Salary:

With Infant/Toddler CDA – $15.95 / hour
With Technical Certificate – $16.95 / hour
With AA in ECE - $17.95 / hour
With BS in ECE - $21.50 / hour

FLSA Status : This is a non-exempt position.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8am - 4:00pm

This position works 240 days per year, 7.5 hours per day.

Department: Early Learning

Location: This position will be assigned to one of the City's Head Start centers: Avondale (Chattanooga), Cedar Hill (Chattanooga), or Daisy Head Start (Soddy Daisy), but may be required to work another location depending upon program needs.

SUMMARY:

The Early Head Start Teacher will provide effective and nurturing teacher-child interactions, plan and implement learning experiences that ensure effective curriculum implementation and use of assessments, and promote children’s progress across the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework: Ages Birth to Five and applicable state early learning and development standards, including for children with disabilities and dual language learners, as appropriate.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

The following duties are NOT intended to serve as a comprehensive list of all duties performed by all employees in this classification, only a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Participate in Agency training events, center staff meetings, and other training events as required;

• Implement curricula in the classroom with fidelity
• Perform the functions of this position with a working knowledge of Head Start Performance Standards, State of Tennessee Child Care Licensing Rules and Regulations, and Agency policies and procedures
• Plan and implement learning experiences that promote all developmental areas, including improving the readiness of children for school by developing their literacy and phonemic, print, numeric awareness, and language-including English as a second language if applicable, with a thorough knowledge and application of SVHS School Readiness Goals
• Guide and facilitate activities of the children, including; daily activities and selecting and arranging equipment and materials in the classroom
• Eat with and assist children in development of social and self-help skills, and sound nutritional practices
• Guide children’s acquisition of social skills
• Work with the co-Teacher and/or Aides to use and develop their skills and abilities in planning and carrying out classroom activities
• Cooperate with other staff and classroom groups to maintain the smooth functioning of the center, which at times may require changes to meet the needs of the children
• Maintain a safe and healthy classroom environment, following all Head Start and TN State Standards. Assure that classroom equipment, furniture, materials, and supplies are properly maintained, cleaned, and stored
• Use the playground as an extension of the classroom; ensure that the playground is safe;
• Ensure that the daily health and environment checklist is complete
• Assist in implementing, individualizing, and monitoring children’s IEP (Individualized Education Plan) or IFSP (Individualized Family Service Plan), if applicable, documenting progress and seeking clarification for any aspects that are not well understood
• Provide clear behavioral expectations and use effective methods to prevent and redirect misbehavior
• Complete and submit required forms and records in a timely and accurate fashion;
• Actively assist in transition activities
• Effectively communicate with families concerning classroom calendar, parent meetings, and special events; Encourage parent participation within the program
• Actively participate in the development and implementation of the Professional Development Plan and performance review
• Ensure that documentation and files are complete, accurate, and confidentiality maintained

• Performs other duties as assigned.
  
  

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• High School diploma or GED required
• Infant Toddler CDA required or comparable credential required
• Technical Certificate, AA-ECE, or BS-ECE from regionally accredited institution preferred
• Spanish bilingual preferred
• Experience working with young children in a group setting
  
  

LICENSING AND CERTIFICATIONS: None.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

Knowledge of :

• Preschool child growth and development
• ECE best practices
• Classroom management
• Importance of relationships and responsive caregiving
• Child safety and supervision
• Experience working with young children in a group setting
• Experience working with culturally diverse staff and clients
• Confidentiality and respecting the rights of children, families, and staff
  

Skills in :

• Successful experience working in a team setting
• Ability to work respectfully and cooperatively with a Teacher Assistant and Aide, assisting him/her in increasing knowledge and skills
• Ability to present a positive image of the organization to members of the community
• Ability to plan, organize, and implement position requirements
• Experience successfully working with a culturally diverse staff and clients
• Effective interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills
• Proficient use of computer applications, including word processing, data-entry into web-based software applications, and email communication
  

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Positions in this class are very active and typically require: walking, bending, kneeling, stooping, crouching, crawling, and climbing all day. This position is regularly required to talk and hear, and requires close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Smoking and tobacco use, including smokeless products and e-cigarettes, is prohibited on all Agency premises, vehicles, meeting places, and during home visits. Early Head Start staff are required to keep a change of clothing at the center if they smoke at home.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

MEDIUM WORK - Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. The work environment is a classroom.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Safety Sensitive: N
• Department of Transportation - CDL : N
• Child Sensitive: Y
  

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:

All employees must maintain Tennessee residency from the date of hire.

This position requires a pre-employment background check, physical, drug screen, and TB screening questionnaire and/or test depending on results of TB screening questionnaire.

The City of Chattanooga, Tennessee is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.