Early Head Start Infant/Toddler Teacher

General Description: Under the supervision of the Center Manager, the Early Head Start Caregiver ensures the safety and well-being of each child in the program at all times by providing a safe and healthy environment. It is the responsibility of this position to assist in the implementation of a developmentally appropriate plan for a group of six-week-old to three-year-old children as well as to provide quality early childhood education.

Essential Job Responsibilities and Performance Indicators:

• Creates a nurturing, responsive environment that promotes positive development of social and emotional competencies.
• Observe closely and understand patterns to determine possible causes of challenging behavior and implement preventive measures to address it.
• Teach children new social and communication skills in partnership with families.
• Works with a classroom partner and families to develop individual goals for all children.
• Uses observations of children and anecdotal notes to document children’s progress and individualize the curriculum.
• Visually observe and hear children from all areas of the classroom and playground at all times.
• Develop and implement lesson plans.
• Maintain confidentiality regarding staff and family information.
• Maintain a safe, healthy classroom environment appropriate for infants/toddlers.
• Participates in assigned meetings, events, and training as required.
• Other related duties as assigned.

 Qualifications / Skills and Experience: Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education or an Infant and Toddler CDA preferred. 

•  Two years experience in preschool (infant/toddler) classroom preferred.
•  Excellent reading, writing, and typing/computer/data entry skills.
•  Ability to pass background checks and health screening.

 Professional and Ethical Standards:

•  Maintain professional boundaries and confidentiality.
• Make decisions based on support principles, theories, practices, and codes of ethics.
• Contributes positively and articulates the success and needs of the program.
• Be knowledgeable about and sensitive to an individual’s values, beliefs, traditions, cultural influences, make-up, and circumstances.
• Be open and honest in expressing concerns, ideas, and information with staff and families.
• Possess organizational and planning skills.
• Demonstrate familiarity with employment policies, performance standards, work plans, and agency goals and objectives.
• Demonstrate commitment to mission, values, and policies in performing daily duties.
• Fulfill role as mandated reporter as stated in the Child Abuse & Neglect Policy.
• Attend professional development classes and training (local, state, regional, and national conferences).

 Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here represent those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk to or hear individuals in person and over the phone.
• The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; use hands to handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms.
• Perform a physical inventory of equipment and/or supplies.
• Lift and move heavy and/or bulky objects and/or children weighing up to 50 lbs.
• Maintain a clean classroom area, which may require the use of a broom, mop, vacuum, cleaning fluids, etc.
• Ability to physically interact with children (walk and run quickly, kneel, or sit on the floor, bend, lift, walk over rough or uneven grounds, and exposure to diverse weather conditions).
• Ability to assist in setting up classrooms/office areas which require but are not limited to moving tables, chairs, shelves, etc.)
• Assist with the safety of children through the seeing, hearing, touching, and smelling senses.