Early Head Start Assistant Teacher

ServingSchools; Belfast (ME); On-site; USD 28,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sign-on incentive: $3,000

Monthly salary supplement: $240–$540

Job summary

Waldo Community Action Partners in Belfast, ME seeks an Assistant Teacher to support a class of up to 8 preschool children. You will assist the Lead Teacher and Site Manager to ensure compliance with state licensing and Head Start standards while delivering developmentally appropriate education.

The role emphasizes collaboration with CDS and families, conducting observations, and coordinating assessments. A bachelor's or equivalent in early childhood education or CDA is required, with strong

Qualifications

• Experience teaching preschool-age children is essential.
• Strong communication and organizational skills required.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Ability to plan and implement developmentally appropriate activities.

Responsibilities

• Assist Lead Teacher in planning and implementing age-appropriate activities.
• Ensure safe, healthy classroom environment and compliance with licensing and Head Start standards.
• Complete developmental assessments and track progress three times per year.
• Support family engagement and participate in parent conferences and home visits.
• Maintain student records and submit reports to Education Manager.
• Dispense medication per policy when needed.

Skills

Preschool teaching

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Outlook

Communication skills

Organization / time management

Education

Bachelor's Degree in ECE or related field

Associate’s Degree in ECE

Preschool CDA

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Outlook

Job description

Waldo Community Action Partners (WCAP) is seeking an Assistant Teacher!

Openings are currently available in Belfast. This is a 40hr/48 week position

Sign on Incentive of $3,000 – $500 payable after successful completion of 90 days, $1,000 payable after successful completion of 6 months and $1,500 after successful completion of one year.

Monthly Early Childhood Educator Workforce Salary Supplement available- ranges from $240 up to $540/monthly, dependent on current Maine Roads to Quality tier, is available for all per diem employees working at least one day a month in our Early Childhood Program.

WCAP is a charitable, educational, 501(c)(3) private non-profit organization. It is designed to utilize and mobilize public and private resources to assist low-income Waldo County residents in the alleviation of poverty and address its underlying causes.

WCAP's Early Childhood Program services children and families in Waldo County. Pre‑K programs are available in school districts where WCAP collaborates with the public schools.

The Assistant Teacher provides developmentally appropriate preschool education that advances the cognitive, language, physical, social and emotional growth for a classroom of up to 8 children. Responsibilities include assisting the Lead Teacher/Site Manager to ensure compliance with all existing state child care licensing regulations and federal Head Start standards.

Duties Include But Are Not Limited To

Classroom Management: Assists/Supports Lead Teacher to:

• Establishes and maintains a safe and healthy environment.
• Plans and implements developmentally appropriate educational activities.
• Ensures compliance with Head Start Performance Standards related to Education and Early Childhood Development and School Readiness Frameworks, program goals and statement. Facilitates compliance with all other Head Start Performance Standards including, but not limited to, family participation, monthly home visiting, case conferencing, health & safety, nutrition, and inclusion of children with special needs.
• Follows chosen curricula.
• Provides oversight of children's development in the classroom:
• Conducts observations of each child’s developmental progress and incorporate into curriculum plans, and individual child plans.
• Completes developmental assessments for each child three times per program year, and ongoing as indicated by the periodicity of assessment tools.
• Completes behavioral/social-emotional assessments for each child twice in the program year.
• Recommends referral for special services as indicated by screening results, observations, and assessments and ensure applicable IEP goals are incorporated into individualization for children diagnosed with disabilities.
• Maintains and completes Transition Plans for each child.
• Works collaboratively with Child Development Services (CDS) to incorporate the delivery of special services into the classroom, including assisting with the scheduling of services and the provision of appropriate space.
• Attends IEP/IFSP meetings as required for children receiving special services.
• Conducts two parent/staff conferences with each child’s family during the program year.
• Conducts two home visits with each child’s family during the program year. The initial home visit is conducted to build relationships as in center-based and the final home visit to complete the transition process to Pre‑K or Kindergarten.
• Dispenses medication as needed and documents according to Head Start Medication Policy.

Record Keeping and Reporting: Assists/Supports Lead Teacher/Site Manager as Follows:

• Reports all suspected cases of child/adult abuse and neglect to the Department of Health & Human Services and Head Start administration as required by law and WCAP policy.
• Establishes and maintains children’s records to meet all required standards and regulations.
• Electronically submits weekly lesson plans, individual child plans, and monthly child observations to Head Start Education Manager.
• Submits reports of developmental assessments to Head Start Education Manager and to supervisor if different from the Education Manager.
• Submits reports of behavioral/social-emotional assessments to Head Start Education & Disabilities Coordinator.
• Submits documentation of parent/staff conferences and home visits to Head Start Education Manager and to supervisor if different from the Education Manager.
• Submits documentation of child and classroom outcomes data to Education Manager.

Support for Family Participation: Assists/Supports Lead Teacher as Follows:

• Works collaboratively with the Head Start Family Advocate to support and encourage family engagement.
• Encourages parent engagement at Parent Meetings by providing opportunities for them to participate in their child’s development and learning.
• Prepares monthly curriculum information to share at Parent Group meetings.
• Prepares weekly “Family Packs” of information to send home to each family.

Qualifications

General Requirements:

• Must be able to pass a physical examination and TB screening.
• Must have adequate transportation, a valid driver’s license and meet WCAP's insurance requirements.
• Must meet WCAP’s background clearance requirements.
• Valid Criminal Record History Check (CHRC) through DOE.

Experience And Skill Requirements

The following experience and skills are considered essential:

• Experience teaching, preferably with preschool-age children.
• Proficient skills in Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook.
• Strong communication skills.
• Strong organizational/time management skills.

Education Requirements

You must meet one of the following education requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education or a Bachelor’s Degree in a field related to ECE or any subject with coursework equivalent to a major relating to early childhood education. College transcripts must demonstrate a minimum of 24 credit hours related to ECE specific content areas.
• An Associate’s Degree in ECE.
• A Preschool Child Development Associate (CDA).
• All requirements and skills are considered to be essential, unless otherwise indicated

A detailed job description is available on our website: www.waldocap.org. WCAP is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Contact

Katie Bagley

[e-mail]

PO Box 130 Belfast 04915

http://www.waldocap.org

Waldo Community Action Partners

Mid Coast Maine

http://www.waldocap.org