Early Head Start Instructor (Continuous)

City-of-Oakland,-Ca; Oakland (CA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 78,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid holidays

CalPERS retirement

Health insurance

Dental & Vision

Job summary

The City of Oakland’s Human Services Department, Head Start Division, seeks an Early Head Start Instructor to work with infants and toddlers in centers or through home visits. You will implement developmentally appropriate activities, support caregivers, and contribute to the child’s learning and safety in a diverse Oakland community.

Applicants must meet the California teacher permit requirements and engage with families to advance early childhood development.

Responsibilities

• Instruct infants/toddlers using developmentally appropriate curriculum.
• Organize classroom or home activities and materials.
• Conduct safety drills and ensure facility safety.
• Plan daily activities and scheduling.
• Conduct developmental screenings and create IDPs.
• Coordinate home visits and parent conferences.

Skills

Passionate educator

Infant/toddler activities planning

Relationship building

Cultural responsiveness

Learning & development

Education

Associate or Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education

CA Teacher Permit or higher

Job description

The City of Oakland is an equal opportunity employer that values workforce diversity, inclusion, and equity. Oakland has a long history of activism around issues of justice and equity. Both oppression and this resistance to oppression have shaped the city’s historical roots and the lives of its residents to this day. As public servants in one of the most diverse cities in the nation, we strive to develop employees who understand the harm and impacts of systemic inequity to create lasting, meaningful outcomes for everyone. Oakland strives to establish an environment that embraces the richness of culture, community, and individualism of employees.

Why join the City of Oakland's Human Services Department?

Situated at the heart of the Bay Area, the City of Oakland is a vibrant, diverse, and exciting place to work. It is easily accessible, at the forefront of Race and Equity work, and a full-service organization with many innovative community services.

Are you searching for a fulfilling career that allows you to make a difference and have a positive impact on the local community? Look no further! The City of Oakland's Human Services Department, Head Start Division, is seeking highly skilled individuals to join our team as an Early Head Start Instructor. Come join a dynamic team of enthusiastic professionals dedicated to providing important services to a community with a rich history. You'll work with great colleagues in the Head Start Division who are fiercely passionate about public service and community.

As an Early Head Start Instructor, in centers or conducting home visits, you may instruct children enrolled in Early Head Start Programs; facilitate learning activities for caregivers on early childhood development concepts; assist in developmental assessments; organize and set up education and play materials for the classroom and/or make home visits; and perform related duties as assigned.

We are looking for someone who:

• Is a passionate educator who wants to make a positive difference in the lives of Oakland children and families
• Likes to plan developmentally age-appropriate activities for infants and toddlers
• Is a strong relationship builder with good communication skills. You will have the opportunity to interact in a culturally diverse workplace with infants, toddlers, caregivers, and community members.
• Has a genuine interest in learning and developing their career. Within Head Start, there are opportunities to grow professionally.
• Is open to working with infants and toddlers with varying emotional, physical, and developmental levels and ways of learning.

What you will typically be responsible for:

• Instructing children in infant/toddler education concepts, utilizing research-based curriculum.
• Organizing and setting up developmentally appropriate education and play materials for the classroom and/or the home.
• Conducting fire, disaster, and safety drills in the classroom; inspecting the facility for safety standards and maintenance needs.
• Assisting in planning, organizing, and scheduling daily activities at the center classroom or in the home.
• Conducting developmental screenings, ongoing child observations, developmental assessments, and creating Individual Development Plans (IDP) on all children enrolled in the program; ensuring goals for children with special needs are met
• Conducting a minimum of 2 home visits and conducting parent conference home visits; making additional and ongoing home visits as needed.
• Collaborating with caregivers in providing an individualized educational program for their children in the home.

A few reasons you might love this job:

• You will be a part of a dynamic Head Start team.
• You will have the opportunity to create innovative early education experiences for young children.
• You will have great colleagues. Head Start employees are fiercely passionate about public service and community, and proud to uplift Oakland as a dynamic, innovative, vibrant city.
• Ongoing training, professional development, and coaching.

A few challenges you might face in this job:

• You will need to find balance in your teaching style to ensure all children are learning, as their skill levels may vary within the classroom.
• You will face significant change, so please remain flexible and adaptable.
• You will need to maintain composure, keeping emotions in control, in difficult situations.

Competencies Required:

• Adaptability: Responding positively to change and modifying behavior as the situation requires
• Building & Maintaining Relationships: Establishing rapport and maintaining mutually productive relationships
• Decision Making: Choosing optimal courses of action
• Displaying Ownership and Accountability: Holding self and others accountable for measurable high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results
• General Physical Ability: Using strength, endurance, flexibility, balance, and coordination
• Handling & Resolving Conflict: Managing interpersonally strained situations
• Handling Stress: Maintaining emotional stability and self-control under pressure, challenge, or adversity.
• Oral Communication: Engaging effectively in dialogue
• Professional & Technical Expertise: Applying technical subject matter to the job
• Reading Comprehension: Understanding and using written information
• Teamwork: Collaborating with others to achieve shared goals
• Using Technology: Working with electronic hardware and software applications
• Valuing Diversity: Appreciating the benefits of varied backgrounds and cultures in the workplace
• Writing: Communicating effectively in writing

This recruitment will produce two eligible lists. The restricted list will be for full-time, permanent part-time, or part-time City and Port of Oakland employees who maintain employment for the duration of the recruitment and pass all stages of the recruitment process. The open list will be for all other applicants who pass all stages of the recruitment process.

This is a public contact position. The City highly encourages all bilingual candidates to apply! Some positions may require bilingual skills in Spanish, Cantonese, or Mandarin. Under the authority of Civil Service Rules Section 5.03, if a position requires bilingual language skills, only those candidates who have indicated they are bilingual in the required language(s) will be referred. Bilingual candidates will be required to successfully pass a language proficiency test if selected for hire.

Any combination of education and experience that is acceptable.

Education:

An Associate, Bachelor's or advanced degree in Early Childhood Education/Child Development (ECE/CD) or related field including three (3) units supervised field experience in early childhood education/child development (ECE/CD) completed at an accredited or approved college or university, three (3) units of which must be in infant/toddler coursework.

OR

Twenty-four (24) units in ECE/CD including core courses plus sixteen (16) General Education (GE) units completed at an accredited or approved college or university, three (3) units of which must be in infant/toddler coursework.

AND hold, or qualify for, a Teacher Permit (or higher level permit) issued by the State of California.

Experience:

Six months of full-time work experience or one year of part-time experience in a licensed child care center or comparable group child care program.

License or Certificate / Other Requirements

Individuals who are appointed to this position will be required to maintain a valid California Driver's License throughout the tenure of employment or demonstrate the ability to travel to various locations in a timely manner as required in the performance of duties. Must obtain a State of California Child Development Permit at the Teacher level within six months of employment and maintain throughout tenure of employment. Must demonstrate proof of application for Teacher (or higher level) permit from the State of California upon hire. Failure to obtain relevant teaching permit within six months will be grounds for removal during probation. Must obtain Pediatric First Aid and CPR certifications within one year of employment and maintain throughout tenure of employment. OTHER REQUIREMENTS Depending on nature of assignment, candidates who receive offers of employment will be required to submit fingerprints, undergo a criminal record clearance, and have a physical examination including a TB screening.

Applicants are required to submit criminal history information upon request after receiving a conditional offer of employment. If the requested information is not furnished in a timely manner, applicants will not qualify for further consideration and will be removed from the eligible list.

Disaster Service Workers

All employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

What's in it for you?

• 15 paid holidays
• Vacation– 2 weeks per year minimum with the ability to accrue more depending on public sector years of service
• Retirement – CalPERS (California Public Employees’ Retirement System) with a pension formula of 2.5% @ 55 (for Classic CalPERS members) and 2% @ 62 for new CalPERS members. Classic Employees contribute 8% of pre-tax wages. The City of Oakland does not participate in Social Security
• Health – The City of Oakland pays for the cost of employee and eligible dependent coverage at the Kaiser rate. Other plans include Anthem, Blue Shield, United Health Care and other HMO and PPO plans
• Dental – The City of Oakland pays for Delta Dental full premium for employees and eligible dependents
• Vision – The City of Oakland pays for VSP full premium for employees and eligible dependents
• Sick leave – Employees accrue 12 days per year
• Deferred Compensation – 457(b) pre-tax plan and an after-tax ROTH 401(k)plan
• Other benefits include a Flexible Spending Account, Wellness Program, Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, Tuition Reimbursement, Employee Training, & Telecommuting.

Applicants are required to submit criminal history information upon request after receiving a conditional offer of employment. If the requested information is not furnished in a timely manner, applicants will not qualify for further consideration and will be removed from the eligible list.