Teacher I

Save the Children US; Ville Platte (LA); On-site; USD 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a dedicated team focused on transforming the lives of children through education and care. As a Head Start Teacher, you will develop and implement engaging lesson plans that foster social-emotional, physical, and cognitive growth in preschool children. Your role is crucial in creating a nurturing classroom environment and building strong partnerships with families. With a commitment to safety and quality, you will play a vital part in ensuring children are ready for school while adhering to the highest standards of care. This is an incredible opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the lives of young learners and their families.

Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

Short-term Disability Coverage

Long-term Disability Coverage

Employee Assistance Program

Retirement Savings Plan

Paid Time Off

Qualifications

• Minimum of an Associate degree in early childhood education or related field.
• Professional proficiency in spoken and written English is required.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement lesson plans for preschool children.
• Ensure a safe and healthy learning environment for children.
• Engage with children and build relationships with families.

Skills

Interpersonal Skills

Communication Skills

Organizational Skills

Problem-Solving Skills

Time Management

Education

Associate Degree in Child Development

Early Childhood Education Degree

Tools

Online Record Systems

Job description

Position Title: Head Start Teacher I (HS267)

Employee Type: Full-Time Regular

Supervisor Title: Center Director or Manager, Education & Inclusion

Division: U.S. Programs & Advocacy

Summary

The Head Start Teacher develops and implements individual and group educational plans for preschool children, designed to promote social-emotional, physical and cognitive growth in a manner appropriate to their stage of development. You will be responsible for the general, day-to-day operations of a Head Start classroom and must verify legal compliance with federal, state and local regulations. You will create and nurture strong partnerships with families and ensure that the program quality remains at the highest standards.

You will report directly to the Center Director or Manager of Education & Inclusion and may supervise Teacher Assistants while seeking support in the classroom from Program Aides and Volunteers.

As a front-line representative of Save the Children, you are required to ensure the safety and security of children and families that you come into contact with, adhering to the agency’s values of Accountability, Ambition, Collaboration, Creativity, and Integrity.

As a Save the Children employee who will come into contact with children on a routine basis, you are expected to prevent child abuse in every situation by striving, through mental awareness, good practice, and training to minimize risk to children. You must take positive steps to protect children who may be a subject of concern and report, respond to any instance of child abuse, and promote training and awareness around all child-safeguarding obligations.

What You’ll Be Doing (Essential Duties)

1. Develop and implement individualized and group lesson plans as well as educational activities that promote all developmental areas to improve the readiness of children for school.
2. Ensure there is a safe, healthy, and developmentally-appropriate learning environment.
3. Build effective relationships within the organization, the children, and their families.
4. Maintain accurate records, both on paper and in designated online systems.
5. Maintain confidentiality regarding children and families.
6. Plan, conduct, and document observations, assessments, and screenings. Maintain a comprehensive and ongoing portfolio assessment for each child including weekly observations, examples of the child's work, and developmental assessments.
7. Keep manager informed of important issues.
8. Work with the Assistant Teacher, Program Aides, and Volunteers to develop their skills and abilities in planning and carrying out classroom activities.
9. Engage with children during all activities throughout the day. Provide constant supervision of children during all learning activities indoors and outdoors and ensure a safe environment.
10. Use the playground as an extension of the classroom; ensure the playground is safe.
11. Provide a balanced program of child-initiated and teacher-directed activities and opportunities for individual, small group, and large group learning activities.
12. Eat with and assist children in eating during mealtime to teach social and self-help skills and sound nutritional practices.
13. Ensure that the physical needs of children are met, assisting children in health and personal habits, such as resting, brushing teeth, diapering, and toilet habits.
14. Create ways to engage parents in the education of their children including encouraging classroom involvement and home activities.
15. Create an inventory of all classroom equipment and supplies annually.
16. Plan and conduct conferences (minimum 2) and home visits (minimum 2) or more often as needed to ensure parent/caregiver is well informed on their child’s progress of development and learning, routines, activities, and behavior.
17. Work in cooperation with Manager of Education & Inclusion to develop and document progress on professional development plan; actively engage in professional development activities to increase qualifications.
18. Work closely with management to ensure program complies with Head Start Program Performance Standards.
19. This position must have the ability to work in a constant state of alertness and safe manner and protect the children’s safety by implementing active supervision techniques to ensure no child is left alone or unsupervised at any time.
20. Ensure the mobilization and documentation of matching-in-kind activities, goods, and services.
21. Perform other related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

1. Minimum of an Associate degree in child development, early childhood education or a related degree with early childhood equivalent coursework equivalent to a major relating to early childhood education, with experience teaching preschool-age children.
2. Professional proficiency in spoken and written English.
3. Demonstrated ability to successfully communicate and collaborate with individuals and teams at all levels—whether internal or external—in the provision of high-quality services to children and families.
4. Demonstrated successful interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills; great problem-solving and time management skills.
5. Demonstrated ability to follow established and communicated directions and take initiative.
6. Demonstrated knowledge of the purpose of the Head Start/Early Head Start program.
7. Proven ability to relate sensitively with children.
8. Proven ability to keep all required information strictly confidential.
9. Must participate in professional development training including basic first aid and pediatric CPR certification as required by state licensing and HSPPS.
10. Demonstrated commitment to fostering an environment of diversity, inclusion, and belonging.

Physical Requirements related to essential functions: Ability to perform medium to heavy physical work exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, up to 20 pounds frequently and up to 5-10 pounds constantly, performing such activities as sitting, crawling, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, and grasping. This also includes some duties that require repetitive action and motion skills, keyboarding, and computer use.

Clear pre-employment background check requirements, including local, state, and national criminal records check, sex offender registries, employment, and education verifications (including child abuse registry check if required by state regulations) and pass all state and local health requirements required post job offer and prior to employment.

This position may require the incumbent to operate a motor vehicle to fulfill certain essential functions of the job. The incumbent should maintain a valid driver’s license and remain in compliance with any Save the Children policies pertaining to the safe operation of motor vehicles.

Current and former Head Start/Early Head Start parents will receive preference for employment vacancies for which they are qualified.

Preferred Qualifications

1. Bilingual preferred (English/Spanish or English and other languages used by children and families).
2. If in North Carolina, holding a Birth-Kindergarten (B-K) Licensure preferred.

Why you should join the Save the Children Head Start Team…

Actual base salary may vary based upon, but not limited to, relevant experience, base salary of internal peers, business sector, and geographic location. Employee may be eligible for an incentive program. Save the Children US also offers outstanding benefits that include health, dental, vision and life insurances, short-term and long-term disability coverage, an Employee Assistance Program, a retirement savings plan with employer contribution, paid time off, and much more.

About Save the Children

Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. In the United States and around the world, we give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We do whatever it takes for children – every day and in times of crisis – transforming their lives