The Teacher is responsible for conducting developmentally appropriate activities for children according to the Head Start Performance Standards (HS), Council on Accreditation (COA), National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) guidelines and to ensure compliance with all Performance Standards and DCF licensing requirements. All activities within this position are completed in accordance with agency’s policy and procedures, federal, state and local laws, Head Start performance standards and the Head Start contract, accreditation standards. Catholic Charities reserves the right to transfer employees to any program throughout the agency based on the operational needs of the organization with or without notice. Such transfers may occur at any time and may be temporary or permanent. Incumbent in this position demonstrates sensitivity to the service population’s cultural and socioeconomic characteristics and will demonstrate proper timeliness and organization in order to meet all duties and responsibilities listed below.
Essential Job Functions:
Service Delivery & Care Tasks
Oversees, plans, and manages the education, care, safety and well-being of each
Develops daily lesson plans and utilizes strategies according to funding source requirements which address children’s individual needs based on meaningful anecdotes and scaffolding
Arranges the classroom-learning environment according to NAEYC guidelines and changes it throughout the year to reflect children’s interest growth.
Prepares children and their families for the transition to
Promotes and maintains universal health and safety
Maintains a clean and sanitary environment including the classroom, bathroom and outdoor facilities at all times.
Conducts and documents parent/teacher conferences per program guidelines and shares daily incidents with parents/guardians.
Demonstrates regular attendance and
Reporting & Compliance Tasks
Completes and records assessments for children within 45 days according to Head Start
Assures that all screening and evaluations are conducted in a timely manner as per each program’s guidelines and due dates.
Makes timely referrals of any child with suspected special needs, health concerns and consecutive absences to case manager.
Reports any suspected child abuse and neglect immediately pursuant to Florida
Conducts two (2) home visits as per program
Makes timely and accurate records and reports to supervisor of any accidents or unusual
Adheres to all regulatory guidelines including agency policy and procedures, Center guidelines and practices, Head Start regulations and performance standard, DCF and any applicable accreditation
Additional Duties:
Ensures that all children are dropped off and picked up by parent/legal guardian or authorized person
whom does not pose a risk and as indicated in child enrollment form and center’s card.
Ensures Zero (0) monitoring deficiencies in
Obtains written consent for special
Measures weight and height of children and appropriately documents obtained
Ensures attendance is completed on a daily basis within the allotted time
Ensures timely and accurate data entry in all required
Makes timely and accurately recordings of daily meal counts per the CCFP and agency meal count documentation process.
Complies with USDA Food Program guidelines of recommended portions, family style serving, and menu/nutrition discussions and activities as well as involving parents in the development and implementation of healthy nutrition habits.
Accurately completes the daily health check for each
Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
Has knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar.
Reads standard English
Writes grammatically correct routine correspondence/reports including but not limited to lesson plans, parent-teacher reports, incident reports, referral forms and anecdotal notes.
Speaks basic English using appropriate vocabulary and grammar while communicating with
Has proficiency in the use of the following technology resources – Head Start and Catholic Charities databases
Communicates effectively with parents/guardians, children, and
Completes all required or requested training topics and training hours as per DCF, COA standards, Head Start, VPK and any other applicable regulatory and as requested by
Professional Responsibilities:
Performs assigned duties consistently in an efficient, professional and courteous
Adheres to all Catholic Charities Policies and Procedures including maintaining a sufficient knowledge and understanding of those policies.
Maintains an appropriate level of professionalism at all times with supervisors, subordinates, parents/guardians and volunteers.
Maintains confidentiality where
Develops and maintains constructive and cooperative working relationships with
Attends professional meetings, conferences, and/or workshops to maintain and improve professional
Performs all other duties as assigned by
Managerial Responsibilities:
In conjunction with Education Coordinator, supervise and evaluate Teacher
Supervises and plans assignments for the Teacher Aide and volunteers in the
Participates in annual performance evaluations of the teacher Aide including timely and accurate
Conducts training for the Teacher Aide and volunteers as
Physical Demands:
The following physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job and are not meant to be all inclusive:
Regular to frequent requirement, and as needed, to lift children (up to 50 lbs.), including bending, stooping, stretching, walking, squatting, pushing, pulling, kneeling, crawling, sitting on low chairs or on the floor; Employee is frequently required to use hands and fingers to handle, feel and reach with hands and arms; Employee must be able to detect unsafe situations by sight or sound and must be able to move quickly to intervene in unsafe situations; Employee must be able to see and
Environment Demands:
The work is in a childcare setting. The following environmental demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job and are not meant to be all inclusive:
Noise level can be moderate to
Occasional exposure to a variety of weather
Exposure to air conditioned and ventilated
Exposure to a variety of childhood and adult diseases and
Educational & Experiential Requirements:
DCF 45 hours (Introductory 30 Child Care Training Hours, 10 Hour Special Needs and 5 Literacy Hours);
A Bachelor or Associates degree in Child Development or Early Childhood Education; or a Bachelor or Associate degree with 18 credits in early childhood education with experience teaching preschool-age children OR;
A Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with 18 credits in Early Childhood Education;
Supervisory teaching
Reporting to this position:
In conjunction with Education Coordinator, supervise and evaluate Teacher Aide.