Preschool Teacher

Job Summary:

The teacher works as part of a center-based team, providing educational experiences and resource information to three to five-year-old children and their families in a classroom setting for 4 to 5 days per week in 4 to 6 hour sessions.  Teachers complete conferences and home visits with assigned children and families according to the schedule for the model.  Additional time will be scheduled for planning, record keeping, setup and training. Teachers must maintain working knowledge of Federal Head Start Performance Standards, State ECEAP Standards, agency and department policies and procedures and other applicable regulations.

Essential Functions:
General classroom activities will be cooperatively planned, implemented and evaluated in accordance with Head Start/ECEAP performance standards, under the supervision of the Field/Site Supervisor, including:  

• design and setup of developmentally appropriate learning center activities
• guidance and evaluation of children’s progress in assigned classroom areas
• planning and implementation of curriculum for a core group of 8-18 children 
• assistance with implementation of classroom volunteers’ activities
• responsibility and maintenance of education materials/program equipment
• setup and tear-down /cleanup of classroom and meals, and janitorial duties as required
• assigned program inventory
• participation in planning and implementation of additional special program activities, including classroom visitors and interaction with outside agencies

Center specific activities:  In cooperation with school district teachers and agency Integrated Services Team, plan for integration of special needs children into classroom operation.

Home Visitor services will be provided to families, based upon program home visit curriculum and the family and child’s individual needs, including:  

• delivery, referral, facilitation and evaluation of services in the area of community resources, parent involvement and education, health, nutrition, safety and mental health
• sharing of goals and progress of youngsters between home and school settings
• developing or supporting individualized family plan based on Family Interest Assessment including parent education one-to-one and in groups, and development of volunteer plans with families
• may work with translators to facilitate service delivery to ELL families

Documentation: responsible for maintaining individual child/family files, documenting plans and services in the following areas:  

Education – classroom observation, individual objectives including speech/language and OT/PT goals, written lesson plans reflecting objectives, child’s Individual Learning Plan

May include Family Services – Family Partnership Plan (FPP), FPP goals, and objectives, ongoing tracking, in-kind

Prepares for and attends Integrated Services Team staffing as scheduled.

ChildPlus documentation is comprehensive and well-maintained. Data is complete, accurate, and current for all required areas. 

Available for occasional parent events, evening meetings, extended day field trips, workshops and training.

Drive program vehicles and provide pupil transportation as assigned.

Education Experience Training:

• AA in early childhood education; or
• BA or advanced degree in early childhood education preferred; or
• BA or advanced degree and coursework equivalent to a major relating to early childhood education, with experience teaching preschool-age children.
• One year volunteer or work experience in early childhood education preferred.
• Experience working with families under stress preferred.
• Bilingual skills, both written and verbal preferred.
• Valid Washington State Driver’s License by time of hire. Good driving record. A three-year driving abstract must be submitted upon request prior to hire.