Early Head Start​/Head Start Associate Teacher

Project Eagle is an early childhood program focused on preparing children, engaging families, and promoting excellence for children and families in Kansas City, Kansas. The program provides home-based and center-based services to pregnant women and/or children ages birth to five through a variety of programs, the largest being Early Head Start.

The Early Head Start/ Head Start Associate Teacher, in partnership with the Early Head Start/ Head Start Teacher, is responsible for planning, implementing, and coordinating a comprehensive education program. The Associate Teacher actively contributes to ensuring that classroom activities and environment are developmentally appropriate, meet individual needs of each child, and reflect the agency's philosophy and curriculum.

The teaching team provides a safe, stimulating, and nurturing environment enriched by a high-quality early language experience and emphasis on social and emotional growth. The Associate Teacher, in partnership with the Teacher, implements all program requirements in adherence to performance and outcome standards as prescribed by funding and model requirements.

• Ensure children's safety by maintaining a clean, healthy, and safe classroom environment, conducting authorized emergency and safety procedures, and actively supervising children at all times.
• Plan and implement developmentally appropriate classroom activities and environment that support the developmental and educational goals of children's individual education plans.
• Support children to develop positive social relationships, provide opportunities for children to develop positive self-images, and help children develop conflict resolution skills.
• Utilize the continuity of care model to support children and families to develop safe, secure attachments.

• Partner with families to build mutually respectful goal-oriented relationships that support strong parent-child relationships, family well-being, and ongoing learning and development for both parents and children.
• Interact with families through regular classroom contact, contribute to and participate in interdisciplinary meetings, child and family reviews, family conferences, and home visits to develop individual child goals and share progress towards school readiness.
• Provide monthly classroom family engagement activities based on the interests of the children and families.

• Ensure timely completion of necessary paperwork, including developmental assessments, lesson plans, parent information, incident/accident reports, attendance, and USDA meal counts.
• Observe, assess, and document each child's skills, behavior, growth, and development.
• Assess student needs and develop individualized learning opportunities for each child.
• Utilize classroom and school data to improve teaching practice and provide a high-quality early learning experience for children.

• Collaborate with coworkers during team planning sessions and support the implementation of best practices in the classroom.
• Participate in ongoing professional development, coaching, and reflective supervision activities and support the implementation of changes in classroom practice to promote high-quality instruction.
• Collaborate with an interdisciplinary team to provide support for families with unique backgrounds and various needs.

• Follow all mandates of Head Start Regulations, state and local childcare licensing regulations, and Project Eagle/Educare of Kansas City's philosophy and curriculum.

• Meet one of the following educational requirements:
  Associate degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or closely related field; degree in an unrelated field with at least 9 early childhood credits and willingness to complete further education; or CDA or Early childhood certificate and 12 early childhood credits and 2 years of experience.
• CPR and First Aid Certified or become certified within 30 days of employment.
• 1 year of experience in early childhood education.