Develop and maintain a secure, engaging learning environment for infants and toddlers to promote school readiness and developmental growth. Implement bilingual curricula, conduct child assessments, and foster strong partnerships with families through home visits and conferences.
Requirements summary
Requires a CDA credential, Associate, or Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education or a related field, along with specific preschool experience. Must possess or obtain Arizona state clearances, First Aid/CPR certification, and a valid driver's license.
“Helping our community’s most vulnerable with solutions that permanently improve lives”
Catholic Charities Community Services is currently seeking a passionate individual who has an engaging classroom presence to work in our Head Start program providing support to our staff and children.
Job summary
Under the direction of the Teacher Licensing Supervisor or designee, the Early Head Start (EHS) Teacher is responsible for developing, maintaining and ensuring an engaging and secure learning environment that promotes the growth and development of infants and toddlers through a variety of experiences and interactions which form a foundation for Head Start readiness and later school success. Early Head Start Teachers are required to demonstrate competencies needed to provide effective and nurturing teacher-child interactions, plan and execute high quality learning experiences for infants and toddlers that ensure effective curriculum implementation, and promote children’s progress across the standards described in the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework. Assignment is year-round (12 months) with scheduled breaks identified at the beginning of each program year as dictated by program requirements and site calendar.
Essential duties: Child Development, Health and Safety
1.
Delivers developmentally appropriate site based services to infants and toddlers during operational hours.
2.
Plans and implements a designed bilingual, multicultural curriculum for children assigned to the classroom that advances the intellectual and physical development of the children and improves their readiness for school 3.
Develops children assigned to the classroom in their: literacy, phonemic and print awareness; understanding and use of their primary language, including increasingly complex and varied vocabulary; appreciation of books; understanding of early math and science; problem-solving abilities; and approaches to learning 4.
Creates and maintains a welcoming, inclusive, safe, and developmentally supportive environment to encourage the cognitive, language, social/emotional, and physical development of children and families 5.
Meets the individual needs of each child by providing an environment that allows for the inclusion of children with special needs and children who speak a home language other than English 6.
Effectively serves children with disabilities and their families; making appropriate adaptations for any disabilities and achieving goals and objectives set forth in the child’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP) 7.
Benefits
Vacation
Medical
Dental
Vision
Short-Term Disability
Sick Time
Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
EAP
Pension Plan
Basic Life
13 Paid Holidays
403(b) With A Match
Models use of proper English grammar for all children, particularly children acquiring English as a second language, to support proper language development 8.
Translates and interprets daily activities and events to the child’s home language and/or uses additional strategies when lacking proficiency in the child’s home language to ensure conceptual understanding and support dual language learning 9.
Completes developmental and social/emotional screenings within 45 days of enrollment and accurately documents required health information 10.
Completes regular and on-going assessments according to program guidelines to identify proficiencies, strengths, possible concerns, and/or delays by monitoring children’s progress and performing all necessary observations 11.
Utilizes information from child screenings, assessments, observations, and parent input to establish individualized child goals and plan learning activities for children 12.
Develops lesson plans that include at least one (1) home task and one (1) food experience per month 13.
Follows specialized physical health care procedures and, as needs of students dictate, provides first aid and performs cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) 14.
Implements approved emergency plan and conducts/documents monthly fire drills 15.
Complies with all Child/Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) guidelines and completes daily, weekly and end-of-the-month food services documentation and reporting
Family Engagement
1.
Builds positive relationships with parents/guardians and encourages family involvement in center activities 2.
Implements the Strong Fathers Strong Families (SFSF) curriculum and engages fathers and other male guardians to contribute to the education of their children through their participation in center activities 3.
Conducts two (2) parent conferences and two (2) educational home visits for each child assigned to the classroom each academic year to build a strong home to school connection and support child/family growth and development 4.
Maintains awareness of and contact with community based organizations and service agencies to utilize when coordinating parent conferences and meetings 5.
Provides advocacy for participant families and links them to needed community services and resources 6.
Provides families with information about community organizations and events and encourages their participation and further involvement in community groups and activities to promote building parents as advocates and leaders 7.
Includes and involves parents in planning Parent Center Committee meetings and facilitates committee meetings with the Family Support Specialist (FSS) 8.
Evaluates the needs and identifies the interests of participant families and coordinates parent education activities in support of these needs and interests
Teamwork/Communication/Professional Standards
1.
Maintains appropriate communication with and seeks out information and assistance from supervisors, managers, other Head Start staff, and parents as needed to provide services and fulfill job responsibilities 2.
Works closely with other Head Start staff to promote and maintain a high level of parent participation in program activities and ensures that parents are aware of and understand the full range of options available to them in becoming actively involved in Head Start 3.
Understands the requirements of Mandated Reporter Laws and demonstrates the importance of informing their supervisor/manager of any concerns about children and suspicions of child abuse and/or neglect 4.
Demonstrates dependability by arriving to work on time, maintaining regular work attendance, and following program procedures when needing to be absent from work 5.
Accepts responsibility for participating in the planning and achievement of team goals and objectives 6.
Plays an active role in continuous self-assessment and evaluation of program services 7.
Demonstrates an ability to adapt to changing needs, problem solve, and incorporate innovations to fulfill program requirements and improve program services 8.
Accurately completes detailed paperwork and submits all required documentation and periodic reports within provided timelines 9.
Maintains confidentiality of personal information and the integrity of the record keeping process 10.
Participates in staff development activities including in-service, training sessions, and meetings as required 11.
Identifies own training needs for the purpose of fulfilling professional development requirements and individual growth 12.
Supports and assists other personnel in the completion of their work activities as may be required 13.
As program needs dictate, may be called upon to fill in as a substitute in another classroom or at another site to ensure uninterrupted service delivery to children and families 14.
Inventories and orders needed supplies monthly 15.
Promotes ongoing commitment to excellence and continual quality improvement to ensure the highest quality of services to children, families, and staff 16.
Other duties as assigned
Other related duties
1.
This position may require flexibility in scheduling to attend and actively participate in evening and weekend events, including but not limited to parent meetings, family engagement activities, community outreach events, trainings, recruitment efforts, program celebrations, and other agency-sponsored functions as assigned.
2.
Prepares, and attends all meetings, trainings, and conferences as assigned.
3.
Maintains self and functional work environment.
4.
Performs other tasks as may be required for the efficient comprehensive, integrated program.
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, skills, and/or abilities required.
Knowledge
1.
Knowledge of child development theory; specifically early childhood development 2.
Understanding of the scholastic structures required for the coordination and delivery of a developmentally appropriate early education program 3.
Familiarity with Head Start standards, requirements, goals, objectives, policies, and procedures 4.
Strategies to motivate children and parents to become involved in activities 5.
Understanding of and sensitivity to cultural differences within the community, program, and agency 6.
Techniques for accurate record-keeping and data management 7.
Awareness of community resources and available support services 8.
Understanding of Head Start Act and Performance Standards preferred
Skills
1.
Directing individual and group activities for children and families 2.
Proper English grammar and usage 3.
Communicating effectively with parents and children 4.
Using, structuring, and managing time effectively 5.
Understanding, following, and carrying out written and oral instructions 6.
Critical thinking and resourcefulness to overcome challenges and solve problems 7.
Managing change and demonstrating adaptability, flexibility, and responsiveness to varying needs and situations 8.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Applications including Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Excel 9.
Maintaining cooperative work relationships 10.
Bilingual (English/Spanish) skills preferred
Abilities
1.
Work successfully with socio-economically disadvantaged and culturally and linguistically diverse pre-school age children and their parents in a fast-paced environment 2.
Identify and utilize a variety of materials for use in a pre-school developmental setting 3.
Read, understand, interpret, and apply rules, regulations, and policies 4.
Maintain a structured schedule, adhere to timelines, and meet deadlines 5.
Visually and auditorily assess students/parents to ensure their safety and well-being 6.
Stand and/or sit for prolonged periods of time 7.
Lift children up to 40 pounds and assist them to the bathroom as necessary 8.
Sit on floor and ambulate over uneven floor surfaces including stairs, steps, and playgrounds 9.
Other significant physical abilities include lifting/carrying/pulling, stooping/kneeling/crouching, reaching/handling/fingering, talking/hearing conversations and other sounds, near/far visual acuity/depth perception/accommodation/field of vision
Qualifications
Education/Background
1. Must meet one of the following educational requirements
Minimum of a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential or comparable credential, and have been trained or have equivalent coursework in early childhood development with a focus on infant and toddler development.
Associate degree in Early Childhood Education (ECE) or other directly related discipline
Associate degree with 12 credit hours of approved ECE coursework
Associate degree and a current Arizona Department of Education Teaching Certificate that includes qualification to teach preschool age children
Bachelor or higher degree in ECE or other directly related discipline
Bachelor or higher degree with 12 credit hours of approved ECE coursework
Bachelor or higher degree and a current Arizona Department of Education Teaching Certificate that includes qualification to teach preschool age children
2. Demonstrated competency in the following areas
Providing effective and nurturing teacher-child interactions
Planning, facilitating, and evaluating learning experiences that ensure effective curriculum implementation
Promoting children’s progress as described in the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework and applicable State early learning and development standards, including children eligible for services under the Individual Disability Education Act (IDEA)
3. One year of preschool experience with AA and six months with BA/BS.
Credentials, Licenses, and Certifications
1.
Meets Arizona Department of Health Services (AZDHS) requirements for licensure 2.
Possesses or acquires, and maintains, Arizona Department of Public Safety Level One Fingerprint Clearance 3.
Provides tuberculosis self-screening form annually.
May also be required to follow recommendations for further tuberculosis testing, as applicable 4.
Meets federal Head Start employment requirements including physical examination at hire 5.
Possesses or completes verified training in First Aid and CPR (within ninety (90) days of hire) and remains current in the certification 6.
Possesses or acquires, and maintains, valid Maricopa County Environmental Services Food Service Worker Certificate or the Manager Certification 7.
Possesses and maintains valid Arizona driver license (An individual must be 21 years of age or older to drive on behalf of Catholic Charities Community Services Westside Head Start) 8.
Reliable personal transportation and ability to show proof of current/valid vehicle registration and insurance with state minimum liability coverage.
Great Benefits
Medical, Vision, Dental, Basic Life, Short-Term Disability, Vacation, Sick Time, 13 Paid Holidays, Flexible Spending Account (FSA), 403(b) with a match, EAP and a Pension Plan!
We Value Diversity!
EEO
Our guiding principles
RESPECT
Integrity
Accountability
Commitment
QUALITY
Market context
Arizona classroom teacher demand is steady
Arizona classroom teacher roles are typically in steady demand, especially in early childhood settings where schools and programs need educators with the right coursework and clearances. These positions can be competitive because employers often look for degree alignment, a Level One fingerprint clearance card, and a valid Arizona Driver’s License, while benefits such as PTO, medical coverage, and retirement options can influence decisions. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits here to save research time, then confirm your coursework and clearance status before applying.
