Associate Teacher

Associate Teacher

Under the guidance of the Center Director, the Head Start Associate Teacher provides quality primary care giving for infants or toddlers in a safe and supervised early care and education setting. Promotes the social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development of Early Head Start children enrolled in the program.

The duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

• Provide relationship-based care in daily routines such as mealtime, toileting, hand washing, and napping for infants or toddlers;
• Plan and implement developmentally appropriate curriculum;
• Collaborate with team on developing and implementing daily lesson plans;
• Conduct assessments, develop individual development plans and record ongoing observations of children in assigned groups;
• Prepare and conduct parent-teacher conferences for children in assigned group according to schedule of requirements;
• Conduct home visits for children in assigned groups according to schedule of requirements;
• Utilize classroom materials and routines to promote an environment conductive to appropriate levels of development, interests, and specific needs of the children;
• Maintain effective and professional relationships with enrolled families;
• Maintain a safe and healthy classroom environment in accordance with Head Start Program Performance Standards, Title 5, and Title 22 Regulations;
• Attend regular staff meetings as scheduled by Center Director or Management;
• Complete a minimum of 21 hours of Professional Development annually, including college courses towards a Teacher Permit as determined by the Professional Development Coordinator;
• Perform additional duties as assigned by Center Director and Management.

The qualifications include, but are not limited to the following:

• Ability to create and implement daily curriculum plans;
• Ability to work harmoniously in a multi-cultural team;
• Ability to promote feelings of security and trust in infants and toddlers by being warm, supportive, and comforting;
• A caring, compassionate approach to working with children and families as well as maintaining an open, friendly and cooperative relationship with each child's family;
• Bilingual Spanish/English or Asian Language/English preferred;
• Awareness of safe lifting techniques for lifting children, supplies and furnishings and commitment to using preventive health measures in the classroom to prevent the spread of disease.

The requirements include, but are not limited to the following:

• Associate Teacher Permit from Commission on Teacher Credentialing.
• 15 units in ECE, including 9 units in core courses (Child, Family and Community, Child Growth and Development, and Curriculum) and 6 units in Infant/Toddler Care (infant toddler units may be in progress in in HS classroom).

Physical Requirements:

Must be able climb stairs, reach, bend, lift 20-30 pounds, crawl, kneel, stoop, twist, grasp with hands and fingers materials, use arms and legs, able to walk, climb ladders if applicable.

Pre-Employment Requirements:
Physical exam, TB test, Background/fingerprint clearance, MMR and Tdap vaccinations, CPR, Child Abuse Mandated Reporter Training.

This description is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of duties, responsibilities or requirements for the position. This position may change or assume additional duties at any time.