ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Demonstrates respect for the capabilities, backgrounds and cultural differences of families, children, coworkers, and the public consistent with trauma informed practices regardless of race, color, religion, or disability
• Follows the agencies cultural competencies and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Code of Ethical Conduct
• Develops and maintains respectful relationships with families and children to ensures the daily needs of children are met through responsive care giving practices
• Implements curriculum that complies with Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework (ELOF), Performance Standards, Missouri Accreditation requirements, state regulatory guidelines and Center for Human Services (CHS) policies and procedures
• Develops and implements both individual school readiness and group lesson plans that reflect parent input and cultural relevance and which promote the learning domains found in the ELOF
• Follows a consistent schedule, which includes small and large group experiences, free play, music and movement, large and small motor activities, skill development, routine care, family style meals and effective transitions between activities using principles supporting a high-quality environment for infants and toddlers
• Ensures ratios are always met
• In consultation with supervisor develops own professional development goals and coaching/training plans and actively pursues those goals
• Educates and works with parents to ensure all health requirements of children in classroom are up to date and all, screenings of children completed as required by state childcare licensing and Head Start Performance Standards
• Ensures ongoing communication with parents through Procare, phone calls, home visits, conferences, distribution of newsletters, flyers and other information to families as instructed by supervisor
• Responsible for home visits, parent trainings and parent conferences as required to meet program requirements which includes meeting the needs of working families in the evening, as needed
• Serves as a resource to enrolled families in helping to identify, refer and assist families in making connections to other supportive agencies that will support self-sufficiency
• During home visits, assists families in identification of their child’s school readiness goals, supports family’s observations skills and implementation of strategies for volunteering through co-teaching at home
• Assists families in identification of goals for individualized family partnership plan and implementation of family goals that will assists parents in improving their skills to optimize the home environment and attain self-sufficiency
• Enters data and documentation into Child Plus and Desired Results Development Profile (DRDP) assessment.
• Ensures all files are complete, accurate, organized, and confidentially maintained and that a comprehensive and ongoing portfolio for each child, that include weekly observations, examples of the child’s work, child individual/coping plan and child’s individual goals are kept up to date.
• Organizes and assists with monthly parent meetings
• Collaborates with local school district, as needed, for children with disabilities
• Provides non-supervisory oversite of new staff in reference to daily classroom management, such as but not limited to lesson plans implementation, classroom schedules, room arrangements and classroom safety to ensure all Head Start, state and accreditation requirements are met
• Possess and demonstrate a strong working knowledge of the Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale (ECERS), Teaching Pyramid Observation Tool (TPOT), Creative Curriculum and Missouri Responsive Caregiving standards, Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS), and Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP)

REQUIRED EDUCATION:

• A minimum of an associate degree from an accredited college in a directly related field and experience working with children, a bachelor’s degree in child development or early childhood education is preferred or enrolled in a degree program and within 2 years of attainment of degree. Must attend continuing training classes designed to broaden professionalism, education and skill involving childcare and child development as required by Federal and State regulations.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE:

• Strong computer skills
• Must maintain Infant Toddler CPR, First Aid and AED certification
• Must obtain Class E driver’s license within 30 days of starting
• Must provide proof of personal valid vehicle insurance
• Medical exam and TB Assessment is required prior to hire and again every 5 years
• Background screening to include fingerprinting is required prior to hire and again every 5 years

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE:

• Knowledge of UKG platform, Child Plus, Creative Curriculum, CLASS, DRDP and Head Start Performance standards preferred