Assistant Teacher Head Start (3 year-olds)

Sunbeam Family Services, Inc.; Oklahoma City (OK); On-site; USD 10,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dedicated Assistant Teacher to provide nurturing care to children in a Head Start classroom. This role involves building responsive relationships with children and families while ensuring compliance with educational standards. Ideal candidates will have a strong background in early childhood education and a passion for fostering the development of young learners. Join a team that values diversity and inclusivity, and contribute to creating a positive impact on the lives of children in your community. If you are committed to excellence and eager to make a difference, this opportunity is perfect for you.

Qualifications

• Education in Early Childhood Education or related field is required.
• Experience in Early Childhood Education is essential.

Responsibilities

• Provide daily care to children in a Head Start classroom.
• Ensure compliance with Head Start Program Performance Standards.
• Maintain a safe, clean, and healthy learning environment.

Skills

Caring and compassionate attitude

Knowledge of childcare licensing requirements

Excellent command of English

Organizational skills

Time management skills

Ability to work independently and collaboratively

Discretion in handling confidential information

Ability to travel locally

Education

Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education

Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education

Tools

Microsoft applications

Job description

Job Details

Job Location: Sunbeam Family Services - Oklahoma City, OK

Position Type: Full-Time or Part-Time

Education Level: Undergraduate Degree

Salary Range: Undisclosed

Job Category: Early Education

Description

This position is eligible for the Sunbeam's Teacher Investment Program

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Assistant Teacher provides daily care to children in a Head Start classroom using appropriate child guidance techniques and building responsive relationships with classroom teachers, staff, children, and families. The Assistant Teacher assists co-teacher(s) in maintaining a safe, clean, and healthy work environment. The Assistant Teacher ensures that all regulations and mandates for federal, state, and local licensing are met and works with co-teachers and family members to achieve positive outcomes for children of all abilities.

All employees and volunteers are expected to be sensitive to our clients’ cultural and socioeconomic characteristics, reflect Sunbeam Family Services core values, and perform at Sunbeam’s standards of excellence at all times.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Promote and contribute to a work environment that encourages knowledge of, respect for, and development of skills to engage with those of other cultures, beliefs, abilities, and experiences.
• Support and individualize the physical, social-emotional, and cognitive development of each child in the classroom.
• Demonstrate capacity for providing developmentally sensitive, evidence-based, hope-centered, and trauma-informed services and supports.
• Perform the functions of this position with a strong understanding of the Head Start Performance Standards.
• Ensure compliance with Head Start Program Performance Standards (HSPPS), federal and state regulation, and DHS Child Care Licensing requirements.
• Work with co-teacher(s) to maintain a safe, clean, and healthy learning environment and assure the well-being and safety of children in their care.
• Observe children to detect signs of illness, injury, emotional disturbances, learning disorders, speech problems, or other special needs and report those signs immediately to supervisor for required or necessary follow-up.
• Work with supervisor to ensure child-staff ratio is maintained at all times.
• Encourage and model language expansion, extended learning, and problem-solving strategies throughout the day.
• Conduct home visits and parent-teacher conferences in accordance with HSPPS to share each child’s progress with parents.
• Work cooperatively with other staff assigned to classroom as a team to involve all parents with the children and to encourage the active participation of all parents in the program.
• Participate in ongoing professional development through education, role modeling, mentoring, training, and resources.
• Ensure implementation of HS/EHS written curriculum plan.
• Maintain record keeping and reporting systems to ensure accurate information, with timely completion and follow-up.
• Work in a team setting with all staff to determine individual needs of children including children with disabilities or special needs.
• Ensure that files are complete, accurate, and confidentially maintained.
• Regular, reliable attendance is required.
• Participate in and attend all staff meetings, trainings, and certification courses as required.
• Travel locally as required in the performance of responsibilities.
• Perform other appropriate and related responsibilities as assigned by supervisor or member of Executive Team.

Qualifications

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

Minimally Required	Preferred
Education / Certification	Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or Early Childhood Special Education (transcripts required) OR Oklahoma Certificate of Mastery in Early Childhood OR Center-Based Preschool Child Development Associate (CDA) certification AND early childhood development training or coursework CPR/First Aid Certification (or within 30 days of hire), maintained throughout employment
Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, Child Development, Elementary Education, or Early Childhood Special Education
Experience	Three (3) years of experience in Early Childhood Education or Head Start/Early Head Start
Skills Knowledge	Caring and compassionate attitude when interacting with and caring for children and families. Willingness to work with high-risk, low-income communities. Knowledge and understanding of state and local childcare licensing requirements. Excellent command of English language and grammar, both verbal and written. Intermediate knowledge of Microsoft applications and the ability to master other software as needed. Good organizational and time management skills. Work independently and collaboratively in a team environment. Exercise independent judgment. Communicate in a professional manner, demonstrating dignity, respect for our internal, external, and community members. Process, protect and exercise discretion in handling confidential information and materials. Sustained concentration to detail and accuracy, along with the ability to prioritize workload. Must be able to travel and work some evenings and weekends as required by the job. Local travel required and must have valid Oklahoma driver’s license and insurance as required by the position.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to frequently communicate with staff and others, and must be able to exchange accurate information when doing so. The employee must be able to interact closely and safely with small children in various positions. Must be able to communicate verbally with children, able to perform tasks such as feeding children, changing diapers, lifting children from floor or other surfaces. Must be able to endure remaining in a stationary position for extended periods of time (up to 50% of workday). Occasionally must be able to move or lift up to 50 pounds at a time. Must be able to detect, discern, distinguish, observe, inspect, and compare.

Work Environment

The employee will work in a classroom environment, may work in close quarters with other staff and small children. The noise level in the work environment varies from moderate to loud; frequent chaotic, characteristic of working with children ages 0-5 years. Employee must expect exposure to strong odors such as soiled diapers and clothing, and poor hygiene. Employee may come into contact with childhood diseases and blood on occasion.

Other

The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, or abilities. The qualifications, physical demands, and work environment described herein are representative of those an employee will encounter and must meet to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. These statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this position. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel or candidates and may be subject to change at any time. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions.

Sunbeam Family Services is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We are committed to fair and equal in all its employment practices for persons without regard to race, ethnicity, color, creed, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, religion, disability or degree thereof, national origin, domestic/marital status, political affiliation or opinion, veteran status, HIV status, AIDS status, genetic information, and any characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.