HEAD START TEACHER

City of Rockford; Rockford (IL); On-site; USD 22,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Rockford is seeking multiple Child Assistant positions to support the Head Start program. You will assist in teaching preschoolers within a collaborative setting, support lesson planning, and help maintain a safe, nurturing learning environment.

Responsibilities include bus supervision, student hygiene support, reporting, and involvement in recruitment and program reviews. Strong communication with families and staff is essential.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of early childhood development and education.
• Understanding of hygiene practices in a center setting.
• Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with children, parents, and co-workers.

Responsibilities

• Assist Collaboration Teacher with lesson planning and developmental screenings.
• Rides assigned bus routes to ensure safe transportation and supervises children onboard.
• Maintain required reporting forms and participate in annual program reviews.
• Assist in recruiting Head Start eligible children for enrollment.
• Support classroom safety procedures and maintain a nurturing environment.

Skills

Early childhood knowledge

Hygiene practices

Education

Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education

60 credit hours including 18 in early child development

Job description

Meet DCFS Licensing/HSPS, education req'd before interview- 3 Positions

Reports to: Community Partner Coordinator Class Code: 4301

FLSA: Non-exempt Pay grade: 3 AFHN

Wage Hourly: $19.62

NATURE OF WORK

Serving the public by participating in teaching children in the Head Start Program and includes assisting in providing a supporting and nurturing environment for the development of preschool children in a collaboration setting.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

Assists the Collaboration Teacher in providing a comprehensive, developmentally appropriate early childhood program of instruction. Provides a safe and nurturing environment. Promotes the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development of the children enrolled in the Head Start Program, including children with special needs.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS (These essential duties are only illustrative.)

• Rides assigned morning and/or afternoon bus to ensure safe transportation and supervision of all children on the bus. Utilizes checklist for children to ensure that all children are accounted for when entering or exiting the bus.
• Assists and trains children in personal hygiene activities.
• Assists in organizing and carrying out daily activities pertaining to children as directed by the Collaboration Teacher.
• Encourages children’s active learning and individualism through good modeling skills in a developmentally appropriate environment.
• Assists in coordinating a class of preschool children and maintaining all required reporting forms as outlined in program policies and procedures.
• Assists the Collaboration Teacher in lesson planning, administering developmental screening and completing referral, IEP as outlined in the procedure's manual.
• Communicates changes concerning children to Collaboration Teacher.
• Reports potential classroom, children or family problems and concerns to Collaboration Teacher, Family Support Staff or Community Partner Coordinator, as appropriate.
• Prepares, organizes and submits required reports as outlined in the procedure's manual.
• Participates in annual program review process.
• Assists in recruitment of Head Start eligible children for enrollment into the program.
• Carries out the best practice for safety procedures concerning children, staff, families, and community individuals.
• Assists in cleaning facility, playground, and other areas applicable to the well-being and image of the program.
• Develops partnership relationships with parents in Head Start Program and encourages each parent to take an active role in the child’s Head Start experience.
• Participates in activities and displays attitudes that promote positive public relations and positive image for the program and agency.
• Maintains reasonable and predictable attendance.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Detailed instruction and close supervision are initially provided for employees with no training or experience however, once an employee experiences all tasks of the position, work is performed independently. A Community Partner Coordinator or an employee of a higher level classification is available to advise or assist as necessary or provide guidance on new or unusual tasks. Work is reviewed in progress and upon completion for quality, thoroughness, accuracy, and conformance to established policies and procedures.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

Supervision is not a responsibility of positions of this class, although functional direction may be exercised over other employees and trainees in connection with various activities of the program. Employees may provide training in operational procedures, orient new employees, or assist in resolving unusual or difficult problems.

WORKING CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Work is performed primarily in an office and classroom setting, although home visits involve traveling throughout the county. Work activities may also involve attending meetings, conferences, and training, that involves out-of-town travel. Ability to lift up to 60 pounds occasionally is required.

SUCCESS FACTORS

Some knowledge of early childhood development and education.

Some knowledge of the educational requirements of the Head Start Program

Some knowledge of good hygiene practices in a center setting.

Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with children, parents and co-workers.

Ability to communicate effectively with children, parents, and others.

Ability to attend regular and ongoing professional development training in early childhood.

Skill in the operation of a personal computer.

EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE

Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education or 60 credit hours, 18 of which should be in early child development. Completion of one year teaching experience in Early Childhood Education. Any satisfactory equivalent combination of experience and training which ensures the ability to perform the work may be substituted for the required experience.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Possession of a valid IL Driver’s License.

Maintain a Para License through the Educator Licensure Information System.

All new hires shall be required to obtain First Aid and CPR training as required by position.

Must meet Illinois DCFS licensing standards.

Residency requirement:

Modified November 15, 2021: All employees (except Police Sworn and Fire Sworn) hired on or after June 1, 2018, shall reside anywhere in Winnebago County or within fifteen (15) miles of Rockford City Hall (425 E. State Street Rockford, IL 61104) within six (6) months after their introductory period. Department Heads shall live within the municipal boundaries of the city of Rockford.

Effective June 1, 2018, all newly hired employees, including newly hired Department Heads, shall live within the municipal boundaries of City of Rockford within six (6) months of their completion of their introductory period.

Classified employees hired after January 1, 1984, may live anywhere in Winnebago County or anywhere within an area fifteen (15) miles from the Public Safety Building within six (6) months of their date of completion of probation. Employees hired prior to January 1, 1984, shall be subject to their conditions of employment in effect at that time.