General Role and Responsibilities
The Head Start Teacher is responsible for leading the care and education of a specific group of children as part of a teaching team. The Teacher plans and implements classroom instructional activities that support childrens learning, assesses childrens learning to inform planning and implementation, and provides a safe and inviting classroom environment in accordance with federal Head Start Performance Standards, Head Start Act Developmentally Appropriate Practices as defined by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), and State/local requirements.
This position requires active participation with other members of the teaching team, various Head Start staff, SCH staff, and parents to assess and address the needs of individual children. The Teacher works under the direct supervision of the Assistant Director. The Teacher is expected to present a positive and professional image of the School City of Hammond, SCH Head Start, and Geminus Head Start. The Teacher also is expected to actively and effectively participate on committees and work teams as requested.
General Skills and Qualifications
Possess the knowledge and skills necessary to provide high-quality early childhood learning experiences to students and their families. Specific Responsibilities in This Position:
• Promote the cognitive, physical, social, and emotional development of students through the planning and implementation of classroom activities, both in-person and/or virtual, that meet curricular goals and objectives and are self-directed, meaningful, relevant, developmentally appropriate, active, and engaging, challenging, but achievable, reflective, and respectful of students needs, interests, and differences, and utilize a variety of modalities and materials.
• Utilize teaching strategies that build on what students already know, support student analysis and reasoning, prompt student thought processes, and extend student learning, incorporate the use of open-ended questions, expand student vocabulary, and employ back-and-forth exchanges to build students language skills and assist in concept development.
• Foster the development of a positive classroom climate and self-regulations skills through the utilization of Conscious Discipline.
• Create an effective learning environment through the use of functional and attractive displays, including displays of childrens work, evidence of learning objectives, and interest areas.
• Establish and maintain a safe and healthy learning environment.
• Develop and implement weekly lesson plans following the guidance of the Educational Procedural Guide and lesson plan template.
• Plan and prepare for scheduled virtual-learning days following the guidance of the Educational Procedural Guide.
• In the event of synchronous virtual-learning, schedule and plan for virtual classroom experiences, including virtual Large Group, Small Group, and individualizations, through Google Meet and provide Google Classroom learning opportunities.
• Implement active supervision strategies whenever students are present.
• Complete daily/weekly classroom and building environment checklists to ensure meeting of standards and regulations regarding education, health, and safety.
• Prepare classroom environment, equipment, supplies, and materials for daily classroom activities.
• Assess student learning through the utilization of authentic assessment.
• Collect screening and assessment data, analyze results, and report findings as outlined in program procedures.
• Utilize screening and assessment data for classroom planning and individualization.
• Maintain required child, family, and programmatic documentation via computer data entry through the SCH and Head Start data management systems, e.g., PowerSchool, GoEngage, Teaching Strategies, GOLDSMART, Teach, e-DECA.
• Extend classroom educational experiences through planning, preparing, and implementing field trips to community resources within walking distance, e.g., fire station, police station, grocery store, library, and through classroom visits by community resource people.
• When conditions do not permit field trips outside of the classroom or classroom visits from community resource people, field trips will be conducted virtually.
• Establish positive and productive working relationships with parents.
• Communicate regularly with parents through newsletters, notes, the designated app, messaging systems, phone calls, and other individual parent contacts.
• Explain the Head Start program to parents to strengthen parental understanding of child development, early childhood education, and program policies and procedures.
• Conduct home visits and parent-teacher conferences as outlined in program plans.
• When conditions do not permit in-person home visits and/or parent-teacher conferences, home visits and parent-teacher conferences will be conducted virtually.
• Recruit program volunteers, parent, and community volunteers.
• Plan and coordinate the work of parent and community volunteers in the classroom.
• Track and accurately report volunteer time, in-kind, in collaboration with the assigned Family Services Specialist.
• Participate in family engagement and program governance, Parent Meeting activities.
• Support the recruitment of eligible children for Head Start.
• Participate in the evaluation and improvement processes related to classroom and program quality, e.g., CLASS - Classroom Assessment Scoring System, Funding Source monitoring, the Self-Assessment Process.
• Promote personal growth and development through incorporation of feedback from Educational Coach, supervisory staff, and other specialists, coaches, consultants, supported through the program.
• Identify and meet annual performance and professional development goals.
• Work collaboratively with SCH Head Start, Geminus Head Start, and School City of Hammond departments and staff members.
• Participate actively and effectively on committees and work teams as assigned.
• Participate in professional development opportunities.
• Meet timelines and requirements outlined in procedures and guidelines.
Other duties may be assigned.
Specific Skills and Knowledge for this position:
• Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.
• Google Suite, Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms, Meet, Classroom, etc.
• Knowledge of Head Start Performance Standards, Head Start Act, State LLEP, Paths to Quality, requirements, SCH, and SCH Head Start policies and procedures.
• Knowledge and use of C.P.R. First Aid and Heimlich maneuver.
• Ability to foster the building of community.
• Ability to speak clearly, concisely, and with proper grammar in written or oral communication.
• Ability to perform general mathematical computations with accuracy.
• Ability to solve practical problems with a variety of variables.
• Ability to apply knowledge of current research and theory to instructional programming.
Qualifications and Education Requirements:
• Minimum of a Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood Education.
• Development or enrolled in college coursework toward a Bachelors degree to be completed within one year of hire or Bachelors degree in Education with Early Childhood coursework and/or experience.
• Experience working with young children, including children with special needs.
• Fluency in speaking and writing Spanish - preferred.
• Participation in Head Start as a former or present parent - preferred.
Personal Attributes Desired:
• Dependability.
• Confidentiality.
• Professionalism.
• Forward thinking.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to work collaboratively.
• Ability to plan utilizing foresight and vision.
• Ability to serve a diverse population of students, parents, staff, and community.
• Ability to organize and prioritize.
• Ability to meet assigned deadlines.
Physical Requirements:
Candidate should be physically capable of successfully performing the essential functions of the position. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, walk, and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to run, stoop, kneel, crouch, and crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. The employee must occasionally push items of 50 lbs., such as pushing children on a bike or moving/rearranging furniture.
BENEFITS:
Health, vision, dental insurance, life insurance, PERF retirement benefit, 401a.
It is the policy of the School City of Hammond not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability in its programs or employment policies as required by the Indiana Civil Rights Act, I.C. 22-9.1, Title VI and VII Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Equal Pay Act of 1973, Title IX Educational Amendments, and Section 504 Rehabilitation Act of 1973.