Associate Teacher - Head Start

Job Overview
Join our dynamic early childhood education team as an Associate Teacher in the Head Start program! In this vital role, you will inspire young learners, foster their developmental growth, and create a nurturing classroom environment that promotes curiosity and confidence. You will collaborate with fellow educators, communicate effectively with families, and ensure compliance with educational standards and regulations. This paid position offers a rewarding opportunity to make a meaningful impact on children’s lives while developing your teaching skills in a supportive setting.

Duties

• Implement engaging lesson plans aligned with early childhood education standards, including literacy, math, and social-emotional learning activities
• Support children’s individual needs by applying specialized techniques for children with disabilities or autism, ensuring inclusive classroom experiences
• Manage classroom behavior through positive reinforcement and effective behavior management strategies to promote a safe and respectful environment
• Supervise children at all times, ensuring their safety during activities, transitions, and outdoor play
• Communicate regularly with parents and guardians regarding children’s progress, challenges, and achievements to foster strong home-school connections
• Utilize educational technologies and computers to enhance learning experiences and track student development
• Collaborate with teaching colleagues to plan curriculum activities, share best practices, and maintain educational consistency

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Maintain confidentiality
• Assist the Lead Teacher in planning and implementing weekly lesson plans and developmentally appropriate activities aligned with Head Start regulatory standards.
• Substitute as the classroom teacher during the Lead Teacher’s absence to maintain instructional and operational continuity.
• Promote a nurturing classroom environment by guiding small group interactions, modeling social skills, participating in family-style meals, and using positive behavior interventions.
• Provide comprehensive physical care for children, including assisting with toilet training, diapering, maintaining personal hygiene, and performing prompt cleanups of bodily fluids.
• Observe, input, and track classroom metrics regularly, performing data entry into Head Start-specific software and child assessment programs.
• Support student developmental monitoring by documenting daily activities, observing progress, and assisting with targeted referrals to the Disability Coordinator.
• Execute rigorous housekeeping and sanitation chores, including sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, spills, cleaning dishes, disinfecting restrooms, and managing classroom laundry.
• Follow all CACFP protocols including, but not limited to, meal/snack preparation, family style service, and recording meal attendance.
• Cultivate trusting relationships with families to facilitate open dialogue, coordinate home-learning activities, and relay pertinent information between parents and Head Start staff.
• Collaborate on mandatory family outreach, assisting the Lead Teacher with parent-teacher conferences and annual home visits.
• Model professional behavior and dress code.
• Upon hiring, review and sign THE CODE OF ETHICS and support the Agency mission to “alleviate the conditions and causes of poverty by building partnerships and strengthening people through quality services”.
• Other Duties as Assigned

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 ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION /EXPERIENCE: The employee must be at least eighteen (18) years of age. Associate Teacher I: High school diploma or general education degree (GED) and prior experience working with groups of children ages three to five. Must begin work on the Child Development Associate (CDA) certification upon hire, and must obtain CDA within two (2) years of employment. Associate Teacher II: Current CDA, renewing every three (3) years as required. Associate Teacher III: Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education (ECE/ECD); or a degree in a related field and coursework equivalent to a major relating to ECE/ECD.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute percentages and to interpret graphs.

COMPUTER SKILLS: Know basic computer operations, including Windows, Microsoft Office products, and email. Must have the ability to learn Head Start-specific software and data entry.

REASONING ABILITY: Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several variables.

OTHER QUALIFICATIONS: Must be able to travel throughout the four-county service area regularly. Must have a valid driver’s license, access to a vehicle, and be insurable. Before employment, and every three years thereafter, the employee must have a physical examination with a TB screening (documented on HHS form 470-5152). Upon hire, and as required thereafter, the employee must submit fingerprints for a national criminal record check. Upon hire, and as required thereafter, must obtain/maintain current: First Aid and CPR certification, Mandatory Child Abuse and Neglect certification, Medication Administration training, Universal Precautions, Bus Monitor training, and Nutrition/Civil Rights training as required by our regulatory agencies. Employee must have access to a working telephone and must keep Central Office informed of the current telephone number.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. 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 talk and hear; taste and/or smell; sit on the floor and low chairs; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, bend, or crawl. The employee is required to stand, walk, run, climb, and/or balance each work day. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to fifty (50) pounds. This job involves lifting and holding children ages three to five years.

The employee will care for the physical needs of children aged three to five years. Will help supervise a classroom of up to sixteen (16) children, providing a safe classroom environment. The employee is required to clean the work area and arrange the room furniture. May monitor and supervise children while transporting them to and from the classroom.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essentials 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 exposed to outside weather conditions. The employee is regularly exposed to childhood illnesses. The noise level in the work environment is occasionally high. May travel in inclement weather. Must be able to adapt quickly to a changing schedule in a hectic environment.

Pay: $14.41 - $15.60 per hour

Expected hours: 40.0 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person

Salary : $14 - $16