Early Head Start Instructor

La Casa de Don Pedro; Newark (NJ); On-site; USD 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

La Casa de Don Pedro, Inc. in Newark seeks a full-time Early Head Start Instructor to support the Center and Head Start Directors in daily operations of the Early Childhood pillar.

The EHS Instructor will care for four to eight infants/toddlers, implement learning activities, and conduct developmental screenings. The role emphasizes equitable, warm, and respectful care for a diverse child population, aligns with Head Start standards, and requires bilingual English/Spanish communication with

Qualifications

• Minimum High School Diploma required; associate degree preferred.
• Two years of work experience in Early Head Start/Head Start or Pre-K.
• Two years’ experience with birth to five and families.
• Bilingual English and Spanish required; other languages welcomed.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and support 4–8 infants/toddlers in the classroom.
• Assist with daily activities, lessons, and curriculum implementation.
• Input child information into attendance and data systems; conduct screenings.
• Participate in home visits and parent-teacher conferences as scheduled.

Skills

Bilingual English/Spanish

Child development

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Education

Minimum High School Diploma

Associate’s degree in ECE or higher

Job description

La Casa de Don Pedro, Inc. (LCDP) was founded in 1972 by a group of local activists seeking to establish educational and charitable programs to meet the needs of Newark’s Puerto Rican community.

Named in honor of Don Pedro Albizu Campos, LCDP has since evolved to become the largest Latinx-led organization in the state of New Jersey, serving 50,000 Newark and Essex County residents annually under three central pillars: Early Childhood (Prenatal, Early Head Start, Head Start, and Pre‑K); Healthy Homes (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, Weatherization, Lead Remediation/Abatement); and Community Empowerment (Women & Family Center, Immigration, Workforce Readiness, Youth Enrichment, Housing & Home Ownership Support, and Community Organizing). For more information, please visit www.lacasadedonpedro.org and be sure to follow @lacasanwk on all social media platforms.

Who we Seek

La Casa de Don Pedro is seeking a full-time Early Head Start (EHS) Instructor to support the Center Director and Head Start Director in the day-to-day administration and operations of the Early Childhood pillar. The EHS Instructor will take primary responsibility for four to eight infants/toddlers in the classroom, implement and evaluate daily learning activities, and conduct developmental screenings and assessments. The EHS Instructor must demonstrate a strong commitment to serving a diverse population of infants and toddlers, ensuring that each child is treated equitably and with consistent care, warmth, and respect in accordance with Head Start Program Performance Standards. This role serves as a key member of the Early Childhood team and contributes to the overall effectiveness of La Casa de Don Pedro by providing attentive, personalized, and timely support.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assist the co-teacher and parents in maintaining a safe, healthy, and developmentally appropriate environment.
• Take primary responsibility for supervising and supporting 4–8 infants/toddlers in the classroom.
• Assist the co-teacher in preparing, implementing, and evaluating daily classroom activities.
• Participate in the planning and implementation of lesson plans using the Creative Curriculum.
• Input child information into Teaching Strategies GOLD using assigned technology.
• Conduct developmental screenings and assessments.
• Contribute to ongoing child assessments, including ASQ-3 and ASQ-SE, throughout the year.
• Participate in two (2) home visits per year and attend all scheduled Parent‑Teacher Conferences.
• Participate in IFSP meetings as required to ensure consistency in services for children with disabilities.
• Assist the co-teacher in ensuring children are consistently supervised and engaged in age‑appropriate activities.
• Assume responsibility for the children when the co‑teacher is absent and a substitute is present.
• Assist the co-teacher and parents in meeting children’s daily needs and routines.
• Ensure all children are signed in and out daily by parents using the escort sheet and attendance record.
• Share responsibility for maintaining orderliness and cleanliness in the classroom, including janitorial duties such as sterilizing toys, sweeping and mopping floors, cleaning and sanitizing toilets and sinks daily.
• Assist with children’s daily personal hygiene, including diapering, feeding, tooth brushing, toileting, hand‑washing, and rest routines.
• Share responsibility for providing appropriate care and support for children with disabilities.
• Encourage parents to attend monthly meetings, workshops, and trainings.
• Provide input to the co‑teacher for Parent‑Teacher Conferences, staffing meetings, and monthly individual child goal tracking.
• Maintain positive, professional communication with parents, staff, and community members.
• Build and maintain a strong working knowledge of all program requirements, including Head Start Program Performance Standards, childcare licensing regulations, and other applicable regulations and best practices.
• Maintain strict adherence to all Head Start Program Performance Standards and Office of Licensing requirements.
• Support the administration of office operations and ensure full compliance with organizational policies, procedures, and program requirements.
• Perform additional duties as assigned to support organizational and pillar operations.

Requirements

Education and Experience

• Minimum High School Diploma Required. Associate’s degree in early childhood education or higher preferred.
• Required two (2) years of work experience in an Early Head Start, Head Start Program or Pre‑K setting.
• Required two (2) years’ experience working with children from birth through age five and their families.
• Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish is required; additional languages are welcomed and valued as part of our commitment to serving a diverse early childhood community.
• Ability to build positive relationships with families, community partners, and service providers.
• Strong organizational, communication, and case management skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications required; experience with client or student data management systems preferred.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to lift, carry, and move children and classroom materials weighing up to 40 pounds, as needed to ensure safety and support daily routines.
• Ability to sit on the floor, kneel, bend, reach, and engage in physical interaction with infants and toddlers throughout the day.
• Ability to stand, walk, and move continuously for extended periods while supervising and engaging with children.
• Ability to respond quickly and safely to the physical needs of infants and toddlers, including emergencies, toileting accidents, and behavioral support.
• Ability to assist with diapering, feeding, toileting, and other hygiene routines that require repetitive motion and sustained physical engagement.
• Ability to push, pull, or maneuver strollers, cribs, or equipment during indoor and outdoor activities.
• Ability to work both indoors and outdoors in varying weather conditions to support outdoor play, family events, and community activities.
• Ability to travel within the community for home visits, meetings, outreach events, and other program-related responsibilities.
• Ability to maintain visual and auditory supervision of children at all times, including in active, noisy, or fast‑paced environments.
• Ability to participate in occasional evening or weekend activities related to family engagement, community outreach, or organizational events.