Preschool Teacher - Early Head Start

Looking for someone who loves working with infants and helping them reach all their important milestones in their first year. We are seeking a compassionate individual who wants to foster a safe, fun, and educational environment in our infant classroom. Our schedule is M-F 7:30A-3:30P for all out sites. Weekends and holidays are observed, and a full winter break is included.

Position Summary

The Teacher creates, maintains, and manages an attractive, warm, and challenging learning environment for young children, incorporating developmentally appropriate learning activities that meet the needs of the group as well as those of individual children. The Teacher collaborates with all staff to facilitate the utilization of needed services to the children and their families. The Teacher is responsible for keeping accurate reports and records for each child and ensuring that all of the necessary forms are completed and properly maintained.

Primary Responsibilities

Early Childhood Education Services

• Uses the curriculum to plan lessons that are developmentally appropriate and designed to meet desired child outcomes
• Conducts developmental screenings and makes referrals when needed
• Assesses child progress using authentic assessment techniques; documents child observations on a weekly basis to monitor progress using Teaching Strategies Gold
• Participates in data meetings to aggregate and analyze child outcome data
• Seeks parent involvement in planning culturally and linguistically responsive activities
• Engages with preschool special education staff to ensure the needs of children with Individual Family Service Plans or Individual Education Plans are being addressed

Child Interactions

• Interacts with children frequently, affectionately, and respectfully at the child’s level
• Acknowledges feelings with sensitivity and models appropriate social behavior
• Fosters children’s positive self-concept by supporting individuality, independence, and the ability to make choices
• Engages with children during meal time by sitting and eating with the children
• Interacts in a manner consistent with the organization’s commitment to anti-bias education

Supervision, Health and Safety of Children

• Maintains and follows all state, federal, and Head Start’s health and safety guidelines
• Knows the numbers of children in direct care and maintains ratios at all times
• Organizes the classroom environment and keeps equipment safe and clean
• Responds immediately and appropriately to multiple or unexpected situations or emergencies

Building Effective Relationships with Families

• Plans and offers productive learning experiences for families based on classroom curricula and family interests
• Encourages parents to participate in planning and evaluating classroom activities
• Promotes family involvement in agency-wide activities (e.g., health fairs, festivals, other activities)
• Promotes parents' overall involvement and participation in program governance
• Develops and maintains meaningful, productive relationships with families
• Communicates with parents using a variety of strategies (e.g., parent conferences, written correspondences, telephone, home visits) to ensure they are aware of their child’s progress and parent engagement activities
• Plans schedule in partnership with Assistant Teacher to conducts required home visits
• Maintains confidentiality regarding children and families both in the center and externally

Supporting Comprehensive Services

• Works in collaboration with other program staff and consultants to monitor, track, and coordinate services for children and parents
• Coordinates with the appropriate staff to refer children and families to appropriate services when needed
• Works collaboratively with other agencies to help meet the needs of families in the program

Administrative

• Maintains records on each child according to program guidelines
• Performs other duties requested by the Supervisor

Required Qualifications

• A Child Development Associate (CDA) with an Infant/Toddler endorsement
• A minimum of two (2) years of experience working in an accredited Early Childhood Program
• Willing to pursue classes in Early Childhood Education, as required by the program
• Strong written, verbal, communication, and organizational skills
• Ability to coach and mentor adult learners
• Ability to establish supportive relationships with staff and families from diverse backgrounds
• Ability to professionally interact with people of various cultural and social backgrounds
• Ability to utilize basic office equipment and learn how to enter data into the COPA system
• Ability to work within a team environment as a cooperative and supportive team member
• Ability to sit on floor and lift children up to 40 lbs

Preferred Qualifications

• An Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Education
• Knowledge of curriculum planning and development techniques and skills (Creative Curriculum especially desirable)
• Knowledge of high-quality early childhood health and safety standards, curriculum planning and development

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical demands:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee must be mobile in a classroom environment and able to use standard classroom, kitchen and breakroom equipment
• Must be able to communicate in verbal and written form
• Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds

Work environment:

• Typical classroom environment and daily outdoor activities

Please attach resume and cover letter to application. No phone calls please.

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Education:

• Associate (Preferred)

Experience:

• working in an accredited Early Childhood Program: 2 years (Required)

Ability to Commute:

• Alexandria, VA (Required)

Work Location: In person