Floater Assistant Teacher - Head Start

Mississippi State University; Mississippi; On-site; USD 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading university in Mississippi seeks a Floater for a Head Start center. This position involves working collaboratively with teachers to maintain a child-centered curriculum, supporting children’s development, and engaging families. Ideal candidates will have a CDA credential or a related degree and experience with preschool children. Competitive compensation and opportunity for professional development are provided.

Qualifications

• CDA credential or be enrolled to complete within one year of hire.
• Experience teaching preschool children including group experience with children from birth to four years old.
• Meets required state standards and obtains CPR and First Aid certification.

Responsibilities

• Work collaboratively with the Teacher to ensure a successful classroom.
• Maintain a child-centered curriculum.
• Support the social and emotional development of children.

Skills

Child Growth & Development

Planning & Evaluation

Communication

Technology

Education

CDA credential or related degree in Early Childhood Education

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Apply now Job no: 509754
Position type: Full-Time 12-Month
Department: 012102 - Human Sciences- Early Childhood
Location: Hancock County
Categories: Support Staff, Head Start Positions
Position Open Date: Sep 13 2025

Position Function

This position serves as a Floater for a Head Start center. The Floater will work collaboratively with the Teacher to ensure the successful operation of a classroom of children. The Floater also works with a team of other classroom staff and family members to implement curriculum to achieve outcomes for children of all abilities.

Throughout its history, Mississippi State University-Extension Service (MSU-Extension) has demonstrated a deep and abiding commitment to programs that directly impact young children and their families. In the past decade, MSU-Extension has distinguished itself as Mississippi’s premier infrastructural support of high-quality early childhood education.

Area of Specialization

MSU-Extension Head Start Programs - Hancock County

Anticipated Appointment Date

October 2025.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The Floater demonstrates competency to perform functions that include:

Child Growth & Development: Uses knowledge of the principles of child growth and development to work with children and communicate with internal and external stakeholders.

• Maintains a child-centered curriculum and learning environment that encourages positive social interaction, active engagement in learning, and self-motivation to promote development in all domains for children of all abilities.
• Addresses challenging behaviors by observing to determine possible causes of the behavior, implementing preventive measures, teaching the child new social and communication skills and partnering with families to support the child at home.
• Uses observations of children and anecdotal notes to document children’s progress and individualize curriculum.

General Professional Competencies:

• Planning & Evaluation
• Professional Development
• Communication
• Technology

The Floater responsibilities chiefly fall within the following core functions, although s/he may perform other tasks as needed and assigned to support the program that may include but are not limited to the following:

• Communication and Service Coordination
• Record Keeping and Reporting
• On-going Monitoring/Self-assessment
• Planning and implementing learning experiences that advance the intellectual and physical development of children, including improving the readiness of children for school by developing their literacy and phonemic, print, and numeracy awareness, their understanding and use of language, their understanding and use of increasingly complex and varied vocabulary, their appreciation of books, and their problem solving abilities.
• Establishing and maintaining a safe, healthy learning environment.
• Supporting the social and emotional development of children.
• Encouraging the involvement of the families of the children in a Head Start program and supporting the development of relationships between children and their families.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

• CDA credential or enrolled to complete within one year of hire or a degree in Early Childhood Education or related field with nine (9) credits in Early Childhood Education or enrolled to complete degree (with related credits) within one year of hire.

Experience:

• Experience teaching preschool children including group experience with children from birth to four years old.

Licensures:

• Meets required standards as specified by the State Department of Health/Child Care Licensure Standards for staff including finger printing and background check.
• Obtain certification in CPR and First Aid within the 9 months of employment.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.

Substitutions:

• An equivalent combination of related education and related experience may be considered for this position.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Current understanding of MS Child Care Licensing requirements
• Current understanding of Head Start Performance Standards
• Able to anticipate the needs of children
• Must be able to organize and execute daily activities
• Works well with other staff
• Intermediate computer literacy skills in email, Microsoft Office.

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

• Physical exam and background checks are required for this position.
• Travel required locally or long-distance up to 10% of the time for work-related meetings and other functions.
• Must be able to lift a child weighing 40 pounds, 20 times a day if needed.
• Moderate to loud noise levels.
• This position will be inside and outside supervising children as weather permits as well as monitoring children on bus routes. Due to the primary work with young children, some exposure to communicable disease is likely.

Application Materials

All applicants MUST apply online at www.jobs.msstate.edu to be considered for this position.

The following documents and information are required for application:

• Cover Letter
• Resume or Curriculum Vitae
• Contact information for at least three professional references
• Current unofficial transcript (with social security numbers removed prior to submission)

An official transcript will be required if selected for employment.

Screening Date

Position is contingent upon continued availability of funding.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Mississippi State University is an equal opportunity institution. Discrimination is prohibited in university employment, programs or activities based on race, color, ethnicity, sex, pregnancy, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, or any other status to the extent protected by applicable law. Questions about equal opportunity programs or compliance should be directed to the Office of Civil Rights Compliance, 231 Famous Maroon Band Street, P.O. 6044, Mississippi State, MS 39762, [phone].

What do I do if I need an accommodation?

In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with Mississippi State University, please contact the Department of Human Resources Management at tel: [phone] [e-mail].

If you have any questions regarding this policy, contact the Department of Human Resources Management at [phone] [e-mail]. Upon request, sections of this job listing are available in large print, and readers are available to assist the visually impaired.

Advertised: Sep 13 2025 Central Daylight Time
Applications close:

Mississippi - Not located on main campus