Head Start Teacher

Matrix Human Services is Educating Children, Supporting Families and Rebuilding Neighborhoods in Detroit. THE IMPACT YOU WILL BE A PART OF WITH JOINING MATRIX

• Over 30 program locations throughout Detroit and surrounding areas
• 20,000+ individuals benefiting from Matrix services every year
• The largest Head Start Program in the city of Detroit
• The largest HIV treatment and prevention program in Detroit
• After school youth services and academic enrichment
• Workforce Development and Financial Literacy Programs
• Housing Education and Home Buying Assistance
• Healthy Senior Living Program

Tuition Assistance. Professional Development Support. In-House Learning and Professional Development Platform.

Vacation Banks. Paid Holidays.

Medical/Rx. Nonstop Visa Card. Dental. Vision. Life/AD&D Insurance. Flexible Spending Accounts. Combine Short- & Long-Term Disability. Employee Assistance Program (EAP). 403(b) Retirement Account.

CEO Starr Allen-Pettway has been honored by the Michigan Chronicle as a distinguished nonprofit leader in Southeast Michigan.

• Positive Attitude
• Always Learning
• Results Through Accountability
• Building Relationships

The Teacher is responsible for providing a safe, nurturing learning environment for children and their parents. The Teacher develops and implements individual educational plans for children, which help them to develop socially, intellectually, physically, and emotionally in a manner appropriate to their stage of development and to ensure they are school ready. The Teacher works collaboratively with the Assistant Teacher and volunteers, and at all times provides active supervision for all children.

This position requires a full-time on-site presence, offering you the chance to engage directly with our team and projects, and ensuring a hands‑on role in our dynamic work environment.

• Supervise and monitor children at all times and respond appropriately to crisis or emergency situations as they occur
• Establish a positive classroom climate
• Guide the behavior of children in positive, effective ways
• Follow a consistent schedule which includes small and large group experiences, work time, music and movement, large and small motor activities, skill development, meals and effective transitions between activities
• Encourage experimentation, exploration, problem solving, cooperation, socialization, and choice making; ask open‑ended questions and follow‑up questions to promote further thinking skills
• Use outdoor time as an extension of the classroom; assure the playground is safe
• Release children only to individuals with appropriate signed consent
• Plan and implement learning experiences that promote all developmental areas, including improving the readiness of children for school by developing their literacy and phonemic, print, numeric awareness, and language‑including English as a second language if applicable
• Cooperate with other staff and classroom groups to maintain the smooth functioning of the center, which at times may require changes to meet the needs of the children
• Eat with and assist children in development of social and self‑help skills, and sound nutritional practices
• Sanitize classroom equipment/toys regularly as required by policy
• Complete daily health and safety classroom checklist
• Support the role of the families as the first and primary teacher of their child
• Conduct the required parent/teacher conferences and home visits for the purpose of assessment and support, and share information on classroom and educational strategies at school and at home
• Adapt lesson plans to meet the individual goals for children as identified in their individual learning plan (ILP), individualized education plan (IEP) and Individualized family service plan (IFSP).
• Monitor for and report child abuse
• Assist with inventory of equipment and supplies
• Ensure all developmental screenings are completed within 45 days of enrollment
• Use appropriate observation and ongoing assessment, and tracking to ensure positive child outcomes
• Maintain ongoing anecdotal notes to monitor children's…