CLASSROOM TEACHER

HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START

FULL TIME/EXEMPT

MONDAY-FRIDAY SCHEDULE

DAILY SUBSTITUTE WORK ALSO AVAILABLE AT $140 PER DAY

The Head Start and Early Head Start programs in Bedford and Fulton counties work in partnership with families to build children’s and parents’ strength, promote self-esteem, and encourage self-sufficiency and lifelong learning. This position will plan, organize, develop and implement a program planning to include individualized activities for each child and family in the home/classroom to ensure that the highest quality services are provided.

Responsibilities:

• Maintains accurate records of home visits and family contacts, services to children, food data, etc., as per procedure. Provides services to assigned families with preschool children.
• Maintains good relationships with community agencies and the public to encourage community support and understanding of Head Start and its mission.
• Maintains inventory and supplies used for home visits/classroom according to program procedures.
• Monitors and maintains in good repair materials and equipment used during home visits and in the classroom according to program policies and procedures.
• Assists with recruitment as requested including publicity, taking applications, including obtaining and documenting accurate income information, providing families with appropriate information, screening and the screening selection process, etc.
• Ensures that activities, material, etc., are appropriate to the developmental capabilities of each child.
• Plans an individualized developmental program for each child that reflects goals and objectives agreed upon by the family. Utilizes educational assessments and observations to track child progress.
• Participates in team meetings and shares relevant information as appropriate.
• Greets each child and parent in a warm, friendly manner as they arrive at the center or in the home.
• Makes provisions for all children with disabilities so that their special needs are met and their well-being is assured.
• Utilizes Creative Curriculum and other program resources, ensuring involvement of family members in planning, facilitating, and assessing.
• Establishes and maintains an atmosphere that is positive and comfortable for each family, and that facilitates growth and competency, both as individuals and as a family unit.
• Completes family profile and develop a plan with the families to address identified goals. Works jointly with the family to identify the strengths and needs of each parent and child, assisting parents to understand the importance of what their role is in their children’s learning and development.
• Uses appropriate techniques, such as modeling, positive reinforcement, direct instruction, and feedback to facilitate positive growth in the parents and children.
• Encourages parents to assume an active role in the home visits by modeling and training and then gradually increasing responsibilities in the assessing, planning and implementation of the educational process.
• Assists parents to develop realistic expectations of their children and provides activities appropriate for their age and developmental level.
• Helps parents to use home materials and activities as positive learning opportunities for their children.
• Assists parents to interact with their children in ways which facilitate the development of communication, listening, comprehension, and problem solving skills, as well as mutual trust and esteem.
• Encourages parents to participate in program activities and trainings for parents.
• Assists parents in developing clear limit setting techniques such as: positive reinforcement, redirection, problem solving, etc.
• Offers parents information about community health, human services, and other resources to meet identified goals.
• Assists families to obtain any necessary social services.
• Guides parents in utilizing their own knowledge, experience, skills and resources to identify their own goals for attaining or strengthening self-sufficiency.
• Involves parents in the program encouraging a partnership approach by:
  • Involving parents in planning, implementing and assessing curriculum
  • Involving parents in planning volunteer activities in the classroom.
• Assists parents in the role as their child’s teacher by instructing, modeling, guiding and encouraging parents to:
  • Provides a learning environment for children that invites exploration, emphasizes communication and problem solving, stimulates curiosity and the development of new ideas, and maximizes success.
  • Provides a variety of appropriate equipment, activities and opportunities to promote the physical development of the children.
  • Provides activities and experiences that develop questioning, probing and problem solving appropriate to the developmental levels and learning styles of children.
  • Provides opportunities for children to understand, acquire and use verbal and non-verbal means of communicating thoughts and feelings.
  • Provides experiences that stimulate children to explore and express their creative abilities.
  • Helps each child to know, accept, and take pride in himself, and to develop a sense of independence.
  • Helps children learn to get along with others and encourage feelings of empathy and mutual respect among children and adults.
  • Provides an environment in which children can learn and practice behaviors which are appropriate and acceptable individually and in a group.
• Provides a learning environment for children that invites exploration, emphasizes communication and problem solving, stimulates curiosity and the development of new ideas, and maximizes success.
• Provides a variety of appropriate equipment, activities and opportunities to promote the physical development of the children.
• Provides activities and experiences that develop questioning, probing and problem solving appropriate to the developmental levels and learning styles of children.
• Provides opportunities for children to understand, acquire and use verbal and non-verbal means of communicating thoughts and feelings.
• Provides experiences that stimulate children to explore and express their creative abilities.
• Helps each child to know, accept, and take pride in himself, and to develop a sense of independence.
• Helps children learn to get along with others and encourage feelings of empathy and mutual respect among children and adults.
• Provides an environment in which children can learn and practice behaviors which are appropriate and acceptable individually and in a group.

Qualifications:

• Minimum of an Associate’s degree (Bachelor’s or advanced degree preferred) in early childhood education or related degree with six classes, 2-3 credits each, in child development or early childhood education.
• Experience working with young children.
• Must have valid PA. Driver’s license. Act 31 and 34/151 and FBI clearances required.

Head Start Offers:

• Monday to Friday hours with limited evening or weekend work and holidays off
• Competitive salary
• Excellent low cost benefits
• Paid time off and paid holidays
• Discounts on child day care
• Tuition reimbursement

ALL POSITIONS REQUIRE A VALID DRIVER’S LICENSE, ACT 31, 34/151 AND FBI CLEARANCES. An ALSM application, a resume, and transcripts should be sent to:

Estimated hourly rate or annual salary information is provided by really and is based on regional averages. It is not reflective of Allegheny Lutheran Social Ministries' (ALSM) hourly rate or annual salary ranges. Please call the number listed in the job posting for additional information on ALSM's compensation package regarding this position.