Head Start Preschool Teachers- IU Countywide (26/27)

Chester County Intermediate Unit; Downingtown (Chester County); On-site; USD 45,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Life insurance

Retirement plan

Paid time off

Job summary

Chester County Intermediate Unit (CCIU) invites applications for full-time Head Start Preschool Teacher positions in the Head Start Program of the Division of Student Services. These 200-day roles involve working with preschoolers in a collaborative, program-wide setting right here in Chester County, PA.

Responsibilities include implementing Head Start standards, designing engaging lessons, conducting screenings, and maintaining thorough records.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education is required.
• Experience in childcare or preschool settings is preferred.
• Bilingual/Bicultural abilities are a plus.

Responsibilities

• Implement Head Start Performance Standards in the classroom.
• Design lesson plans aligned with state standards and goals.
• Conduct developmental and social-emotional screenings.
• Maintain accurate records and input observations in the Student Management System.
• Promote family engagement through home visits and conferences.
• Participate in IEP meetings and collaborate with specialists.

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education

Preschool/Childcare experience

Job description

Anticipated vacancies exist for full-time Head Start Preschool Teachers within the Head Start Program in the Division of Student Services of the Chester County Intermediate Unit. These are 200-day positions, working with preschoolers.

Are you motivated to create brighter futures for students, families, and the entire community? If so, we want you on Team CCIU! At the CCIU, we pride ourselves on the creativity, dedication, and collaborative spirit that our employees bring to their work every day, and we know that achieving success together takes a team approach!

We strive to hire exceptional, motivated, and passionate individuals that help us achieve our vision of acting as educational leaders who contribute to a better Chester County and beyond.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Implement Head Start Performance Standards in the classroom.
• Implement one class of at least 6 hours per day
• Design lesson plans including individualized goals for students, that are aligned with state standards
• Design classroom environment to maximize student engagement and learning
• Conduct screening and assessments in accordance with Performance Standards
• Conduct developmental and social-emotional screening required for each student within 45 days of entry
• Communicate cases requiring follow-up to Supervisor and Family Service Worker following established guidelines
• Communicate with assigned Family Service Worker to ensure students receive all appropriate referrals and evaluations
• Observe and record and growth and development of all children in the classroom
• Input observations into Student Management System on a weekly basis, with a minimum expectation of 20 observations per class per week. Observations must be aligned with curriculum expectations.
• Assess students utilizing the Student Management System three times per year. Assessments must be linked to state standards, student observations, and Head Start School Readiness Goals.
• Implement the program curriculum and adapt for children with special needs
• Participate in IEP meetings
• Design classroom activities specifically aligned with IEP goals
• Confer with specialized instructors to ensure that student programming is provided in the least restrictive manner
• Consistently implement suggestions and materials provided by the specialized instructor.
• Promote family engagement in the Head Start program
• Work with the Family Service Worker to ensure all parties have appropriate family and student information
• Conduct one home visit upon student entry to the program utilizing materials designed to acclimate parents to the Head Start program
• Conduct two parent-teacher conferences per year. Utilize student assessments to inform parents of their child's growth and development
• Provide individualized resources and strategies to promote Kindergarten Readiness
• Maintain accurate records and files to support annual Program Information Report (PIR)
• Record all contact with famillies
• Monitor student attendance and meal service at point of service and input into Student Tracking System daily
• Ensure all required screenings are up-to-date and in child's file
• Ensure all assessments and parent-teacher conference forms are in child's file
• Utilize human resources and staff effectively
• Plan effectively so all adults in classroom are actively participating with students
• Train all new adults, whether staff or volunteers, regarding classroom schedule, routines and Head Start requirements
• Ensure students from local education entities are provided opportunities to fulfill course requirements
• Maintain confidentiality of all student and family information, adhering to CCIU standards

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree required, Background in Early Childhood Education strongly preferred
• Previous exprience working in a childcare/preschool setting strongly preferred
• Bilingual/Bicultural preferred
• Reliable transportation for the purpose of conducting home visits required
• Current (within one year) police, child abuse & FBI Fingerprint clearances required upon hire
• Clearance as an MA provider by the Commonwealth of PA and federal government (conducted by CCIU upon hire)
• NSOR Clearance upon hire

Salary

PRJ, Based on years of experience in a relevant position

• 0 - 4 yrs experience = $30.20
• 5 - 10 yrs experience = $31.89
• 11 - 16 yrs experience = $33.55
• 17 - 22 yrs experience = $35.23
• 23 - 28 yrs experience = $36.92
• 29 - 35 yrs experience = $38.60

Schedule

7.5 hrs. per day (8 AM - 4 PM); Monday- Friday; 200 days a year

Current Locations Include:

• Gordon Early Literacy Center: Coatesville, PA
• Engle Education Center: West Grove, PA

Project Staff Benefits

• Excellent medical, prescription, vision and dental coverage at minimal cost to employee
• If medical, prescription, vision and dental coverage is not needed, generous opt-out payments available
• Life insurance in amount of 2.5x annual salary paid by CCIU
• Long-term disability insurance effective 31st day of illness/injury
• Retirement through PSERS, PA's Public School Employees Retirement System
• Worker's Compensation
• New employees start with 10 sick days annually; unlimited accumulation on vacation and sick days

Equal Opportunity Employer

Chester County Intermediate Unit is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Chester County Intermediate Unit ensures equal employment opportunities regardless of race, creed, gender, color, national origin, religion, age, sexual orientation or disability. Chester County Intermediate Unit has a policy of active recruitment of qualified minority teachers and non-certified employees. Any individual needing assistance in making application for any opening should contact the Department of Human Resources at 484-237-5085.