Early Head Start Teacher

Child-Care-Associates; Fort Worth (TX); On-site; USD 30,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Child Care Associates in Fort Worth, TX, seeks an Early Head Start Teacher to provide nurturing, developmentally appropriate care for infants and toddlers in alignment with Head Start standards. You will collaborate with families, maintain assessment records, and ensure health, safety, and sanitation in the classroom.

The role requires warmth, patience, and teamwork. The ideal candidate will have a High School diploma or equivalent, plus an Infant/Toddler CDA or an Associate's degree in Child

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent with an Infant/Toddler CDA or an Associate’s degree in Child Development or ECE and a valid health card.
• Minimum of two years' experience in a licensed or formal childcare setting.
• Strong understanding of child development and effective communication with families.
• Ability to build positive relationships with children, families, and team members.
• Willingness to participate in professional development and teamwork.

Responsibilities

• Create a safe, engaging environment for infants and toddlers following the Integrated Approach.
• Plan and deliver Head Start-aligned activities across health, nutrition, and parent involvement.
• Serve as primary caregiver for a small group of children with developmentally appropriate interactions.
• Document assessments and maintain health and safety standards.
• Collaborate with families and plan home visits and conferences per year.

Skills

Infant/toddler care

Family communication

Team collaboration

Observation & assessment

Health & safety compliance

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Infant/Toddler CDA or Associate's degree in Child Development or ECE

Job description

Our EEO Policy Child Care Associates is an equal opportunity employer who offers equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, pregnancy, mental or physical disability, political affiliation, beliefs, protected veteran status in accordance with applicable federal laws, or any other protected class.

The Early Head Start Teacher is responsible for creating a nurturing, responsive, and developmentally appropriate environment for infants and toddlers in alignment with Head Start standards and the Integrated Approach. This role serves as the primary caregiver for a small group of children, planning and implementing individualized learning experiences that support each child’s growth in physical, social, emotional, and cognitive domains. The teacher collaborates closely with families, maintains detailed assessment records, and upholds health, safety, and sanitation standards in the classroom. The ideal candidate demonstrates warmth, patience, and strong communication skills, and is committed to continuous learning and teamwork.

• Create a safe, engaging, and developmentally appropriate environment by preparing materials and arranging the physical space to meet the evolving needs of infants and toddlers.
• Plan and deliver a comprehensive child development program using the Integrated Approach, incorporating Head Start content areas such as health, nutrition, and parent involvement.
• Serve as the primary caregiver for a small group of infants or toddlers, providing consistent, nurturing care and developmentally appropriate interactions.
• Model best practices in caregiving and early learning for co-workers, supporting a positive, collaborative team culture.
• Use developmentally appropriate strategies to support each child’s social, emotional, physical, and cognitive growth.
• Observe and assess children regularly for developmental milestones, safety, and well-being; maintain accurate documentation and child assessment records.
• Collaborate in planning, assessing, and evaluating classroom activities, curriculum, and center-wide initiatives.
• Build strong, ongoing relationships with families, including conducting a minimum of three home visits and two parent-teacher conferences per year, with proper documentation.
• Support the development and maintenance of Individual Activity Designs (IADs) and educational resource materials.
• Supervise and guide daily routines, including meals, toileting, handwashing, rest time, and structured/unstructured play.
• Provide direction to teacher assistants and volunteers, fostering a supportive and effective team environment.
• Maintain a clean, safe, and sanitary classroom in accordance with health and safety guidelines.
• Actively participate in professional development, including staff meetings, in-service trainings, and workshops.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support program goals.
• High school diploma or equivalent with a current Infant/Toddler CDA or an Associate’s degree in Child Development or Early Childhood Education, plus a valid health card.
• Minimum of two years' experience in a licensed or formal childcare setting.
• Strong understanding of child and human development, with effective verbal and listening (receptive) communication skills.
• Proven ability to build and maintain positive, respectful relationships with children, families, and team members.
• Demonstrated ability to engage with infants in a warm, patient, and responsive manner.
• Must meet all health and safety requirements, including:
  • Passing a pre-employment and/or periodic physical exam
  • TB screening
  • Background check every 24 months

Physical Requirements

The physical requirements for this position are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Must be able to walk at a fast pace for extended periods of time.
• Participate and incorporate brisk ten (10) minute walks with children into daily routine/lesson plans.
• Must be able to stand for extended periods of time.
• Ability to lift/carry up to 30 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision and the ability to adjust focus.
• Must be able frequently to twist, turn, kneel, bend and stoop multiple times per day.
• Must be able to sit on the floor and interact with small children.
• Must be able to perform physical activities with children.
• Must be able to monitor children’s safety in all activities.