Early Head Start Teacher

All Kids Academy Head Start, Inc.; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision insurance

403(b) retirement with employer match

Generous pay raises and holidays

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

All Kids Academy Head Start, Inc. is seeking an Early Head Start Teacher for the 2026-27 school year. Under the Center Director, you will develop and implement activities fostering school readiness and responsive, nurturing care for each child.

Position includes 40 hours per week for 45 weeks per year. A one-time $1,200 sign-up bonus is offered after probation. Strong benefits are provided as part of a comprehensive package.

Qualifications

• Associate or Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education or Child Development with 3 semester units of infant/toddler development and 3 units supervised field experience or ability to obtain Associate Teacher permit within 90 days.
• 12 semester units of Early Childhood Education or Child Development including 3 units infant/toddler development plus Associate Teacher Permit or higher (permit required at hire).
• Minimum 6 months’ work experience in a licensed Early Childhood Education setting.

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain a safe, healthy, clean, nurturing learning environment.
• Support social, intellectual and emotional development of children.
• Implement developmentally appropriate curriculum for infants and toddlers.
• Plan and coordinate learning experiences reflecting mandated elements and parental/cultural influences.
• Supervise children indoors and outdoors at all times.
• Complete developmentally appropriate assessments and screenings as required.

Skills

Strong communication

Education

Associate or Bachelor’s in ECE/Child Development

12 semester units in ECE/Child Development + Associate Teacher Permit

Job description

All Kids Academy Head Start is currently accepting applicants for Early Head Start teacher Positions for the 2026-27 school year. Join our team in the mission to close the achievement gap by providing quality school readiness programs and comprehensive services to children, families, and communities in East County.

Summary:

Under the direction of the Center Director, the Early Head Start Teacher must develop and implement appropriate classroom activities. Create a classroom environment favorable to learning and personal growth in compliance with agency standards and abilities of children. Responsible for providing and modeling high quality, responsive, nurturing care, and education that is respectful of the child's development. The Early Head Start Teacher, along with families and colleagues, works to achieve meaningful progress of each child along his/her own unique developmental path and toward school readiness goals.

Hours per week:

40

Weeks per year:

45

Bonus:

We are pleased to currently offer a one-time $1200.00 Sign-up Bonus to be paid upon the successful completion of the probationary period. The sign-up bonus is subject to deductions and withholdings as required by law, including state and federal tax, social security, FICA, and all other employment taxes.

Competitive Benefits:

• Group medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 403(b) retirement plan with up to 6% employer match
• Annual 5% pay rate increases, up to the maximum step
• 16 Paid holidays
• Two paid personal days
• Paid vacation and sick leave
• $1500 Tuition Reimbursement each year
• $1000 Service Awards every 5 years
• Employer-paid Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Free Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Voluntary benefits: Life and AD&D, Accident Insurance, Short-term Disability, Critical Illness Insurance, and Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
• Paid professional development days

Minimum Employment Qualifications

Associate degree or Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education or Child Development, with 3 semester units of infant/toddler development AND 3 units supervised field experience, AND ability to obtain an Associate Teacher permit within 90 days of hire.

OR

12 semester units of Early Childhood Education or Child Development courses, including 3 semester units of infant/toddler development, AND Associate Teacher Permit or higher (must have permit at time of hire)

Minimum 6 months’ work experience in a licensed Early Childhood Education setting required for all candidates.

Note: Please upload transcript when applying.

Essential Functions:

• Establish and maintain a safe, healthy, clean, nurturing, and inviting learning environment for children;
• Support the social, intellectual and emotional development of children;
• Implement a developmentally appropriate curriculum for children;
• Build the basic curriculum on a caregiving routines as a shared experience between teacher and child;
• Supervise children both indoors and outdoors at all times;
• Plan and implement learning experiences and utilize integrated curriculum plans, which reflect mandated elements and components, parental and cultural influences, and promote and advance the intellectual, social, emotional, physical and cognitive development of infants and toddlers;
• Complete all developmentally appropriate assessments and screenings on all children as required;
• Develop skill based, individualized classroom activities for each child based on parental input, direct observations, and developmental assessments/screenings including identified activities designed for children with special needs based on their Individual Education Plan;
• Promote parent involvement by reinforcing the role parents as primary caregiver and educator of their child(ren);
• Plan and coordinate the work of the teacher assistant and work cohesively with other staff;
• Demonstrate cultural competency and respect for the child's background by incorporating the cultural, linguistic and familial values and beliefs into the childcare program and lesson plans;
• Assist families with children's transitions from toddler to preschool;
• Maintain a cooperative attitude of working together with the teacher assistant(s), volunteers, parents, and program specialists in planning and implementing activities;
• Implement the developmental assessment for each child to determine the child’s strengths and areas in which each child may need help;
• Implement behavior plans designed by resource/mentor teachers and/or mental health specialists;
• Develop a positive relationship with each child and promote the development of self-esteem and self-discipline;
• Ensure full implementation of IFSPs and inclusion of children with disabilities and special needs;
• Develop activities based on Individual Education Plan (IFSP) for children with special needs;
• Conduct a minimum of two (2) home visits with primary caregivers and two (2) parent/teacher conferences per family, per academic year;
• Conduct direct observations on children and record data;
• Collect data and file in children’s portfolios and files;
• Ensure routines such as diapering, toileting/training, hand washing, tooth brushing, eating, napping, and transitioning between activities are carried out in a manner that is prompt, hygienic, and consistent with regulations and good child development practices;
• Work effectively with other staff at the center to promote teamwork, maintaining professionalism and continuously sustaining a positive environment; and
• Perform other related duties.

Physical Requirements:

• Good manual dexterity of hands and fingers to demonstrate activities or run instructional equipment;
• Must have the ability to sit and stand for extended periods;
• Must be able to reach overhead as well above the shoulders and horizontally ;
• Requires repetitive bending at the waist, as well as kneeling, stooping, crouching to assist children;
• Hearing and speaking to exchange information, make presentations, hear in a noisy environment and locate the sources of a sound for health and safety including crying by children;
• Must have excellent speaking and hearing ability;
• Must be able to input data using a computer terminal keyboard;
• Seeing to read a variety of materials and monitor children’s activities is essential;
• Walk for extended periods of time;
• Handle or feel with fingers, reach with hands and climb or balance, or crawl;
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus; and
• Move, push, pull if needed while moving and holding children and ability to physically interact with young children through running, chasing, bending, stooping, climbing, and standing with occasional lifting up to 40 lbs.

Additional Information:

Prior to employment, in compliance with Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 as amended, employment candidate will be required to provide either proof of U.S. citizenship or other documents that establish the candidate’s eligibility to be employed in the U.S. Head Start regulations require that no person shall work in any Head Start program until they have been fingerprinted and cleared through the Department of Justice.

AKA Head Start is an Equal Opportunity Employer. No person will be denied employment, discriminated against, or prohibited from participating fully in employment opportunities for reasons of race, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, religion (including religious dress and grooming practices), creed, ethnicity, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical condition), age, gender, gender identity, political affiliation, sexual orientation, genetic characteristic, marital status, military or veteran status, medical or physical disability, medical condition, or any other characteristic protected by federal state, or local law.

Applicants will be required to obtain a Health Screening, TB clearance, proof of immunization against measles and pertussis (MMR and Tdap vaccines), and background clearance prior to starting employment.