Head Start​/Early Head Start Associate Instructor (Continuous

Head Start/Early Head Start Associate Instructor

The City of Oakland's Human Services Department, Head Start Division, is seeking highly skilled individuals to join our team as a Head Start/Early Head Start Associate Instructor. Come join a dynamic team of enthusiastic professionals dedicated to providing important services to a community with a rich history. You'll work with great colleagues in the Head Start Division who are fiercely passionate about public service and community.

As a Head Start/Early Head Start Associate Instructor, you will assist in instructing children enrolled in Head Start/State Preschool/Early Head Start Programs; assist in educating parents on early childhood development concepts; assist in developmental assessments; assist in organizing and setting up education and play materials for classroom and/or support home visits; and perform related duties as assigned.

We are looking for someone who:

• Is a passionate educator who wants to make a positive difference in the lives of Oakland children and families
• Likes to plan developmentally age-appropriate activities for children
• Is a strong relationship builder with good communication skills. You will have the opportunity to interact in a culturally diverse workplace with infants, toddlers, parents, and community members.
• Has a genuine interest in learning and developing their career. Within Head Start, there are opportunities to grow professionally.
• Has a strong interest in creatively getting children ready for TK or kindergarten.

What you will typically be responsible for:

• Instructing children in education concepts utilizing the approved curriculum.
• Assisting in organizing and setting up developmentally appropriate education and play materials for the classroom and/or the home.
• Assisting in conducting fire, disaster and safety drills in the classroom; inspecting facility for safety standards and maintenance needs.
• Assisting in planning, organizing and scheduling daily activities at the center classroom or in the home.
• Assisting in conducting developmental screenings, on-going child observations, developmental assessments, and devising Individual Development Plans (IDP) on all children enrolled in program; assisting in children meeting IEP goals through weekly lesson planning.
• Supporting the initial and final home visits; making additional/on-going home visits as needed.
• Preparing snacks and serving meals.

A few reasons you might love this job:

• You will be a part of a dynamic Head Start team.
• Your work will have a direct impact on providing important services to a community with a rich and dynamic history.
• You will have great colleagues. Head Start employees are fiercely passionate about public service and community, and proud to uplift Oakland as a dynamic, innovative, vibrant city.
• You will have excellent learning opportunities to grow and develop your expertise in early childhood development.

A few challenges you might face in this job:

• Teachers need to find balance in their teaching style to ensure all children are learning as their skill levels may vary within the classroom.
• As an Associate Instructor, you will face a considerable amount of change, and you must remain flexible and adaptable.
• You will need to maintain composure, keeping emotions in control, in very difficult situations.

Competencies

Required:

• Adaptability: Responding positively to change and modifying behavior as the situation requires
• Building & Maintaining Relationships: Establishing rapport and maintaining mutually productive relationships
• Decision Making: Choosing optimal courses of action
• Fact Finding: Obtaining facts and data pertaining to an issue or question
• General Physical Ability: Using strength, endurance, flexibility, balance, and coordination
• Handling & Resolving Conflict: Managing interpersonally strained situations
• Handling Stress: Maintaining emotional stability and self-control under pressure, challenge, or adversity.
• Oral Communication: Engaging effectively in dialogue
• Professional & Technical Expertise: Applying technical subject matter to the job
• Reading Comprehension: Understanding and using written information
• Using Technology: Working with electronic hardware and software applications
• Valuing Diversity: Appreciating the benefits of varied backgrounds and cultures in the workplace
• Writing: Communicating effectively in writing

This recruitment will produce two eligible lists. The restricted list will be for full-time, permanent part-time, or part-time City and Port of Oakland employees who maintain employment for the duration of the recruitment and pass all stages of the recruitment process. The open list will be for all other applicants who pass all stages of the recruitment process.

This is a public contact position. The City highly encourages all bilingual candidates to apply! Some positions may require bilingual skills in Spanish, Cantonese, or Mandarin. Under the authority of Civil Service Rules Section 5.03, if a position requires bilingual language skills, only those candidates…