Associate Teacher- Brucker

Saginaw Intermediate School District; Birch Run (MI); On-site; USD 28,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

Saginaw Intermediate School District is seeking an Associate Teacher to join our Head Start program. You will support the Teacher in planning, preparing, and executing daily classroom activities while promoting family involvement and adhering to Head Start standards.

The role includes assisting with program implementation, maintaining safety and developmentally appropriate practices, and contributing to a positive learning environment for children birth to five years old.

Qualifications

• Maintains CDA and works toward obtaining an Associate’s degree.
• Knowledge of Head Start Performance Standards and licensing regulations.
• Ability to supervise children and implement developmentally appropriate practice.
• Willingness to assist in transportation, meals, and kitchen duties.

Responsibilities

• Assists in all aspects of the classroom and other service areas of the program.
• Participates in recruitment activities and transportation services.
• Assumes the role of Teacher when required, implementing all aspects of the program.
• Assists with the delivery of Head Start services as defined by Head Start Performance Standards and ISD procedures.
• Establishes a safe, healthy, stimulating and developmentally appropriate learning environment for children birth to five years.
• Fosters social-emotional development and provides positive guidance, including support for challenging behaviors.
• Complies with program curriculum, licensing regulations, and performance standards.
• Screens, observes, and assesses children’s development and participates in data-driven planning.

Skills

CDA credential

Family engagement

Positive guidance

First Aid/CPR certified

Developmentally appropriate practice

Education

Associate’s degree in Early Childhood

Progress toward CDA

Job description

A. GENERAL SUMMARY OF THE POSITION

This position works as a part of a teaching team to assist the Teacher in the preparation, planning, and execution of the daily operations of the Head Start classroom, including building relationships with families, taking on the Teacher role during teacher planning, and occasional and/or extended absences and implementing the Head Start Performance Standards. This position works with families to promote parent involvement in the program. The Associate Teacher may be assigned additional duties based on program needs and areas of expertise for developing the program. This position works along with the Teacher to attain the goals of the program. The position may be reassigned to various classrooms/centers as deemed necessary for program operations.

B. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE POSITION

Professional Development

• Attends all required training and workshops, including online training and cluster meetings, as required by Head Start and Michigan State Licensing.
• Maintains Child Development Associate Credential (CDA) and works toward obtaining an Associate’s degree.
• Remains up-to-date on information that pertains to the needs of the children in the program, including Head Start Performance Standards, childcare licensing regulations, and other applicable regulations and practices.
• Keeps up to date on Developmentally Appropriate Practice.
• Maintains knowledge of the regulations associated with the prevention of occupational disease and injury, including the exercise of universal precautions and the prevention of contamination.
• Able to work with children at all levels of development.
• Maintains professional certification that the employee was hired with or obtained to meet Head Start and ISD standards.
• Successfully completes and maintains basic First Aid, CPR certification, and required licensing training.
• Actively participates in opportunities for continuous professional development.

Preschool Program Implementation

• Assists in all aspects of the classroom and other service areas of the program.
• Participates in recruitment activities and transportation services.
• Assumes the role of Teacher when required, implementing all aspects of the program.
• Assists with the delivery of Head Start services as defined by Head Start Performance Standards and Saginaw ISD Head Start Operational Procedures.
• Assists in establishing a safe, healthy, stimulating, and developmentally appropriate learning environment for children between the ages of birth to five years old with all abilities.
• Ensure that learning environments are safe from hazards, free from clutter, and allow for visibility of children by utilizing the Daily Health and Safety Checklist.
• Fosters self-esteem, self-direction, self-control, and school readiness skills with preschool children by using positive methods and modeling and participating in curriculum development and implementation.
• Supports social and emotional development and provides positive guidance and discipline, including the ability to support and guide students with challenging behaviors using developmentally appropriate practices.

Approved by SISD Head Start/Early Head Start Policy Council

May 15, 2025

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• Complies with program curriculum, curriculum overlays, and supplemental curriculum, State of Michigan Licensing for child care centers, and the Head Start Program Performance Standards
• Assists in screening, observing, and assessing children’s development on a regular basis, analyzing data, and making plans or referrals specific to the needs of the individual child.
• Participates in recruitment activities.
• Supervises and eats nutritionally prepared meals with the children as a curriculum activity to model good nutrition, proper social skills, and language stimulation in a family-style environment as listed in the Head Start Performance Standards.
• Assists with identifying and arranging for parents to volunteer in the classroom.
• Assists the Teacher with collecting monthly in-kind records from parents and community members participating in the program.
• Assists with kitchen duties as necessary, i.e., warming up food, dishing food into bowls, taking food temperatures, and cleaning the refrigerator and warmer.
• Assists with bus aide duties as necessary, i.e., riding the bus, completing bus paperwork, and buckling children in seats on the bus.
• Staff may be asked to cover other classrooms to meet licensing ratios.

C. KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge of the purpose of the Head Start/Early Head Start program.
• Maintains strict confidentiality with respect to Head Start children, families, and staff in accordance with established policies, procedures, and other legal requirements, i.e., FERPA and HIPAA.
• Ability to use Active Supervision strategies to keep children safe: Set up the environment to be able to see children around the room at all times, Position yourself to see and hear all children in your care, Count and use Face to Name while transitioning in and out of the classroom, Listen for potential danger, Anticipate children's behavior to predict what the child will do next, and Engage and Redirect to assist the children and help solve problems.
• Ability to work with children at all levels of development and to relate sensitively with children.
• Knowledge of basic food preparation, serving, and sanitation procedures.
• Ability to follow directions and take initiative.
• General knowledge and skills in the field of early childhood development.
• General computer knowledge of Word and Excel and ability to access e-mail and Teaching Strategies Gold and/or willingness to learn programs as needed.
• Knowledge of state and federal regulations