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Provide comprehensive developmental services to children in a safe classroom or home setting while promoting family engagement. Responsibilities include creating lesson plans, conducting screenings, and ensuring adherence to Head Start and state licensing standards.
Requirements summary
Requires a High School Diploma and at least one year of supervised experience with children aged zero to three. Mandatory certifications include the 45-hour Infant and Toddler and 90-hour Child Care certificates, with a CDA required within 90 days of hire.
high schoolassociate degreeprofessional certificateCase ManagementInterpersonal CommunicationClassroom ManagementChild DevelopmentLesson PlanningFamily EngagementCommunity OutreachEarly Childhood EducationDevelopmental ScreeningObservation And DocumentationHealth And Safety MonitoringParental Guidance
Job description
Job summary
Provide comprehensive services to children in the areas of cognition, physical, social and emotional development in a clean, safe classroom or home setting promoting family engagement. Adhere to federal Head Start Performance Standards, state licensing regulations, local agencies policies and core values.
Essential duties & responsibilities
Conducts developmental screenings and family needs assessments.
Identifies and refers children with special needs for supportive services.
Maintains classroom environment and curriculum to Maryland Department of Education (MSDE) and Head Start standards.
Develops daily/weekly classroom lesson plans and individualized family service educational plans (IFSP) in collaboration with parents.
Completes daily health and safety checks conducting regular fire drills and proper maintenance of equipment, documenting all injuries, hazards and incidents.
Completes daily anecdotal notes and observations, inputting information into MyHeadStart or Teaching Strategies GOLD database systems.
Tracks daily sign in/out sheets and compiles weekly attendance reports and CACFP meal counts.
Maintain record management standards ensuring child/family files have required and updated documentation.
Ensures hygiene routines are maintained such as toileting procedures, diaper change, teeth brushing and hand washing.
Supervises and monitors children’s activities in the classroom and outdoor play areas.
Assist in the daily serving of snacks and meals promoting family serving style.
Conduct classroom inventory and prepare list of needed supplies.
Participate in ongoing training and development, case review, staff and individual supervision meetings.
Assist with recruitment and enrollment, engaging service provider agencies and attending community outreach events.
Conducts home visits and teacher conferences.
Provides families with developmentally appropriate activities and information to address child’s needs, guidance on home safety, nutrition, effective discipline and constructive play activities.
Links families with community resources serving as a liaison.
Coordinates social, educational, community and volunteer activities with parents and families.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Education and/Or experience
High School Diploma or equivalent required; Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education or related field preferred
One year supervised classroom experience with children age zero through three years required.
Certificates, licenses, registrations
45 hour Infant and Toddler Certificate required
90 hour Child Care Certificate required
Infant-Toddler Child Development Associate (CDA) certification required within 90 days after hire
9 hours Communications certification preferred
Current Infant/toddler CPR, First Aid Certificate required within 90 days after hire
Current Universal Precaution Certificate required
Preferred: Current valid and unrestricted driver’s license and be fully insured according to Maryland law
Additional requirements
Pre-employment Early Head Start CJIS criminal background investigation clearance required
Pre-employment physical and tuberculosis screen clearance per Early Head Start guidelines required
Scope of supervision
• Minimal supervision provided on an as needed basis. Monthly supervision and team meetings are conducted by the supervisor. May be required to advise and guide other personnel (i.e. floaters, substitutes, volunteers and Child Development Assistants) who work with assigned groups of children in classroom, playground areas, and during field trips, as applicable.
Qualification requirements
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Knowledge, skills, and abilities
Ability and desire to work with infants, toddlers and preschoolers.
Ability to participate in training classes pertaining to child development, children at risk,
special needs, etc.
Ability to accurately record and deliver information, meet deadlines, and perform all duties efficiently and accurately.
Ability to communicate effectively and positively with parents, children, staff, supervisor and general public.
Ability to provide support and education to parents in a positive, non-judgmental manner and respond competently to the culture and values of each individual, family and community.
Ability to respect participants' communications as confidential and discuss pertinent
information with supervisor and other staff in an appropriate manner/area.
Ability to involve the parent in working with his/her child.
Ability to follow through on instructions as they pertain to classroom management.
Ability to implement the activity plans for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.
Ability to model/teach to parents how to nurture and interact with their children.
Physical requirements
Medium
Lifting up to 50 pounds maximum with frequent lifting and/or carrying of objects weighing up to 25 pounds. May be required to regularly stand for extended periods of time, walk, reach with hands/arms with full range of motion, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, push or pull. Regularly required to talk and hear. Frequently required to use hands and fingers to hold, handle and feel objects, knobs, keys and/or buttons.
Travel requirements
Travel is defined as travel to all areas within Goodwill’s territory (Cecil, Harford, Baltimore, Howard, and Anne Arundel Counties, Baltimore City and the entire Eastern Shore of Maryland).
In some cases, long-distance travel, including overnights may be required but is typically planned in advance.
In some cases, travel may be unplanned.
Home visits will be conducted weekly and on as needed bases.
Personal vehicles are used and mileage reimbursement is available.
Up to 50% of working time
Work environment
Moderate
Employee may be exposed to moving mechanical parts, wet and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles and outside weather conditions. The noise level is usually moderate.
