Headstart Teacher

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 children's learning, assesses children's 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; 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 children's 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/e-Learning days following the guidance of the Educational Procedural Guide.

* In the event of Synchronous virtual/e-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 material 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. Power School, GoEngage, Teaching Strategies GOLD/SMART 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 system(s), 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…