Teacher

Pinal Gila Community Child Services; Florence (AZ); On-site; USD 38,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Pinal Gila Community Child Services is seeking a dedicated preschool teacher to work in a Head Start classroom with 15–20 children aged 3–5. You will collaborate with an assistant teacher to plan, monitor, and implement curriculum, and engage with families to support outcomes for all abilities.

You will ensure safety, support nutrition and wellness, and adapt activities to individual needs, including bilingual English/Spanish learners. Strong communication with staff and families is essential.

Qualifications

• Associate degree in ECE or related field (or equivalent coursework) with preschool teaching experience.
• Must be at least 18 years old; PIC at least 21.
• Two years of preschool teaching experience preferred; Head Start experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide a safe classroom environment and teach safe practices to prevent injuries.
• Implement curriculum and activities for language, literacy, math, science, and arts.
• Support dual-language learners and children with disabilities or special needs.
• Establish positive relationships with children and families; promote family involvement.

Skills

Observation

Documentation

Individualized planning

Communication skills

Virtual platforms

Technology tools

Classroom management

Safety supervision

Bilingual English/Spanish desirable

Education

Associate degree in Early Childhood Education

Related field with preschool teaching experience

Baccalaureate degree; Teach for America admission

Tools

Computer skills

Job description

Job Summary

Responsible for working directly in the classroom with a direct focus on children 3 to 5 years of age, including working collaboratively with the assistant teacher to ensure the successful operation of a school readiness classroom with a total of 15-20 children, working with his/her team members to plan, monitor and implement content areas and with family members to implement the curriculum to achieve outcomes for children of all abilities within the Head Start Program.

Essential Functions

• 1. Provides a safe environment and teaches children safe practices to prevent and reduce injuries.
• 2. Teaches children about good nutrition and practices that promote health and wellness.
• 3. Provides an environment that reduces behavior issues by arranging the classroom and creating a routine that keeps children's developmental and individual needs in mind.
• 4. Organizes and uses positive interactions, physical space, materials, daily schedule, and routines to create a secure, engaging environment that promotes learning, play, and exploration for all children, including those with disabilities and special needs.
• 5. Implements curriculum using developmentally appropriate materials, learning experiences, and teaching strategies to promote curiosity, reasoning, problem-solving, physical development and other cognitive skills.
• 6. Promotes children's learning of language, literacy, mathematics, science, technology, social studies, and the arts.
• 7. Implements curriculum and strategies that help children communicate thoughts and feelings, regulate emotions, establish positive relationships, and participate cooperatively with peers.
• 8. Assures dual-language learners make progress in understanding and speaking both English and their home language.
• 9. Develops a warm, positive, supportive, and responsive relationship with each child; helps each child learn about and take pride in their individual and cultural identity.
• 10. Establishes a positive, responsive, cooperative relationship with each child's family; engages in two-way communication and encourages family involvement. Supports the child's relationship with his or her family.
• 11. Communicates and collaborates with staff, parents, and community members who represent culturally and ethnically diverse populations.
• 12. Uses observation, documentation, and planning to support children's development and ensure individualization in classroom planning.
• 13. Makes decisions based on knowledge of research-based early childhood practices and promotes high-quality school readiness services.
• 14. Assists children with differing abilities in daily routines, including diapering and feeding as needed.
• 15. Incorporates IEP/IFSP goals into classroom activities.
• 16. Recruits families for all PGCCS options, including maintaining a waiting list.
• 17. Manages, monitors, and supervises the classroom to meet legal and regulatory requirements.
• 18. Maintains child, family, and staff confidentiality.
• 19. Proficient in utilizing various virtual platforms to facilitate seamless communication and collaboration.

Minimum Requirements

• 1. Associate degree in Early Childhood Education (ECE); or Associate degree in a related field and coursework equivalent to a major relating to ECE, with experience teaching preschool-age children; or Baccalaureate degree and has been admitted into the Teach for America Program. All education must be from an accredited institution. PGCCS retains the right to obtain a Teacher Education Waiver from the Office of Head Start as needed.
• 2. Teacher must be at least 18 years old.
• 3. Person in Charge (PIC) must be at least 21 years old per BCCL requirements.
• 4. Two years of pre-school (ages 3-5) classroom teaching experience is preferred.
• 5. Two years Head Start preschool teaching preferred.
• 6. Two years of adult supervisory experience preferred.
• 7. Arizona Driver's License, proof of insurance, fingerprint card, Social Security card, CPR and First Aid, food handlers, if required, and provide a vehicle for program business.
• 8. Health Questionnaire is required at hire and will be updated every 3 years.
• 9. Meet all agency, state and federal required immunizations or have an approved exemption on file.
• 10. Intermediate to advanced computer skills, internet, and e-mail.
• 11. Employee must be able to speak, read, write, and understand English.
• 12. Bilingual English/Spanish skills highly desirable.
• 13. Food Handler's Card or Certificate within 30 calendar days of hire.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge:

• 1. Knowledge of Head Start Program Performance Standards and applicable BCCL licensing requirements.
• 2. Knowledge of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and how to implement it within the classroom.
• 3. Knowledge of early childhood development theory and developmentally appropriate practice, including strategies for dual-language learners and children with disabilities or special needs.

Skills:

• 4. Skilled in implementing curriculum using developmentally appropriate materials, learning experiences, and teaching strategies across all content areas, including language, literacy, math, science, technology, social studies, and the arts.
• 5. Skilled in observation, documentation, and individualized planning to support each child's development.
• 6. Strong oral and written communication skills; proficient in utilizing various virtual platforms to facilitate seamless communication and collaboration.
• 7. Uses technology tools and classroom software effectively and accurately, completing required tasks with minimal errors.

Abilities:

• 8. Ability to supervise preschool-age children in a safe environment and apply early childhood development theory to individual children's needs.
• 9. Ability to make frequent, significant decisions and solve problems, including responding appropriately to an emergency or crisis.
• 10. Ability to build warm, positive, and responsive relationships with children and families, honoring each child's individual and cultural identity.
• 11. Ability to interact respectfully with persons of diverse ages, backgrounds, and lifestyles; adapts positively to change and pursues continuous learning.
• 12. Ability to demonstrate/capable understanding of the DCS reporting system and the signs and symptoms of child abuse and neglect.

Physical Requirements

Able to perform the following physical requirements of the position with or without reasonable accommodation: critical sensory requirements include general vision, specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Hear or listen in the normal range (corrected) and speak and give directions clearly. Able to walk, sit, stand, kneel, crouch, crawl, reach, lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects up to 40 lbs., run 50 feet, and demonstrate exercises - jumping jacks, leg lifts, etc.

Working Conditions

Work is performed in a classroom/office setting where minimal exposure to injury exists. The hours of work will generally be during regular business hours and average at least 40 hrs. per week. There will be work variations in work hours due to special employee projects, deadlines, and other concerns. PGCCS employees have the possibility of exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials through collateral duty to their routine work assignments, such as rendering first aid if need arises, and seldom exposure to vibration, toxic conditions, odors, dust, mold, and poor ventilation.