Teacher - Head Start

Job no: 510031

Position type: Full-Time 12-Month

Department: 012102 - Human Sciences
- Early Childhood

Location: Harrison County

Categories: Support Staff, Head Start Positions

Position Open Date: Dec 9 2025

This position is responsible for a Head Start classroom of 3 to 5 year old children. Position works collaboratively with an assistant teacher, family members and other staff to achieve positive outcomes for children of all abilities.

Throughout its history, Mississippi State University-Extension (MSU-ES) has demonstrated a deep and abiding commitment to programs that directly impact young children and their families. In the past decade, MSU-ES has distinguished itself as Mississippi’s premier infrastructural support of high-quality early childhood education.

MSU-Extension Head Start Programs - Harrison County

January 2026.

• Primary teacher for a classroom of 3 to 5 year-old children.
• Demonstrates a warm, calm, and unhurried manner.
• Serves as a role model for children and families.
• Provides for the education, care, safety, and well‑being of all children in the group.
• Met the children’s emotional, social, physical, and intellectual needs.
• Plans and implements developmentally appropriate learning activities.
• Maintains a cooperative relationship with children, co‑workers, and parents.
• Demonstrates increasing understanding of child growth and development in working with children, in talking with parents, and in recording activities.
• Attends staff meetings, reports problems of child or room management to the Center Director promptly.
• Attends in-service training, keeps current on developments in field of child development.
• Follows personnel policies of the MSU-ES Head Start Program and the University.
• Stays up‑to‑date and adheres to MS Child Care Licensing Standards and Head Start Performance Standards.
• Manages a safe, clean, and pleasant environment for young children.
• Provides peer coaching to other teachers, assistant teachers, floaters, and substitute teachers.
• Models exemplary classroom practices for other teachers especially those detailed in the Teacher Success Rubric and CLASS.
• Assists in on‑boarding new staff.
• Plans and facilitates PLCs under the guidance of the Center Director.
• Provides individualized plans for each child in classroom to promote the development of each individual child.
• May serve as bus monitor when needed.
• Schedules home visits and parent‑teacher conferences as necessary and properly documents these meetings.

The teacher is responsible for a Head Start classroom of 3-5 years old children. S/he works collaboratively with an assistant teacher, family members and other staff to achieve positive outcomes for children of all abilities. The teacher’s role encompasses effective practice in the following as outlined in our Teacher Success Rubric (TSR):

• CLASS teacher‑child interactions
• Learning environment
• Curriculum
• Child assessment
• Meeting all children’s needs
• Working with families
• Professional growth and collaboration

Performs any related duties as assigned.

Education:

• AA/AS in Early Childhood Education or related field.

Substitution:

• An equivalent combination of related education and related experience may be considered for this position.

Licensures:

• Valid driver’s license
• Certification in CPR and First Aid – Will be required to obtain within the first nine (9) months of employment. Certification must be maintained.

• BA/BS in Early Childhood Education, Child Development or related field, or state awarded preschool teacher certification with experience teaching preschool‑aged children, or BA/BS in related field with at least six college courses in Early Childhood Education plus experience teaching young children.
• Experience teaching preschool children including group experience with children four years and younger.
• Certification in CLASS

• Current understanding of MS Child Care Licensing requirements
• Current understanding of Head Start Performance Standards
• Able to anticipate the needs of children
• Must be able to organize and execute daily…