HEAD START TEACHER

The Head Start Teacher is responsible for hands-on programmatic or administrative functions within high-quality early learning environments.
This individual will consistently implement teaching strategies that promote and encourage hands-on, active learning through high-quality developmentally appropriate activities of a research- and evidenced-based curriculum.

Minimum qualifications:

• Bachelor s degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development or a closely related field (Related degree should consist of a minimum of 18 hours of closely related Early Childhood courses).
• Three (3) years hands-on experience as a teacher or teacher assistant in a preschool three-year-old or pre-k four-year-old classroom.
• Is fluent and able to articulate components of early childhood development and the impact that a high-quality early learning environment has on the overall growth and development of a child.
• Must possess documented experience in an early learning environment and willingness to engage in hands-on learning opportunities with young children preschool three-year-old or pre-k four-year-old classroom, families, and volunteers.
• Must have flexible schedule to accommodate occasional evening or weekend hours.
• Must pass Mississippi State requirements for early child educators:
  Letter of Suitability, Health Screening, and DHA required background check.
• Must have a valid Mississippi Driver s License, proof of insurance, and must provide personal vehicle to travel to assigned HS/EHS sites.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Ability to work as a team member collaborating with staff, families, and community resources.
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills.
• Intermediate to advanced computer skills, internet, e-mail, data entry, and web-based curriculum portals.
• Ability to follow instructions, guidelines, and accept feedback from Center Manager, classroom teachers, and other DHA administration when assisting with food service and program facilitation.
• Ability to set and maintain professional boundaries with families and children.
• Ability to work independently without intensive supervision.
• Ability to respond appropriately to an emergency or a crisis situation.
• Ability to supervise and monitor children at all times to ensure a healthy and safe early learning environment.
  This includes the physical ability to monitor, move quickly, and constantly be on the move in order to respond to children who are very active and may need restraint or redirection in order to ensure their safety or the safety of others.
• Regular kneeling, stooping, bending, and sitting on the floor to attend to children s needs.
• Ability to lift and move boxes, as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

Essential Duties:

• Conduct and present as a professional in the field of early childhood education and follow the policies, procedures, and expectations set forth by the Delta Health Alliance at all times.
• Uphold and adhere to all guidance within the Federal Head Start Performance Standards, state early learning guidelines and standards, and any local, state and/or agency policies and procedures
• Sanitize and clean classroom equipment and laundry as needed daily.
• Maintain confidentiality with data collection and reporting, as required.
  
• Effectively communicate with supervisors and DHA staff to keep all apprised of issues, program updates, and status of assignments.
• Demonstrate familiarity with rules and regulations relevant to the specific duties, provides support, and a positive working attitude and relationship toward DHA staff and partners.
  
• Responsible for setting up the early learning environment (indoor/outdoor) for the activities of the day related to the research-based curriculum.
• Engage and promote an atmosphere that promotes family engagement in the classroom.
• Implement a schedule which encourages small and large group experiences, learning center time, music and movement, large and small motor activities, skill development, three meals, and effective transitions between activities.
• Responsible for the implementation of a research-based curriculum with fidelity and understanding of all components of the curriculum.
• Create lesson plans which reflect required elements, family and cultural influences, and promote the social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development of Head Start children.
• Use high-quality, developmentally appropriate practices to facilitate activities with large and small groups of children and practice effective teacher child interactions.
• Encourage experimentation, exploration, problem solving, cooperation, socialization, and child-choice in developmentally appropriate learning centers throughout the classroom.
• Actively supervise, monitor, and engage throughout learning centers with children to encourage on-going learning.
• Provide positive teacher-child interactions that include open-ended questions, language modeling, and listen respectfully to the questions and answers to provide feedback related to children s learning.
• Observe and record behaviors of children to identify and accurately track each child s strengths and areas of growth.
• Responsible for the on-going documentation and completion of identified assessment tools, child and curriculum checkpoints, anecdotal notes, and daily classroom responsibilities.
• Actively and eagerly participate in professional development opportunities.
• Other duties as assigned.

Team Member Competencies

1. Resourcefulness:
   Using drive, decision making, perseverance, resilience, and energy to accomplish a goal; figuring out how to get over, around, or through barriers to success.
2. Individual Accountability:
   Effectively managing one s time and resources to ensure that work is completed efficiently.
3. Focus on Results:
   Accomplishing tasks by considering all areas involved, no matter how small; showing concern for all aspects of the job; accurately checking processes and tasks; being watchful over a period of time.
4. Builds Trust:
   Interacting with others in a way that gives them confidence in one s intentions and those of the organization.
5. Applied Learning:
   Assimilating and applying new job-related information in a timely manner.
6. Basic Communication:
   Clearly conveying information and ideas both orally and written.
7. Basic Technology Usage:
   Shows efficient and correct use of technology and systems related to position function.