Teacher, Head Start

University of Southern California; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 34,000 - 37,000; Full time

Job summary

USC’s School for Early Childhood Education in Los Angeles seeks an enthusiastic Teacher, Head Start to plan and implement education programs for preschoolers over 2.5 years. You provide personal care and developmentally appropriate activities within Head Start guidelines.

You will collaborate with staff to meet licensing and safety standards, assess progress, and engage families through conferences and home visits while supporting a warm, inclusive classroom environment.

Qualifications

• Associate's degree in early childhood education, child development, or related field; combined experience/education acceptable.
• 1 year of experience in early childhood education.
• Teacher Permit or permit eligible (24 ECE units, including 9 core units).
• BLS/CPR Infant and Child First Aid/CPR certification.
• Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) Certification must be obtained within the first year.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning and implementation of personal care, daily educational and recreational activities.
• Prepare learning environments and materials for instruction.
• Maintain health, safety and upkeep of the learning environment.
• Ensure compliance with licensing, health/safety, and accreditation standards.
• Conduct parent-teacher conferences and home visits as required.
• Develop and implement developmentally appropriate curriculum and daily lesson plans.
• Assess children and create individual development plans; document observations.
• Foster strong relationships with enrolled families and community stakeholders.

Skills

BLS/CPR certification

CLASS Certification

Education

Associate's degree in early childhood education or related field

Bachelor's degree in early childhood education or related field

Job description

Job Title: Teacher, Head Start

Reports to: Regional Education Manager

Division/Department: University Relations/School for Early Childhood Education

Job Location: Los Angeles

Direct Reports: None

USC’s School for Early Childhood Education is dedicated to providing comprehensive, high-quality early childhood education services to children and their families in the South Los Angeles area. Founded in 1970 as a teaching school for future early-childhood professionals, the USC School for Early Childhood Education (USC SECE) seeks to promote school readiness, health/nutrition, mental wellness, and family engagement. Today, our licensed Head Start and Early Head Start centers serve more than 500 infants and pre-school children and their parents each year. We are seeking enthusiastic, creative, dynamic, and team-oriented individuals who enjoy working with children while fostering a supportive learning environment.

Job Overview

The Teacher, Head Start is responsible for initiating, planning, and implementing education program within the classroom in accordance with the policies procedures and philosophy of Head Start Federal and State regulations. With the assistance of assigned program staff, this role facilitates the personal care, learning and development of a group of preschool children over the age of 2.5 years old.

Responsibilities and Duties

• Leads the planning and implementation of personal care, daily educational and recreational activities.
• Prepares learning environment.
• Sets up materials for individual/group instruction.
• Maintains the ongoing health, safety and upkeep of the learning environment.
• In conjunction with stakeholders, ensures program meets all applicable childcare requirements (e.g., licensing, health and safety, accreditation standards).
• Confers with licensing, health and safety, and social service personnel as required.
• Provides relationship-based care in daily routines such as mealtime, toileting, hand washing, and napping for infants or toddlers; and/or preschool age children.
• Plans and implements developmentally appropriate curriculum.
• Collaborates with team on developing and implementing daily lesson plans.
• Conducts assessments, develops individual development plans and records ongoing observations of children in assigned groups.
• Prepares and conducts parent-teacher conferences and home visits for each child in the assigned classroom environment/setting according to schedule of requirements.
• Conducts home visits for each child in the assigned classroom according to schedule of requirements.
• Utilizes classroom materials and routines to promote an environment conductive to appropriate levels of development, interests, and specific needs of the children.
• Maintains effective and professional relationships with enrolled families.
• Maintains a safe and healthy classroom environment in accordance with Head Start Program Performance Standards, Title 5, and Title 22 Regulations.
• Attends regular staff meetings as scheduled by Site Supervisor and Administration.
• Performs additional duties as assigned by Site Supervisor, Associate Director, Assistant Director and Administration.
• Encourages a workplace culture where all employees are valued, value others and have the opportunity to contribute through their ideas, words and actions, in accordance with the USC Code of Ethics.

Minimum Qualifications

• Associate's degree in early childhood education, child development, or related field; combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education.
• 1 year of experience in early childhood education.
• Teacher Permit or permit eligible (24 ECE units, including 9 units Core Courses (Child Growth and Development, Child, Family and Community, and Curriculum)).
• BLS/CPR Infant and Child First Aid/CPR certification.
• Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) Certification must be obtained within the first year.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, child development, or related field.
• 2 years of experience in early childhood education.
• Ability to create and implement daily curriculum plans.
• Ability to work well harmoniously in a multi-cultural team.
• Ability to promote a feeling of security and trust in infants and toddlers, and preschool age children by being warm, supportive, and comforting.
• A caring, compassionate approach to working with children and families as well as maintaining an open, friendly, and cooperative relationship with each child’s family.
• Awareness of safe lifting techniques for lifting children, supplies and furnishings and commitment to using preventive health measures in the classroom to prevent the spread of disease.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able climb stairs, reach, bend, lift 20-30 pounds, crawl, kneel, stoop, twist, grasp with hands and fingers materials, use arms and legs, able to walk, climb ladders if applicable.

Pre-Employment Requirements

• Physical exam
• TB test
• LiveScan/fingerprint clearance
• MMR and Tdap vaccinations
• CPR
• Child Abuse Mandated Reporter Training

The hourly rate range for this position is $25.00 - $27.00.

When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

Education

• Minimum Education: Associate's degree Related undergraduate study.
• Additional Education Requirements: Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education.
• Minimum Experience: 1 year
• Minimum Skills: Early childhood education and experience. Meets Child Development Permit Matrix qualifications and requirements for position.
• Preferred Education: Bachelor's degree

USC is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or USC policy.

USC observes affirmative action obligations consistent with state and federal law.

USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal records in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for employers and the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and with due consideration for patient and student safety.

We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities.

Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact USC Human Resources by phone at [phone], or by email at [e-mail].

Notice of Non-discrimination Employment Equity

Read USC’s Clery Act Annual Security Report.

USC is a leading private research university located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles – a global center for arts, technology and international business. As the largest private employer in the city – responsible for more than $5 billion annually in economic activity in the region – we offer the opportunity to work in a dynamic and diverse environment, in careers that span a broad spectrum of talents and skills. As a USC employee, you will enjoy excellent benefits and perks, and you will be a member of the Trojan Family - the faculty, staff, students and alumni who make USC a great place to work.