TEACHER - Mt. Village Head Start

RurAL CAP; Alaska; On-site; USD 35,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental & Vision

401k/Pension Plan

20 days of accrued Paid Time Off

Job summary

RurAL CAP is seeking a qualified individual for a full-time position in their Head Start program based in Alaska. This role involves planning and implementing classroom activities, ensuring compliance with federal regulations, and fostering partnerships with parents.

Applicants should have a BA in Early Childhood Education or related field and experience with preschool children is preferred. Benefits include medical, dental, and 20 days of paid time off.

Qualifications

• At least 18 years of age required.
• Must pass state and federal background checks.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in team environments.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership for planning and implementation of cultural activities.
• Develop individual education plans (IEPs) as required.
• Conduct regular parent-teacher conferences.

Skills

Communication

Cultural sensitivity

Active supervision

Teamwork

Problem-solving

Education

BA degree in Early Childhood Education

Tools

Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, Outlook)

Job description

Job Summary

This position is 40 hours per week/37 weeks per year with summer layoff. Provides planning and implementation of Head Start classroom activities, integrates all Head Start components into the educational curriculum and for home visits.

Essential Functions, Duties and Responsibilities

• Ensures compliance with all applicable federal and state regulations, Child & Adult Care Food Program guidelines, Head Start Performance Standards, agency policies, and the Head Start Work Plan.
• Establishes partnerships with parents that are respectful, culturally sensitive, and non‑judgmental.
• Conducts parent‑teacher conferences and home visits with parents and ensures families’ strengths and needs are addressed.
• Establishes a safe, healthy, nurturing environment for children, including using the principles of Active Supervision at all times.
• Responsible for curriculum and lesson planning that respects the needs of individual children. The materials provided will:
  • Consider the children’s interests, disabilities, special talents, and individual style of learning.
  • Consider the individual in relationship to their cultural and socioeconomic background.
  • Help children to become aware of their roles as integral members of the group.
  • Assure children are treated with dignity and respect.
• Ensures appropriate documentation of program operations, including conducting and entering ongoing observations of children, assessing developmental levels, and utilizing results in planning through the designated assessment system.
• Supports community partnerships for the support of families and children.
• Assists volunteers in learning and abiding by program philosophy while working with children.
• Participates in weekly staff meetings, regular supervisory meetings and all required training.
• Assists kitchen and janitorial staff as requested and performs other duties as assigned.
• Provides the primary leadership role for planning and implementation of age‑ and culturally appropriate activities and supervision of an assigned group of children that promotes their social and emotional development.
• Provides guidance and support to lower‑range staff to ensure adherence to quality standards, deadlines, and proper procedures.
• Participates in active supervision strategies: positioning oneself to observe all children; watching, counting, and listening at all times, and using knowledge of each child’s development and abilities to anticipate actions and provide appropriate redirection when necessary.
• Maintains classroom in accordance with all applicable health and safety regulations and standards.
• Identifies the educational needs of children through observation and develops individual education plans (IEPs) as required.
• Uses computers and computer programs effectively to enter data, create lesson plans, process information, and develop documents and program materials.

Competencies, Skills, and Abilities

• Provides full attention to what other people are saying, takes time to understand the points being made and asks questions as appropriate.
• Ability to respond quickly to children’s needs and emergency situations.
• Speaks clearly and communicates information and ideas effectively so others will understand.
• Ability to monitor and assess performance of oneself and others to make improvements or take corrective action.
• Ability to negotiate to bring others together to try to reconcile differences.
• Ability to read, comprehend, and follow established policies and procedures.
• Ability to manage work time well, prioritize and meet deadlines.
• Ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing, and to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
• Possesses sound judgment and decision‑making abilities to evaluate the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
• Uses logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
• Ability to establish good rapport with people of diverse cultures and belief systems.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a team environment.
• Must demonstrate sound judgment, professional boundaries, ethics, and ability to maintain confidentiality.

Work Environment / Job Conditions

• Agency is a mandated tobacco, drug and alcohol‑free workplace.
• Classroom and general office environment.
• Position may entail exposure to a wide range of children’s illnesses.
• Capable of reading, understanding, and following written procedures and policies related to job responsibilities.
• Develops and maintains constructive and cooperative working relationships with others.
• Develops specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish work.
• Communicates with others outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, and other external sources in person, in writing, or by telephone or e‑mail in keeping with current policies & procedures.
• Must have the ability to operate the following equipment: desktop computer, telephone, copier, PC printer, and fax machine.

Physical Demands

• Regularly grasp, type, see, talk, hear, and lift and carry 40 pounds by use of proper lifting techniques and working safely.
• Perform physical activities such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, bending, handling materials.
• Occasionally perform sedentary activities requiring long sitting, repetitive hand, wrist, and arm use for handling, positioning, moving materials, and manipulating objects.
• Must be in good general health and free from serious physical, mental health and/or substance abuse problems.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

This is a full‑time position. Days and hours of work: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or hours vary with location. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand.

Travel

Occasional travel may be required, primarily local during the business day, with some out‑of‑area and overnight travel possible.

Employment Requirements and Required Education

• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Must pass state and federal background checks, including fingerprints, prior to starting work.
• Must have at least one of the following qualifications:
  • An associate, baccalaureate, or advanced degree in a field related to early childhood education; or an associate degree in a field related to early childhood education and coursework equivalent to a major in that field with experience teaching preschool‑age children; or a baccalaureate or advanced degree in any field and coursework equivalent to a major in early childhood education with experience teaching preschool‑age children.
  • Teachers not holding an Early Childhood Education degree must hold a current preschool Child Development Associate (CDA) and complete an Associate and/or Bachelor’s degree, according to a prescribed timeline, if granted a waiver.
• Responsible work ethic with reliable attendance.
• Must pursue an ongoing professional development plan including formal training certification or college degree as recommended by the program.
• Must attend 15 hours of professional development training annually.
• Employees must remain alert, attentive, and fully engaged during all working hours; sleeping while on duty is strictly prohibited.
• Proven ability to be self‑directed in problem solving and decision‑making and to perform basic assignments with little or no direct supervision while working effectively as a team member.
• Demonstrated intermediate level of computer skills to use and create documents and reports, spreadsheets, lesson plans, workshop materials, slide presentations, and enter data into database programs, proficient use of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, and Outlook.
• Maintain strict confidentiality as required by HIPAA and 42 CFR Part II.
• Provide a TB screening and basic physical exam within thirty (30) days of hire with follow‑up every three (3) years at employee’s expense.
• Complete and maintain CPR and First Aid Training certification at employer’s expense.
• Must have own transportation.

Preferred Education and Experience

• BA degree in Early Childhood Education or related field plus previous experience as a lead teacher of children 3–5 years old.
• Fluency in English and native language of community.
• Knowledge of child development from prenatal to five years of age.
• Knowledge of parenting and related issues.
• Head Start/Early Head Start experience.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental & Vision
• Life & Supplemental Insurance
• 401k/Pension Plan
• Flexible Spending Account/Health & Dependent Care
• Health Savings Account
• Employee Assistance Program
• 20 days (160 hours) of accrued Paid Time Off
• 12 established paid holidays
• 10 paid holidays for Child Development site staff
• Monthly Wellness Reimbursement