Associate Teacher - Murphy Farm Preschool

A. General summary of the position

• This position works as a part of a teaching team to assist the Teacher in the preparation, planning, and execution of the daily operations of the Head Start classroom, including building relationships with families, taking on the Teacher role during teacher planning, and occasional and/or extended absences and implementing the Head Start Performance Standards. This position works with families to promote parent involvement in the program. The Associate Teacher may be assigned additional duties based on program needs and areas of expertise for developing the program. This position works along with the Teacher to attain the goals of the program. The position may be reassigned to various classrooms/centers as deemed necessary for program operations. B.
• DUTIES
• AND
• Responsibilities
• OF
• THE
• POSITION: The duties of the position are described in the major functional areas listed below. Additional duties may be assigned.

Professional Development

Attends all required training and workshops, including online training and cluster meetings, as required by Head Start and Michigan State Licensing. Maintains Child Development Associate Credential (CDA) and works toward obtaining an Associate’s degree. Remains up-to-date on information that pertains to the needs of the children in the program, including Head Start Performance Standards, childcare licensing regulations, and other applicable regulations and practices. Keeps up to date on Developmentally Appropriate Practice. Maintains knowledge of the regulations associated with the prevention of occupational disease and injury, including the exercise of universal precautions and the prevention of contamination. Able to work with children at all levels of development. Maintains professional certification that the employee was hired with or obtained to meet Head Start and ISD standards. Successfully completes and maintains basic First Aid, CPR certification, and required licensing training. Actively participates in opportunities for continuous professional development.

Preschool Program Implementation

Assists in all aspects of the classroom and other service areas of the program. Participates in recruitment activities and transportation services. Assumes the role of Teacher when required, implementing all aspects of the program. Assists with the delivery of Head Start services as defined by Head Start Performance Standards and Saginaw ISD Head Start Operational Procedures. Assists in establishing a safe, healthy, stimulating, and developmentally appropriate learning environment for children between the ages of birth to five years old with all abilities. Ensure that learning environments are safe from hazards, free from clutter, and allow for visibility of children by utilizing the Daily Health and Safety Checklist. Fosters self-esteem, self-direction, self-control, and school readiness skills with preschool children by using positive methods and modeling and participating in curriculum development and implementation. Supports social and emotional development and provides positive guidance and discipline, including the ability to support and guide students with challenging behaviors using developmentally appropriate practices. Complies with program curriculum, curriculum overlays, and supplemental curriculum, State of Michigan Licensing for child care centers, and the Head Start Program Performance Standards. Assists in screening, observing, and assessing children’s development on a regular basis, analyzing data, and making plans or referrals specific to the needs of the individual child. Participates in recruitment activities. Supervises and eats nutritionally prepared meals with the children as a curriculum activity to model good nutrition, proper social skills, and language stimulation in a family-style environment as listed in the Head Start Performance Standards. Assists with identifying and arranging for parents to volunteer in the classroom. Assists the Teacher with collecting monthly in-kind records from parents and community members participating in the program. Assists with kitchen duties as necessary, i.e., warming up food, dishing food into bowls, taking food temperatures, and cleaning the refrigerator and warmer. Assists with bus aide duties as necessary, i.e., riding the bus, completing bus paperwork, and buckling children in seats on the bus. Staff may be asked to cover other classrooms to meet licensing ratios.

C. Knowledge and abilities

• Knowledge of the purpose of the Head Start/Early Head Start program. Maintains strict confidentiality with respect to Head Start children, families, and staff in accordance with established policies, procedures, and other legal requirements, i.e., FERPA and HIPAA.
• Ability to use
• Active
• Supervision strategies to keep children safe: Set up the environment to be able to see children around the room at all times, position yourself to see and hear all children in your care, Count and use Face to Name while transitioning in and out of the classroom, listen for potential danger, anticipate children’s behavior to predict what the child will do next, and engage and redirect to assist the children and help solve problems. Ability to work with children at all levels of development and to relate sensitively with children. Knowledge of basic food preparation, serving, and sanitation procedures. Ability to follow directions and take initiative. General knowledge and skills in the field of early childhood development. General computer knowledge of Word and Excel and ability to access e-mail and Teaching Strategies Gold and/or willingness to learn programs as needed. Knowledge of state and federal regulations pertaining to child abuse and neglect reporting and child care licensing requirements. Ability to enhance the parent-child relationship and support the parents’ role as the first and life-long educators of their children and to engage in mutually respectful goal-oriented partnerships with families to promote parent-child relationships and family well-being. Ability to respect and respond appropriately to the culture, language, values, and family structures of each family served. Ability to act as a member of a comprehensive services team so that family service activities are coordinated and integrated throughout the program.

D. Physical demands and working conditions

Noise levels in the work environment may be moderate to loud. Travel by car, bus, airplane, or train may be required for attendance at conferences, meetings, or other duties at distant locations, in and out of state. In some cases, overnight travel may be required. Work is typically performed in a classroom setting, and some office work is required. Some evening and weekend work may be required for events such as home visits, parent/teacher conferences, Parent Club meetings, and social and/or community events. Riding the bus may be required.

This position works in a preschool classroom with child-size furniture and seating. The position requires sitting in child-sized chairs and on the floor; adverse driving conditions; bending; stretching; extended sitting; extended standing; extended walking; stair climbing; kneeling; crouching; reaching; fine and gross motor skills; coordination of hands-fine and gross; eye/hand/foot coordination; visual memory and discrimination; auditory memory and discrimination; reading and writing ability; judgment; simple and complex decision making; and lifting up to 75 pounds. This position is covered by the OSHA Final Rule Blood borne Pathogens Act, Category A, with the potential for exposure to communicable diseases and pests such as head lice. This position is a mandated reporter of child abuse/neglect and must have a Department of Human Services child abuse and neglect clearance.

Personal qualifications require emotional maturity, willingness to cooperate with the aims of the program, respect for children and adults, flexibility, patience, good personal hygiene, and physical and mental health that does not interfere with responsibilities. Also, education or experience in collaborating with parents in the education of their children.

E. Education and experience

Experience working with preschool children and a CDA credential. An Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education/Child Development with two years’ experience is preferred. Bilingual (English/Spanish) abilities are a plus. Must obtain Basic First Aid and CPR Certification and maintain certification and licensing required training. Acceptable tuberculosis and drug screening results, a clear criminal records check, and an initial health exam are required after the job offer and prior to employment. Current and former Head Start employees, students, and parents will receive preference for employment vacancies for which they are qualified.

SISD - Saginaw County Head Start is a customer-driven, family-friendly program. As such, all staff must value and be committed to the highest levels of professionalism, cooperation, teamwork, and tolerance; this includes working well with families, children, co-workers, supervisors, and the greater community.

NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATION Saginaw Intermediate School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender and gender identity, disability, age, or national origin in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Executive Director of Human Resources Saginaw Intermediate School District 3933 Barnard Road, Saginaw, MI 48603 Telephone: (989) 799-4733, Fax: (989) 249-8756 Email: personnel@sisd.cc Web: www.sisd.cc