Head Start Teacher

KAWERAK POSITION DESCRIPTION

Location: Koyuk, AK

DIVISION:                                        Education, Employment and Supportive Services

DEPARTMENT:                                Head Start/Early Head Start

JOB TITLE:                                        Head Start Teacher

POSITION STATUS:                         Temporary, Seasonal, Part-Time

EXEMPT STATUS:                             Non-exempt

PAY SCALE GRADE:                         9T – No CDA/E, 10 – CDA, 12-13 – AA, 14 - BA ($32.77 - 51.09 DOE)

REPORTS TO:                                   Program Specialist

Head Start is a federal program designed to assist children in preparing for formal education in the public school system.  The Head Start Teacher implements the Head Start Program Performance Standards, the Head Start Act and follows all applicable federal and state licensing regulations. Head Start Teacher is meant to lead all educational efforts with the support of the Head Start Teacher Aide. This position is required to meet all Head Start Teacher educational requirements of the program.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Maintain a professional attitude, be responsible, dependable, and demonstrate a commitment to excellence.
• Ensures compliance with all applicable federal and state regulations, including the Head Start Program Performance Standards, the Head Start Act, applicable federal and state licensing regulations, the Child & Adult Care Food Program, and Kawerak agency and Head Start policies and procedures.
• Plan and implement learning experiences that advance the intellectual and physical development of children, including improving the readiness of children for school by developing their literacy, phonemic, and print awareness, their understanding and use of language, their understanding and use in increasingly complex and varied vocabulary, their appreciation of books, their understanding of early math and early science, their problem solving abilities, and their approaches to learning.
• Establish and maintain a safe, healthy learning environment.
• Support the social and emotional development of children.
• Encourage the involvement of the families of the children in the program and support the development of relationships between children and their families.
• Proactively plan and prepare developmentally appropriate classroom materials and lesson plans that include Native culture, heritage, and language.
• Use a team approach with parents and staff to develop individualized activities to meet the children’s needs.
• Conduct and document observations, screenings, assessments and complete student checkpoints as required.
• Ensure that children are supervised at all times with a one to ten, teacher to student ratio.
• Facilitate Family Style Dining during all meals served at the center in compliance with CACFP.
• Conduct two home visits per year and two parent teacher conferences per year.
• Maintain monthly classroom and bus evacuation drills.
• Prepare breakfast/snack/lunch as required, and facilitate outdoor play.
• Collaborate with speech and physical therapists, nurses, social workers and other relevant professionals to promote quality services to children.
• Use appropriate guidance techniques consistent with early childhood education practices.
• Participate in meetings and trainings with staff, parents, community partners, and other professionals as required.
• Maintain updated confidential child files and parent signatures.
• Attend meetings and maintain records of Individual Education Plans (IEP) and assist the coordination of on-going services for children.
• Maintain correspondence with all parents through monthly memos, newsletters, and/or activity calendars.
• Work as a team with classroom co-workers, core staff specialists, and assigned family advocate to meet the needs of children and families.
• Read work related emails to communicate with core staff and other co-workers.
• Complete and submit all reports or paperwork to central office according to timelines.
• Keep facilities in compliance with Head Start performance standards and State and local licensing inspection requirements.
• Share responsibilities for cleaning and minor maintenance of building and outside play areas (daily vacuuming, sweeping, bathroom and furniture sanitation, snow removal, dusting shelves and equipment, washing windows and spot safety checkup).
• Complete and update an annual professional development plan to meet and maintain education and training requirements.
• Other duties as assigned by the Program Specialist or designee.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• AA or BA degree in child development or early childhood education or equivalent coursework.
• Must enroll in a child development or early childhood education BA degree program if not yet obtained.
• Must possess good oral and written communication skills.
• Must complete and submit a work physical upon hire and every five years after hire.
• Current First Aid and Infant/Child (Pediatric) CPR certification. If not current, must be willing to obtain certification within 6 weeks of hire.
• Current State of Alaska Food Worker's Card. If not, must be willing to obtain one within 2 weeks of hire.
• Resident of the community given preference.
• This position is a Covered Position subject to all requirements of the Alaska Barrier Crimes Act AS 47.05.310-47.05.390, 7 AAC 10.900-10.990, and to the Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Act, 25 USC 3201-3211 (ICPA).  A background check clearance is required, including fingerprints, and the employee’s name will be submitted to the Background Check Unit of the State of Alaska Department of Health and Social Services and entered into their central registry.  Barrier Crimes Act and ICPA requirements apply and must be complied with at all times in order to remain in the position.

Native Preference per Public Law 93-638                                      Approved (6/22/23)

SLOTTING:

9T-9A: High School Diploma/GED No CDA or CDA Equivalency

10: High School Diploma/GED plus CDA or CDA Equivalency

12: AA in Early Childhood Education or equivalency

13: AA in Early Childhood Education or equivalency+2 years experience

14: BA in Early Childhood Education or equivalency