Position Description

Develop and lead classes for infants and toddlers in accordance with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

Major/Essential Functions

• Demonstrate the mental, emotional, and physical ability to work with children ages 6 weeks to 3 years and families from various ethnic and socio-economic groups.
• Demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities to work with children with disabilities.
• Provide for the safety and supervision of children according to DFPS (Texas Department of Family and Protective Services), NAEYC accreditation standards (National Association for the Education for Young Children), and Early Head Start Performance Standards. Familiarity with and willingness to abide by the Texas Family Code 261.001 as it pertains to the abuse and neglect of young children.
• Create developmentally appropriate practices (DAP) for children and implement positive guidance strategies.
• Provide effective and nurturing teacher-child interactions.
• Plan and implement learning experiences that ensure effective curriculum implementation and use of assessment and promote children's progress across the standards described in the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework: Ages Birth to Five and applicable state early learning and development standards, including for children with disabilities and dual language learners. Submit and implement weekly lesson plans, including information based on observations of children (interests and milestones) and IFSPs.
• Collaborate with outside agencies such as ECI (Early Childhood Intervention) and CPS (Children's Protective Services) to implement plans for children and families.
• Observe and record anecdotes of children daily to determine needs and interests as a basis of planning. Record formal assessments based on school readiness goals.
• Maintain child files including weekly electronic data entries in ChildPlus and COR.
• Maintain daily documentation, including but not limited to daily health checks, daily note, classroom health & safety check list, weekly classroom checklists, signing children out daily, CACFP feeding. (Infant only - daily meal production records.)
• Maintain daily informal interactions with families as well as conduct formal interactions as needed. Conduct a minimum of two parent conferences and two home visits per year per Head Start Standards.
• Build relationships with families to conduct family assessments and set goals for children and families.
• Maintain professional ethics and positive working relationships with co-workers, supervisors, students, and families.
• Participate in professional development by attending conferences and professional meetings and by reading professional literature. Share pertinent information with peers.
• Help plan, attend, and participate in regular team planning meetings, center staff meetings, and special events.
• Serve as a role model for college lab students each semester, including mentoring them in the classroom on COR (Child Observation Record) and a play environment.
• Read, evaluate, and provide feedback on college students' assignments.
• Provide leadership and mentor Assistant Teacher and Classroom Assistant in all listed job responsibilities.

Required Qualifications

Associates degree.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or Human Development with a specialization or course focus on child development, or related field.
• 2 years of classroom experience working with infants and toddlers
• Experience in an Early Head Start program
• Experience working in an NAEYC-accredited program
• Knowledge of and experience with Texas Child Care Licensing Minimum Standards