Early Head Start Teacher

YWCA of Lubbock; Lubbock (TX); On-site; USD 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A community service organization in Lubbock, Texas is seeking an Infant-Toddler Teacher to provide a safe and supportive educational environment for children. The ideal candidate will develop individual goals for children, support parental involvement, and ensure compliance with state licensing requirements. Successful applicants will have relevant educational credentials and experience working with infants and toddlers, with a strong emphasis on communication and adaptability. This role offers a meaningful opportunity to positively impact early childhood education.

Qualifications

• Experience working with infants and toddlers required.
• Ability to adapt curriculum for diverse learning needs.
• Must maintain First Aid and CPR certification.

Responsibilities

• Develop individual goals and maintain ongoing assessments.
• Create a safe and healthy environment for children.
• Engage parents and families with regular communication.

Skills

Classroom experience with infants and toddlers

Strong written and verbal communication skills

Bilingual English/Spanish

Intermediate to advanced computer skills

Education

CDA, AA, AS in Child Development, BS in Early Childhood Education

Job description

To provide a successful, safe and supervised educational setting for children while they are in the classroom, outdoor play area, or on field trips. Develop individual goals for children, provide on-going assessment on progress and facilitate transition into pre-school settings. The Infant-Toddler Teacher will promote the social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development of children. Encourage parent involvement in all aspects of the program.

Education

CDA, AA, AS in Child Development, BS in Early Childhood Education or Child Development. Experience teaching in an early childhood setting working with infants and toddlers preferred.

Essential Functions

• Be familiar with and adhere to State of Texas licensing requirements and the YWCA policies and procedures.
• Maintain an open, friendly, professional relationship with all staff and families, to include respect for culture, diversity and ethnicity.
• Participate in annual program self-assessment and continuous quality improvement initiatives of the overall program.
• Monitor and ensure confidentiality of children records.
• Establish and maintain a safe and healthy environment.
  • Report all safety hazards observed indoors and outdoors.
  • Detect and report signs of illness, discomfort and unusual behavior of children to Administration.
  • Mandated reporting of suspected child abuse/neglect to Department of Family and Protective Services.

Curriculum and Assessment

• Develop and utilize integrated curriculum plans, which reflect mandated elements and components, parental and cultural influences, and promote the social, emotional, physical and cognitive development of Early Head Start children.
• Follow a consistent schedule, which includes small and large group experiences, choice time, music and movement, large and small motor activities, skill development, meals, and effective transitions between activities.
• Provide the necessary interaction and environment that facilitates maximum child development and involvement.
• Establish weekly goals that promote individual and group educational plans and include other Early Head Start content areas.
• Prepare classroom materials to support developmentally appropriate curriculum plans; create and change learning centers as needed.

Parent, Family & Community Engagement

• Provide an atmosphere that promotes and reinforces parental engagement.
• Modeling appropriate behavior and positive guidance techniques.
• Communicate regularly with parents, regarding each child’s progress.
• Conduct the required parent/teacher conferences and home visits for the purpose of assessment and support, and to share information on classroom progress and educational strategies at school and home.
• Help plan and conduct regular parent meetings with team members.
• Work with appropriate agencies in developing specialized planning for children and families as needed.

Utilize Information Systems to support child (school readiness), family and agency outcomes

• Document baselines, ongoing assessments in each child file.
• Document all classroom issues, parent contact and home visits in each child file.

Additional Job Responsibilities

• Assist with food service, and other classroom needs as requested.
• Attend meetings, trainings and appropriate professional development activities.
• Assure general maintenance and security of facility and assist with inventory of equipment and supplies.
• Assist with generating in-kind.
• Other duties as requested.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Infant and Toddler (ages 6 weeks – 3 years) classroom experience is required. Experience should include the ability to adapt curriculum to meet the needs of all children including at-risk, special needs, gifted, and culturally diverse populations.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills. Bilingual English/Spanish skills highly desirable. Intermediate to advanced level computer skills, internet and e-mail.
• Ability to supervise infants and toddlers and ensure a safe environment including the ability to monitor and respond to events going on at all times in classroom, outdoor play areas and on field trips. This includes the physical ability to move quickly in order to respond to children who are very active and may need redirection in order to ensure their safety or the safety of others in the environment.
• Sits with children during family style meal times and eats the same lunch as the children, providing a model for good nutritional habits.
• Ability to respond appropriately to an emergency or a crisis situation.
• Occasional driving for home visits sometimes in outlying areas.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

• Pass a criminal background check.
• Pass a physical examination every three years.
• Complete Tuberculosis (TB) test every three years.
• Maintain a current First Aid and CPR certification (training provided).
• Valid driver’s license with a driving record in compliance with RCCDC’s insurance carrier requirements.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds with frequent kneeling, crawling, stooping, bending, and sitting on the floor to attend to children's needs.
• Be able to perform duties in an active environment with changes in climate and noise level.