Job Summary:
Under the supervision of the Executive Director and in accordance with the direction and the mission of Young Families Early Head Start, the Infant Toddler Educator is responsible for all responsibilities including caring, educating, and nurturing infants’ and toddlers, including those with disabilities and special needs, in a safe and stable environment while developing a relationship with their parents/guardians to assist and support them in becoming effective parents/guardians.
Mission Statement:
The mission is to assist and support low-income, primarily teen parents and prenatal parents in pursuit of their educational goals and the development of their parenting skills, while providing comprehensive, quality child care for their infants and toddlers, from birth to age three.
Vision Statement:
To be an Early Head Start of Excellence with an unwavering commitment to the Head Start Program Performance Standards (HSPPS) and the needs of our community and staff.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Teaching & Child Development
- Implement developmentally appropriate curriculum and individualized learning experiences that promote children's cognitive, language, social-emotional, physical, and creative development.
- Conduct ongoing child observations, assessments, and documentation to individualize instruction and monitor developmental progress.
- Utilize assessment data (DRDP) to develop individualized goals and modify lesson plans based on each child's needs and interests.
- Promote school readiness by supporting development across all Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework domains.
Health & Safety
- Maintain a safe, clean, healthy, and organized classroom environment that meets licensing and Head Start standards.
- Conduct daily health checks and promptly report concerns regarding illness, injury, abuse, neglect, or developmental delays according to agency policies and mandatory reporting laws.
- Follow all health, sanitation, diapering, handwashing, safe sleep, feeding, medication administration (if applicable), and emergency procedures.
- Maintain active supervision of children at all times to ensure their safety.
- Other duties as assigned.
Family Engagement
- Build respectful, strengths-based relationships with families while recognizing parents as their child's first and most important teacher.
- Encourage family participation in classroom activities, conferences, goal setting, and program events.
- Collaborate with Family Partnership staff to support family goals and connect families with community resources.
Disabilities & Inclusion
- Support the inclusion of children with disabilities and suspected developmental delays.
- Collaborate with Early Intervention providers and specialists to implement Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSPs) and classroom accommodations.
Documentation & Compliance
- Maintain accurate and timely child records, attendance, developmental assessments, lesson plans, and documentation in ChildPlus and other required systems.
- Maintain confidentiality of all child, family, and program information in accordance with applicable laws and agency policy.
- Ensure compliance with Head Start Performance Standards, CACFP requirements, childcare licensing regulations, and agency policies.
Team Collaboration
- Work collaboratively with teaching partners, management staff, specialists, substitutes, volunteers, and community partners to ensure high-quality services.
- Participate in staff meetings, reflective supervision, trainings, professional development, and coaching opportunities.
- Assist in mentoring new staff, substitutes, students, and volunteers as assigned.
Professionalism
- Maintain professional, respectful, and collaborative relationships with children, families, coworkers, volunteers, and community partners while upholding the agency's Standards of Conduct.
Daily Classroom Operations
- Prepare and maintain classroom materials and learning environments.
- Ensure classroom ratios and licensing requirements are maintained.
- Assist with meals, diapering, toileting, and daily care routines while promoting children's independence.
- Maintain inventory of classroom supplies and notify supervisors of the materials needed.
Continuous Quality Improvement
- Participate in ongoing program self-assessment, monitoring, classroom observations, and continuous quality improvement efforts.
Please note that this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The employee must frequently move and lift up to 25 - 50 pounds; frequently communicate with co-workers and parents; work in an office/child education environment with exposure to childhood diseases and illnesses. Walking, standing and sitting on the floor, using fingers, hands, and arms, bending, stooping, crouching, squatting, and reaching. Ability to listen and speak clearly. Ability to be outside when as weather allows with children.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $17.50 - $23.00 per hour
Expected hours: 40.0 per week
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Parental leave
- Professional development assistance
- Referral program
- Vision insurance
Experience:
- customer service: 1 year (Preferred)
- child care : 1 year (Preferred)
Work Location: In person
