Early Head Start Teacher

Mid Florida Community Services, Inc.; Bushnell (FL); On-site; USD 25,485 - 28,585; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Teacher Break Pay

Sick Leave

PTO

Employer Paid Health Benefits

Vision & Dental Plans

403b Retirement

14 Company Paid Holidays

Pet Insurance

Basic $30,000 Life Insurance Policy

Long-Term Disability

Job summary

Mid Florida Community Services, Inc. is seeking a full-time teacher for the Bushnell Head Start program. Candidates should possess a National CDA with Infant/Toddler Endorsement or FCCPC. Responsibilities include fostering relationships with children and families, conducting developmental screenings, and ensuring a nurturing environment.

This role offers a salary range of $18.50 to $20.75 hourly, along with benefits such as health coverage, retirement plans, and paid holidays.

Qualifications

• Two years of experience in child education, care and service or related field.
• Valid Florida driver’s license; insurable; First Aid & CPR certified.
• Background checks as required; obtain Director’s Credential within 18 months.

Responsibilities

• Maintain an open, friendly, and cooperative relationship with each child and family.
• Conduct developmental screenings and ongoing assessments of infants and toddlers.
• Plan activities for children with special needs and implement IEPs when necessary.

Skills

Communication

Classroom Management

Lesson Planning

Education

National CDA with Infant/Toddler Endorsement or FCCPC

Job description

Overview

Job Location: Bushnell Head Start - Bushnell, FL 33513

Position Type: Full Time

Education Level: CDA/FCCPC

Salary Range: $18.50 - $20.75 Hourly

Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 3:30pm

Please apply online at www.youthrivefl.org

Only completed and signed applications will be considered.

Full Time Position - Benefits Eligible: Teacher Break Pay, Sick, PTO, Employer Paid Health Benefits, Vision & Dental Plans, 403b Retirement, 14 Company Paid Holidays, Pet Insurance, Basic $30,000 Life Insurance Policy, and Long-Term Disability (LTD). Public Service Loan Forgiveness Qualified Employer.

Responsibilities

• Maintains an open, friendly, and cooperative relationship with each child and family.
• Encourages each child’s family to be actively involved in the Early Head Start program.
• Promotes/supports parent-child bonding and nurturing parent-child relationships.
• Promotes/supports feelings of security and trust in infants, toddlers, and two year-olds.
• Greets infants, toddlers, and two year-olds and their parents/caregivers warmly and with enthusiasm each morning.
• Assures that each infant, toddler, and two year-old is warmly greeted upon arrival; each infant is held; and each child is transitioned to become a part of the learning environment.
• Talks, sings, and reads to infants, toddlers, and two year-olds frequently throughout the day.
• Responds quickly, in a soothing and tender manner to infants, toddlers and two year-olds cries or calls of distress.
• Responds consistently to infants/toddler’s needs for food and comfort.
• Implements individualized feeding plans for infants, sits with toddlers and two-year-olds, and shares family-style meals; models manners and good nutrition.
• Tends to children's personal hygiene needs, including diaper changing, cleaning, feeding, and changing soiled or wet clothes.
• Respects children’s curiosity about each other; ensures that children treat each other gently.
• Organizes each day's activities to provide children with a variety of individualized experiences and opportunities that foster curiosity, initiative, problem-solving skills, creativity, security, and belonging.
• Conducts developmental screenings and ongoing assessments of infants, toddlers, and two year-olds to determine motor, language, social, cognitive perceptual and emotional skills.
• Completes timely, neat, accurate documentation of screenings, assessments, individualized plans, attendance, daily health checklist, feedings, daily activity logs for parents/caregivers, home visits, inventories, and other necessary documentation.
• Completes menu worksheets for assigned infants, toddlers, and two-year-olds.
• Submits weekly, written developmental plans to the CDS for each child, with input from parents/caregivers.
• Maintains a safe, clean, caregiving environment; practices good personal hygiene and hand washing; ensures the wellbeing and safety of all children.
• Maintains a positive, calm attitude and a pleasant, soothing voice, modeling this attitude for parents and others in the program.
• Works cooperatively with other Infant, Toddler, and Two Year-Old teachers, supervisors, parents, and volunteers in planning and implementing activities.
• Utilizes developmentally appropriate discipline techniques and protects all children from physical punishment or verbal abuse; reports incidents immediately.
• Provides for the physical safety of each child from arrival to departure.
• Assists the family advocate in teaching developmentally appropriate practices for parents/caregivers.
• Observes children to detect signs of illness, injury, abuse, neglect, emotional disturbance, or other special needs; reports signs immediately.
• Plans activities for children with special needs with training and assistance; implements IEPs, behavior management plans, or individualized services as outlined.
• Attends training opportunities and staff meetings as scheduled; performs other tasks as needed.
• Demonstrates proficiency in the learning environment of the CLASS (Classroom Assessment Scoring System).
• Guides children in developing basic concepts as prescribed in education, nutrition, health, dental, and mental health plans.
• Develops Education Portfolios for each child and maintains current documentation.
• Ensures referrals are completed and submitted for any suspected delays or concerns.
• Participates in ISFP implementation in collaboration with Disabilities team and Early Steps.
• Maintains a safe, clean, and orderly classroom and playground; reports repairs as needed.
• Maintains a adequately supplied classroom; coordinates purchases with supervisor approval.
• Provides learning experiences that allow children to solve problems, initiate activities, explore environments, and develop language through hands-on learning.
• Supports the development of positive self-concept and social skills through cultural and ethnic acceptance.
• Provides direct supervision to children at all times and maintains appropriate child/staff ratios.
• Communicates any known reasons for child absence to the Family Advocate.
• Ensures regular safety and fire/storm drills; emergency procedures and evacuation routes are posted.
• Maintains regular contact with parents/caregivers; ensures two home visits and two parent/teacher conferences annually.
• Recruits and coordinates parent/caregiver volunteers; documents participation.
• Prepares two individualized home activities per month per child and provides activity instructions to parents.
• Prepares a parent bulletin board and ensures compliance with program standards.
• Emphasizes cleanliness and hygiene, including hand washing at appropriate times and ensuring hands and faces are clean at day’s end.
• Promotes tooth brushing routine after lunch and participates in community activities to support the Early Head Start program.
• Maintains documentation for USDA/Child Care Food Program; ensures data quality and timelines.
• Participates in center activities, parent meetings, and annual events as requested; acts as an advocate and role model for Early Head Start families.
• Assists in development and implementation of the annual training plan; maintains confidentiality of client, staff, and agency information.
• Maintains effective working relationships with coworkers and external contacts to support Head Start operations.
• Organizes and prioritizes assignments; participates in community activities and assessments as directed.
• Follows Head Start, federal, state, and local regulations, including Head Start Performance Standards, and You Thrive Florida policies.

Qualifications

• Education: National CDA with Infant/Toddler Endorsement or FCCPC.
• Experience: Two years of experience in child education, care and service or related field.
• Licenses & Certifications: Valid Florida driver’s license; insurable; First Aid & CPR certified; background checks as required; within 18 months of employment, obtain Director’s Credential.

Critical Skills, Abilities, & Expertise

• Physical requirements as described (sitting, standing, moving, lifting up to 65 lbs occasionally).
• Ability to carry out lesson plans and coordinate activities for infants, toddlers, and two year-olds.
• Knowledge of early childhood education methods and classroom management techniques.
• Strong communication, reliability, and ability to work with limited direction.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and to work with children with special needs.

Environment

• Primary location may include Head Start facilities in Hernando, Sumter and/or Volusia counties, with occasional travel to other counties.
• Work environment includes office setting, collaboration with others, and occasional outdoor activity; may involve driving and use of equipment.

Please see the link below to the new Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse Education and Awareness website. This site was implemented under the directive of HB 531 (2025). Each specified agency must include a clear link to the webpage in all job vacancy advertisements.

https://info.flclearinghouse.com