities by assisting with preparing and serving bottles and/or food. Follow best practices for responsive feeding and when children are eating table food, eating with the children and helping clean up after the meal. 
6. Maintain an organized, clean classroom and present interesting ideas and activities to share with children.
7. Create and maintain accurate, confidential reports, records, and documentation within applicable regulations and performance standards.
8. Develop and maintain good communication while respecting confidentiality. Establish rapport and trust with parents, staff, volunteers and visitors in order to respond to children’s environmental needs.
9. Conduct parent teachers conferences and home visits.
10. Perform other duties or complete other projects as assigned.

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, and ABILITIES:

1. Ability to establish priorities and meet deadlines.
2. Ability to obtain and maintain a driver’s license, automobile, and current valid insurance in order to travel to designation locations.
3. Knowledge of Agency’s policies, practices and procedures.
4. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, management, and various other business and community contacts.
5. Ability to work with confidential information.
6. Ability to work in a team-based environment.
7. Ability to adapt to the organization’s changing needs.
8. Ability to pass a physical examination.

NOTE: A review of this position has excluded the marginal functions of the position that are incidental to the performance of essential functions. All duties and responsibilities listed above are essential job functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. To perform this job successfully, the incumbent(s) will possess the skills, knowledge, and abilities to perform each duty or function proficiently.

 QUALIFICATIONS:

 Educational requirements of the position include an Infant and Toddler Center Based Child Development Associate Credential or greater. The program may accept a high school diploma with the ability to obtain a Child Development Associate Credential.

Additional requirements include

• the ability to pass all child care licensing requirements
• computer experience

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

WORKING CONDITIONS:

This factor measures the surrounding or physical conditions under which a job must be done and the extent to which those conditions make the job disagreeable. Consider the presence and relative amount of exposure to dust, fuel, dirt, heat fumes, contaminants, cold, noise, vibration, wetness, etc.

Normal working conditions with the absence of disagreeable conditions

GENERAL INFORMATION:

The statements contained in this job description are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned. Furthermore, this document does not establish a contract for employment and is subject to change at the discretion of the employer.