Lakes & Prairies Community Action Partnership, Inc.

 

 

 

Employee Name

Program

 

Head Start

Job Title

Job Classification Code

FTE

Lead Teacher/ Family Support

02

1.0

 

Originally Prepared By

Date Prepared:       

FLSA Status:

Head Start Program Director and Coordinators

May 29, 2008

Revised June, 2009

Non-exempt

 

Reports To

Approved By

Designated Coordinator

 

Head Start Policy Council, June 24, 2008

Employee’s Signature

Date

 

 

 

Supervisor’s Signature

Date

 

 

 

 

JOB FUNCTION:

To plan and implement learning experiences that advances the cognitive, physical, social and emotional development of children.  Support families in meeting their basic needs, completing program requirements, setting and achieving goals, and being involved in their child’s education.

AGENCY EXPECTATIONS OF EMPLOYEE:

§ Adheres to Agency Polices and Procedures

§ Acts as a role model within and outside the Agency

§ Performs duties as workload necessitates

§ Maintains a positive and respectful attitude

§ Communicates regularly and effectively with colleagues and supervisor

§ Demonstrates flexible and efficient time management and ability to prioritize workload

HEAD START PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS:

§ Physical exam within 30 days, 4 year renewal.

§ Mantoux test, 2 year renewal.

§ First Aid/CPR certification within first 60 days of initial employment and maintain current status

§ Hepatitis B or documentation of refusal.

§ DHS Criminal Background check.

§ Appropriate licensure/transcripts or certification/credentials on file.

§ Personal transportation to assure completion of job duties.

§ Flexibility with schedule to meet program/family needs.

§ Complete performance standard training modules and implement all appropriate program policies and Head Start Performance Standards

REPORTING TO THIS POSITION ARE: Teacher Assistant

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Early Childhood Development and Health Services (60%)

1.      Prevention and Early Intervention

§  Supervise and monitor children at all times and respond appropriately to crisis or emergency situations in the classroom

§  Be consistently proactive and monitor the classroom effectively to prevent problems from developing

§  Establish a developmentally appropriate classroom environment as defined by the ECERS-R rating scale

§  Complete screenings and assessments within program timelines including the Brigance, ASQ-SE, and COR

§  Monitor health and nutrition requirements assuring timelines are met and adequate completion percentages are maintained

§  Support families in completing immunization, physical, dental and nutrition requirements

§  Implement all health/safety policies and licensing regulations

§  In collaboration with the family and the Head Start health consultant, administer child medication per doctor orders completing all necessary documentation

2.      Individualization

§  Encourage the child to develop positive relationships, regulate their emotions, and learn and explore in their environment

§  Utilize appropriate guidance and discipline techniques  to meet the individual needs, temperament and strengths of each child

§  Adapt curriculum to address and meet individual goals for all children

§  Assess individual and group needs, attending to special needs, specific interests, strengths and concerns

§  Initiate and follow-up on child referrals to service providers (e.g. mental health, special services)

3.      Curriculum and Assessment

§  Implement curriculum (High Scope, SEEDS, Second Step) to ensure an intellectually stimulating environment which utilizes the Head Start Outcome Framework and draws on the interests of the children

§  Collect on-going anecdotal notes, document child observations, gather child work samples to create an accurate, useful, objective and comprehensive developmental profile for each child

§  Develop weekly lesson plans to reflect individual and group needs based on information gathered through observations and assessments

§  Involve parents in the development and implementation of the curriculum in order to reflect family culture, traditions, and language

Family and Community Partnerships (30%)

1.      Family Partnerships

§  Develop strong relationships with families and partner with them to develop goals based on family strengths, needs and existing plans

§  Individualize approaches to working with families by drawing on a sound understanding of family development issues and the unique needs of each family

§  Refer families to community resources and follow-up on the effectiveness of those referrals

§  Document all family contacts and services on the Family Service Documentation, SRAS, and ROMA Roundup.

§  Advocate for and support families as they follow through on child and family needs e.g. basic needs, health requirements, mental health concerns

§  Provide crisis intervention as needed

§  Monitor attendance and work with the ERSEA/Family Support Coordinator and families to maintain regular attendance

§  Conduct outreach, recruitment and enrollment

2.      Parent Involvement

§  Maintain a positive classroom climate that is welcoming to parents and community members (greet and welcome any visitors to the classroom)

§  Develop and maintain relationships with parents that clearly outline expectations and opportunities for involvement in the Head Start program e.g. home visits, parent meetings, volunteering

§  Partner with parents to provide opportunities to enhance their parenting skills, knowledge and understanding of the educational and developmental needs and activities of their children

§  Provide parents information through parent handbook, weekly classroom newsletters, bulletin boards, take home folders and informal contacts

§  Plan, facilitate and document monthly parent center committee meetings which reflect parent interests and classroom curriculum, assisting parents to take a leadership role

§  Recruit parent representatives to serve on policy council and support them in fulfilling their duties

§  Promote and facilitate transition of children and families to appropriate community agencies and school settings

Program Design and Management (10%)

§  Understand and use available computer reports including Access and HSFIS to monitor program requirements and plan appropriate services (attendance, health summary, child and family goals, mental health, etc.)

§  Facilitate monthly case management meetings and document progress toward child and family goals, program requirements, and identified child and family needs

§  Maintain and document daily contacts with families through phone calls, written communication, group activities, home visits, and classroom visits

§  Collect in-kind monthly and ensure forms are filled out completely and turned in on time

§  Assign/take daily attendance and meal counts

§  Adhere to the Head Start Guiding Principles

§  Demonstrates an awareness/sensitivity to needs of low-income families

§  Guide staff, parents, community partners and volunteers to adhere to all program policies and procedures

§  Supervise classroom staff by role modeling, reflective supervision and candid feedback

§  Responsible for daily classroom operations including classroom staff coverage, timecards, substitute teacher file, and classroom maintenance

§  Maintain professional boundaries including confidentiality and data privacy policies

§  Further professional growth by seeking feedback, reflecting on and assessing own practice, and taking advantage of opportunities to improve skills and knowledge

§  Actively participate in reflective practice with supervisor

§  Share ideas and suggestions at meetings e.g. All Staff, PLCs, classroom meetings

§  Facilitate weekly reflection with classroom team

QUALIFICATIONS:

§ EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION, LICENSURE

o   Bachelor’s or advanced degree in early childhood education official transcript required or

o   Bachelor’s or advanced degree and coursework equivalent to a major relating to early childhood education official transcript required, with experience teaching preschool-age children. 

o   Prefer one year experience in early childhood setting

o   Past Head Start experience helpful

o   Ability to read, interpret, and implement all applicable regulations i.e. Head Start Performance Standards, Head Start Service Plan, NAEYC Developmentally Appropriate Practice, Minnesota DHS licensing, CACFP requirements, and Minnesota Office of Economic Opportunity

§ KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

o   Demonstrated ability to apply early childhood educational theory in all Head Start learning environments

o   Ability to collect, monitor, analyze, and apply strategies for child and family outcomes

o   Skill at guiding and facilitating parent groups or willingness to learn

o   Ability to maintain regular work hours attendance notifying supervisor well in advance of planned absences

o   Ability to build relationships, problem solve and resolve conflicts

o   Excellent oral, written and computer skills for communicating and tracking work data

o   Ability to determine workload priorities, meet deadlines, work independently as well as in a team environment

o   Working knowledge of available community resources and Head Start program components or willingness to learn

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITY SPECIFICATIONS:

§  PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

o   While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell.

o   The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.

o   Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

o   Physical ability to move quickly in order to respond to children who are very active and may need restraint or redirection in order to insure their safety or the safety of others in the environment.

o   Daily kneeling, stooping, bending, and sitting on the floor to attend to children’s needs.

§  WORK ENVIRONMENT: Work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

o   The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.