The Teacher is responsible for providing children ages 3 to 5 years old with a learning environment and experiences which will help them develop socially, physically, and emotionally in a manner appropriate to their age and stage of development

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Supports the implementation of the agency’s school readiness goals and CLASS.
• Ensures proper care and supervision of children at all times, the practice of head counts, classroom arrangement, general safety rules, monitoring equipment and working knowledge of classroom management.
• Work with an assigned group of children; assess the individual needs, strengths, and interests regularly.
• Plan and provide activities and experiences designed for all areas of a child’s development: physical, emotional, social, and cognitive; prepare and provide materials that are concrete, real and relevant to the children and their interests; prepare the environment for children to learn through active exploration and interaction with adults, other children, and materials.
• Extend children’s learning by asking open-ended questions and making suggestions that stimulate children’s thinking. Respond quickly and directly to children’s needs, desires and verbal and non-verbal messages adapting the response to the children’s differing styles and abilities.
• Facilitate the development of self-esteem by expressing respect, acceptance, and comfort for children.
• Take care of all aspects of children’s personal needs.
• In accordance with prescribed time schedules, administer initial developmental and other screenings of all assigned children.
• Conduct on-going assessment of each child’s growth and development and update each child’s goals and objectives regularly.
• Utilize developmental screening and observation to identify students who may need additional services; incorporate IEP goals and objectives into the classroom program. Cooperate with speech therapists, physical therapists, psychologists, and other ancillary support persons.
• Assist parents to organize and implement parent activities; encourage, facilitate, and support parental involvement in all aspects of the Head Start Program.
• Assist at meal and snack time by preparing and setting up tables, place food in appropriate containers for family style service, sit and eat with children modeling good manners and healthy food choices; guide children in clean-up activities following meals and snacks.
• Prepare and maintain accurate records, including child observation, individualization, lesson plans, attendance, lunch count, parent participation, in-kind contributions, and others as directed, using proper spelling and accurate calculations.
• Attend parent conferences, home visits, center meetings, case reviews, IEP meetings, staff meetings, parent meetings, in-service and pre-service meetings, and other meetings as directed.
• Carry out authorized emergency and safety procedures and administer first aid.
• Comply with Title 22; Head Start Performance Standards; Training and Research Foundation policies and procedures, and other applicable state and federal regulations.
• Cooperates with Site Director/CDS and other Service Area Coordinators in planning, supervision and implementation of overall program.
• Substitute as needed and when appropriate as instructed by Site Director.
• Other duties as assigned within the scope of the position to maintain a quality program.

Professional and Ethical Standards

• Maintain confidentiality in accordance with Agency policy and legal requirements.
• Be honest, reliable and dependable.
• Respect and maintain rights and privacy of all staff, parents, and children.
• Attend mandated trainings and meetings, and seek out staff development opportunities.
• Work as a team member with all staff and maintain a positive work ethic.
• Act conscientiously in performing routine duties

Qualifications/Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, and government regulations in fields relevant to position.
• Ability to effectively communicate with community members and groups, managers, regulatory agencies, and families both individually and in group settings.
• Ability to work as a positive team member.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of situations
• Knowledge of various software programs such as MS Word, Excel, Power-Point, Publisher and ChildPlus.

Education/Certifications: Bachelor’s Degree in Education or Child Development, including more than 12 semester units or equivalent quarter units in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or a related field. California Teacher, Master Teacher, or Site Supervisor Permit. Experience working with children and families served by Head Start.

Requirements:

• Must successfully pass a physical examination and have a current T.B. clearance, pertussis, measles and influenza vaccinations.
• Adult and Pediatric CPR/First Aid Certificate
• Must complete & pass a criminal background clearance through Community Care Licensing (DOJ/FBI/CAI).
• Must possess a CA driver’s license, and evidence of automobile insurance. (If applicable.)

Physical Demands: The physical demands 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. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. The employee must be able to occasionally lift 20 pounds overhead and 40 pounds from waist to shoulder. The employee frequently lifts and/or moves up to 40 pounds, and occasionally lifts 50 pounds from floor to waist. The employee must be able to push/pull up to 75 pounds horizontally. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distant vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.