Group Teacher - Head Start

Description:

JOB PURPOSE

Plan and implement developmentally appropriate practice for assigned classroom

Provide consistent and responsive care; and create daily routines and meaningful experiences that are responsive to children's strengths, interests, and needs.

Ensure safety and security of children

SCOPE OF INFLUENCE

• Direct a class of infant/toddlers through daily activities
• Communicate with families about the children’s progress and work.

Responsibilities:

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

Planning, Preparation + Curriculum Development

• Construct curriculum with input from Assistant Teacher, providing activities and opportunities that encourage curiosity, exploration, and problem-solving appropriate to the development levels of the children; help to plan, prepare and develop various teaching aids for use in classroom and lead classroom activities.
• Share in documenting, analyzing and planning from observations
• Weekly planning meetings with teaching team
• Ensure that Teaching Strategies Gold (TSG) is being implemented in its entirety and meeting all regulatory mandated deadlines

Classroom Environment

• Responsible for the overall implementation of program policies and procedures, curriculum, and on-going communication with support and supervisory staff
• Responsible for maintaining statutorily required teacher-child ratios in classroom during program operation
• Using best early childhood education practices, create a classroom environment conducive to learning and appropriate to the physical, social, and emotional development of students with an emphasis on language development and emergent literacy skills
• Create a warm and inclusive environment where children and families feel welcome
• Organizing physical space and selection of materials in a way that is inviting and accessible for children

Interactions with Children

• Maintain primary care responsibilities for assigned classroom children and families; follow guidance and leadership of a Lead/Group Teacher.
• Model developmentally appropriate activities and positive behavior management techniques through daily contact with children and early childhood staff in the classroom.
• Conduct screening and preparation of children to fully participate in program services; ensure Assistant Teacher is appropriately screening children
• Assist with implementation of children’s individual development plans.
• Heat up/serve lunches, maintain a clean, safe and orderly classroom.
• Direct classroom procedures including transitions, routines and small groups
• Translating and coaching children through conflicts with problem solving

Relationships with Families

• Building respectful and reciprocal relationships with families
• Communicating consistently with families 
• Participate in home visits, parent meetings and developmental screenings.

Professional Responsibilities

• Share in documenting children’s work, development and progress, ensuring that all Head Start Performance Standards are met.
• Collaborative and professional relationship with colleagues 
• Participate in weekly professional learning meetings as a whole staff 
• Participate in all staff development programs and activities, and demonstrate a willingness to put new ideas into practice; attend all trainings and other required meetings, which may be held outside of regular schedule.
• Showing professionalism including integrity, ethical conduct and decision making
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
• *If applicable, provide Human Resources with proof of progress for every semester while on a study plan

Qualifications: