Head Start Lead Teacher

Join our team! The Clarksville-Montgomery County Community Action Agency (CMCCAA) Head Start program is seeking Lead Teachers with preschool/early childhood education experience. We have recurring 10-month (August to May) positions, and a year-round position available. The Lead Teacher plans and implements learning experiences to promote the intellectual, emotional, social, and physical development of preschool-aged children within a safe and healthy learning environment. They are assisted by a Teacher Assistant and two volunteers from our Foster Grandparent Program. All of our Head Start teaching staff receive block leave: two weeks of paid vacation for the winter holidays, and 1 week of paid vacation for spring break in addition to PTO, and paid holidays off. More information about our Head Start program is available on our website: https://cmccaa.

com/community-programs/head-start-program/ Reports to:

Education Manager and Lead Teacher Service Key Result Areas:

1. Child Health and Development 2. Education and Early Childhood Development 3.

Child Nutrition Requirements:

Education:

An Associate's, Bachelors' or advanced degree in Early Childhood Education or Child Development.

Experience:

Experience working with typical children and children with disabilities and their families in a preschool setting is preferred.

Skills:

Excellent communication and record keeping skills are highly desired; computer literacy.

Knowledge:

Knowledge of developmentally appropriate practices for preschool-aged children.

Ability:

To work as a team member.

Responsibilities:

Take the Lead in designing and developing classroom set up; instruction, and supervision of the Aide/Assistant/Volunteer. Maintains professional communication skills and confidentiality of all records and information for staff, parents, children, visitors and community representatives. Adheres to all operational policies and procedures for the CMCCAA and Head Start Program to ensure compliance with CMCCAA personnel policies; Federal Performance Standards; State Regulations; and established Written Plans. You may be needed to assist in another classroom . Ensure safe and timely disposition of children to and from the center - will do a 3rd person bus check/will ride as a bus monitor Assist with posting emergency information; fire and tornado drill reports; and food allergies. Use DRDP Assessment Tool to assess each child's developmental level and to develop individualized educational plans. Promote and support cultural diversity awareness and children's individual strengths along with preparing and implementing lesson plans for the classroom and discusses any changes and/or recommendations with the Teacher Aide/Assistant. Interacts with parents and other family members to promote optimum participation by family members in all aspects of the ECE component; will assist/help all families. Accurate and timely completion of children's classroom records and required documentation including agreement and permission forms, home visit reports, Parent/Teacher conference reports, parent contacts, IEPs (when required), etc. Inputs data into DRDP on a weekly basis. Capacity and empathy to work with a diverse population, low-income families and children including those with disabilities. Translate LAP-D objectives into developmentally appropriate activities. Ensure parents are informed of screenings and results as well as the purpose and results of any subsequent evaluations. Teacher and Teacher Assistant will alternate each month with lesson plan development and submission. Lesson plans may be submitted weekly but must be submitted the by the Friday before they are to be utilized. If lesson plans are not submitted on time them it will be required that the whole month be submitted at one time. Prepare and submit two literacy activity quarterly . Maintain a classroom that meets cleanliness, health, and safety standards. Arrange the physical environment by selecting the number and types of interest/learning centers; choosing developmentally appropriate curriculum, equipment and materials for integration of the health, nutrition, and mental health services. Use appropriate guidance and classroom management techniques appropriate for young children. Providing developmentally appropriate activities related to the curriculum areas and implement activities as specified in the IEP for children with disabilities. Ensure posting of the monthly menu on the parent board and with integrating nutrition education concepts into the lesson plan using the Color Me Healthy curriculum . Prepare at least one monthly nutritional food activity with the class along with ensuring family style meal service is implemented in the center daily. Plan one transition visit to a Kindergarten class in the public school. Implement School Readiness Goals. Use CLASS as your guide for Teacher-Child interactions and participate in CLASS observations/trainings. Maintains and submits accurate time sheets and leave forms to the Classroom Teacher in a timely manner, ensuring complete and accurate information. All offers of employment are contingent upon clear results of a thorough background check, drug/alcohol test and the approval of Head Start Policy Council. CMCCAA is an Equal Opportunity Employer and hires without regard to race, color, sex, age, disability, or national origin. --- About Clarksville-Montgomery County Community Action Agency (CMCCAA) Mission Statement It is the general purpose of CMCCAA to identify problems of poverty and to seek the elimination of conditions of poverty as they affect people in the communities of Clarksville and Montgomery County, Tennessee. It shall further be the general purpose and functions of the CMCCAA to utilize and mobilize the resources of the community to implement programs that are designed to alleviate the effects of poverty in the Clarksville-Montgomery County area. The purpose and function of our agency is to: Administer programs from the office of Community Services, Tennessee Department of Human Services, their successors and other appropriate Federal state and local governments, private and public agencies, corporations and foundations in Clarksville and Montgomery County Tennessee; Work with the three (3) significant groups in the agency's service area (the poor sector, the public sector and the private sector) to identify causes of poverty; Make the entire agency's service areas more sensitive to the needs and interests of the poor, and develop priorities among projects and activities to be implemented by the agency to eliminate the causes of poverty. To empower clients to become more economically self-sufficient by planning and assisting them in locating and accessing resources enabling participants to identify their strengths and barriers as well as to assume responsibility within and for their community. Additionally, families will be assisted to strengthen family units by making informed decisions and initiating positive actions. What is a Community Action Agency? Community Action Agencies are private non-profit or public organizations that were created by the federal government in 1964 to combat poverty in geographically designated areas. Status as a Community Action Agency is the result of an explicit designation by local or state government. A Community Action Agency has a tripartite board structure that is designed to promote the participation of the entire community in the reduction or elimination of poverty. Community Action Agencies seek to involve the community, including elected public officials, and representatives from the low-income and private sectors on the Board of Directors.

Visit our website:

https://cmccaa.com/

Job Type:

Full-time Pay:

$21.07 - $22.09 per hour

Benefits:

401(k) 401(k) matching Dental insurance Employee assistance program Health insurance Life insurance Paid time off Retirement plan Vision insurance Application Question(s): Do you have an Associate's or Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education or Child Development?

Education:

Associate (Required)

Work Location:

In person