Head Start Educator: Empowering Young Minds & Families

Catholic Charities, Diocese of Joliet; Joliet (IL); On-site; USD 42,000 - 57,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Holidays & vacation

Medical/Dental/Vision

Flexible Spending Account

Short-term Disability

Long-Term Disability

Life & AD&D

403B

Employee Assistance

Job summary

Catholic Charities, Diocese of Joliet Head Start in Joliet, IL seeks dedicated early childhood professionals to support infants and toddlers in home- and center-based settings. You will plan developmentally appropriate activities and collaborate with families to promote healthy growth.

The role emphasizes compliance with Head Start standards, ongoing parent engagement, and coordination with community resources to help families thrive and build brighter futures for their children.

Qualifications

• Requires an Associate’s, Bachelor's or Master’s in early childhood education or related field
• Documentation of 36 semester hours of early childhood coursework, including infant/toddler courses
• Minimum two years of experience in early childhood settings or with low-income families
• Certification in First Aid, CPR, and Infant/Toddler Development preferred
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple tasks
• Strong verbal and written communication skills

Responsibilities

• Provide development support across physical, cognitive, social, and emotional areas for infants and toddlers in home-based and center-based settings
• Develop, plan, model, and implement positive early childhood experiences with families
• Ensure compliance with Head Start Performance Standards and NAEYC practices
• Recruit and maintain a caseload of twelve infants and toddlers with weekly home visits and bimonthly socializations
• Plan individualized programs for families, respecting cultural diversity
• Educate parents on child development, health, and nutrition to integrate at home
• Coordinate services with community agencies and follow up on family assessments
• Implement and assist with IFSPs and Early Intervention programs
• Develop transition plans for children entering/exiting the program
• Attend staff meetings, workshops, and recruitment events with confidentiality support
• Perform other duties as assigned within job guidelines

Skills

Early childhood education

Home visits

Family engagement

Cultural competency

Education

Associate’s degree

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Catholic Charities, Diocese of Joliet Head Start in Joliet, IL seeks dedicated early childhood professionals to support infants and toddlers in home- and center-based settings. You will plan developmentally appropriate activities and collaborate with families to promote healthy growth.

The role emphasizes compliance with Head Start standards, ongoing parent engagement, and coordination with community resources to help families thrive and build brighter futures for their children.