MEXICAN AMERICAN OPPORTUNITY FOUNDATION
Job Description
Title: Lead Teacher
Program: MAOF MAAC Early Head Start/Head Start (San Diego County)
Salary: $21.99 - $23.93 per hour
Status: Non-Exempt - Full Time
Reports to: Program Director, Site Supervisor and or designee
Closing Date: Open until filled
GENERAL PURPOSE
A staff person who provides care and supervision for infants and toddlers in the assigned group(s) and will plan, supervise and implement the education program within the classroom in accordance with policies, procedures and overall philosophy of the Head Start/Early Head Start Program.
GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND SPECIFIC DUTIES (not limited to):
- Primary caregiver to assigned infants/toddlers to provide respectful individualized care for infants and toddlers including feeding, diapering and holding.
- Assist with assigning the children to primary care group and planning on individualized transitions into.
- Partners with parents in order to provide consistent and culturally sensitive care through daily communication, as well as scheduled home visits and parent conferences.
- Encourage parents to provide continuity from center to home activities and to reinforce their role as the primary influence on their child’s education and development.
- Responsible for planning and implementing age-appropriate individual and small group activities including both daily indoor and outdoor activities.
- Responsible for the set-up, take down and clean-up of indoor and outdoor play areas.
- Responsible for assuring that classroom and outside play areas are maintained daily to assure cleanliness and safety. Includes sanitizing toys and classroom equipment and assisting with laundry. Maintaining clean and sanitized eating, diapering, and napping areas and equipment.
- Responsible for assuring preparation and serving of meals and snacks according to individual feeding plans.
- Responsible for accurately documenting care and developmental activities on individual daily records and on record keeping documents for each child.
- Provide children with a learning environment and developmentally appropriate opportunities that will foster each child’s social, emotional, physical and cognitive growth.
- Support parents to increase their knowledge, understanding and experiences of their child’s growth and development.
- Develop plans to ensure that daily activities provide for the safety of each child when using indoor and outdoor facilities.
- Provides continuous supervision of all children’s activities to ensure their safety.
- Establishes safety rules in the daily routines of children that are understandable and predictable by children and adults.
- Develops and posts an emergency exit plan and conducts monthly emergency exit drills.
- Plans and implements classroom activities that encourage healthy habits appropriate to the age of the children in the classroom.
- Responsible for accurate attendance and meal counts.
- Lifts, carries, and holds children weighing 25 – 50 lbs.
- Responsible for scheduling and completing home visits at times convenient to parents; developing Individual Child Plans and Family Development Plans for each child and family at Phase In and updating the plans at least 3 times during the school year.
- Conducts a daily health check for each child, recognizing and reporting illnesses of children to appropriate health personnel.
- Selects and incorporates materials and equipment that are age appropriate and invite children to practice their emerging skills.
- Maintains an age-appropriate environment that is orderly and inviting to children.
- Assists children during meal and snack time demonstrating appropriate dental and personal hygiene. Uses these opportunities to foster language development.
- Ensure that daily routines provide opportunities for each child that address special needs, cultural backgrounds and linguistic groups.
- Assists with personalized services for special needs children (specialized training and equipment provided as needed).
- Establish productive relationships with parents to increase the center’s ability to assist parents in meeting their role as the primary influence on their child.
- Conducts parent conferences and home visits.
- Perform other duties as assigned for the proper implementation of the program.
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS REQUIRED
Education:
- AA degree in Early Childhood Education and/or Child Development is required.
- Must have a minimum of 24 units in Early Childhood Education and/or Child Development.
- Must have a State of California Children’s Child Development Teacher Permit from the Commission on Teacher Credentialing.
- 3 infant/toddler units are highly preferred. (If you don’t currently have possess the units, you will be required to complete it within 1 year of employment.)
- 1-year paid experience working with children 0-3.
Skills:
- Ability to communicate, both oral and written
- Bilingual (English-Spanish) required.
- Ability to speak, read and write English well enough to understand and be understood by others.
- Listens attentively to others; asks clarifying questions to gain a better understanding of the other person’s views and underlying assumptions
- Works effectively in a team environment and actively participates in joint problem solving; willingly cooperates with co-workers
- Attends work consistently and punctually arrives to meetings prepared and on time; honors work commitments; follows through on commitments; meets deadlines
- Maintains confidentiality by honoring the private and confidential matters of co-workers, families and children.
- Follows rules, regulations, and policies; positively contributes to implementing changes
- Deals with issues directly, in a respectful and timely manner. Focuses on resolving the issue while not criticizing the person.
- Sensitive to the needs of others.
- Sincere commitment to providing services to children and the community.
- Ability to assess and respond quickly to varied situations.
HEALTH REQUIREMENTS
As a condition of employment, must pass a pre-employment Health Screening, including passing a physical examination, verification of a T.B. clearance and Drug screening. T.B. clearance must be renewed every four years. Must provide vaccination records for influenza, pertussis and measles at the time of employment, annual requirement thereafter.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
- Must possess Live Scan fingerprint clearance at all times during employment. Revoked fingerprint clearance number will lead to immediate removal from the site and termination of employment.
- Mandatory pediatric first aid and CPR certificate, responsible to maintain, as a condition of employment.
- Must provide updated educational transcripts as required.
- Must have and maintain a valid California Driver’s License, daily use of a personal and insured vehicle.
PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential function of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of the job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear. The employee is required to reach with hands and arms. The employee is required to stand, sit and walk. The employee may lift and/or move children up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, peripheral vision and the ability to adjust focus.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment is a professional office. This is not a hybrid position. The characteristics of the work environment are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Work may include evenings and weekends.
MAOF SPONSORED BENEFITS:
MAOF offers a comprehensive package of benefits and perks for both part- and full-time employees, including:
- Personal Time Off (PTO) – (Vacation/personal days or sick time).
- Paid Sick Time – 48 hours.
- Paid Holidays per Calendar Year - 12 paid holidays.
- Bereavement Leave – 5 paid days.
- Jury Duty – 5 paid days.
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance Paid 100% by MAOF.
- 403(b) Retirement Plan - 5% employer match – 100% vested.
- Basic Life and Accidental Insurance.
- Pet Insurance.
- Supplemental life insurance.
- Professional development opportunities.
- Employee Assistance (EAP) – For team members and dependents; counseling, legal assistance, financial planning, identity theft, etc.
- Supplemental Cancer, Disability, and Accident plans.
- Employee referral bonus (referring employee earns $500 for each new hire who completes 90 days).
- Discounts for AT&T wireless, movie tickets, amusement parks, and much more.
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
- Credit Union Membership.
