Position Title: Early Learning Teacher (Early Head Start)
Reports To: Head Start Director
Organization Overview
The mission of the Urban League of Louisiana is to support African Americans and others seeking equity to secure economic parity and self-reliance. Founded in 1938 as the Urban League of Greater New Orleans, Inc., the organization expanded its footprint to Baton Rouge and changed its name to Urban League of Louisiana (ULLA) in 2017. ULLA is one of nearly 100 affiliates of the National Urban League, headquartered in New York. Today, ULLA’s work lives in three Centers of Excellence: Education and Youth Development, Economic Development and Workforce Development and Policy and Social Justice.
Benefiting from a remarkable history and tradition, ULLA has a strong and positive brand coupled with a track record of successfully serving the African American community. Using this as a foundation, ULLA is poised to expand to other cities across the state, making it an integral part of the state’s economic growth and development.
The organization’s structure includes the President and CEO, Executive Vice President, Vice President for Finance and Operations, Vice President for Education and Youth Development, Vice President for Workforce Development, Vice President of Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and Vice President, Strategy and Engagement along with director level positions in New Orleans and Baton Rouge.
Position Summary
The Urban League of Louisiana is seeking an Early Learning Teacher for its Clarence L. Barney Head Start Center. The Clarence L. Barney Head Start Center provides early learning instruction, resources and support for 62 infants and toddlers and their families in the Greater New Orleans area. The Early Learning Teacher will be part of a team focused on implementing a comprehensive, early childhood development program. Under the guidance of the Clarence L. Barney Head Start Center Director, the Early Learning Teacher will provide quality primary caregiving for infants and toddlers in a safe and supervised early care and education setting. The Early Learning teacher will also promote the social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development of Early Head Start children enrolled in the program, and develop individual goals for children. Additionally, the Early Learning Teacher will provide screenings and on-going assessment, and adhere to all Head Start Program Performance Standards, agency policies, procedures and other applicable Federal and State regulations to successfully accomplish the Clarence L. Barney Head Start Center’s program goals and objectives. The ideal candidate will be caring, patient, trustworthy, and share our belief that all children can succeed.
Essential Functions
- Plan and provide learning opportunities to students which support growth in the areas of cognition, early literacy and language, social development, play skills, fine and gross motor development, fine arts, adaptive/self-care skills, health and nutrition.
- Supervise and monitor children at all times.
- Participate in regularly scheduled team meetings to plan for and deliver collaborative services.
- Work in a cooperative, respectful and constructive way with co-teachers and other center staff, in order to maintain an environment that supports the socio-emotional development of children.
- Communicate with Early Learning families on a regular basis via home visits, parent conferences, written materials and informal personal and telephone contacts.
- Ability to apply Early Childhood Development theory in daily activities, and adapt to the individual needs of children.
- Develop and utilize integrated curriculum plans, which reflect mandated elements and components, parental and cultural influences, and promote the social, emotional, physical and cognitive development of infants and toddlers.
- Implement developmentally appropriate curriculum into classroom activities to address and meet individual goals for children as identified in their individualized education plans.
- Demonstrate knowledge of, and support in providing high quality learning environments in a center focused on children’s individual needs.
- Respond appropriately to crisis or emergency situations that may occur.
- Assess individual and group needs, attending to differences in needs and disability issues, specific interests, strengths and concerns.
- Prepare classroom materials to support developmentally appropriate curriculum plans; create and change learning centers and materials as needed.
- Provide an atmosphere that promotes and reinforces parental involvement in the classroom.
- Communicate regularly with parents, regarding each child's progress.
- Conduct the required parent/teacher conferences and home visits for the purpose of assessment and support, and to share information on classroom progress and educational strategies at school and at home.
- Document developmental baselines, ongoing assessments according to program benchmarks utilizing Teaching Strategies GOLD.
- Document all significant classroom issues and parent contacts.
- Monitor and report child abuse or neglect.
- Monitor the health and safety of students while at school.
- Attend meetings, trainings and staff professional development activities.
- Be open to coaching and improvement of skills and knowledge.
- Assure general maintenance and security of facility and assist with inventory of equipment and supplies.
- Assure accurate and point of service meal counts.
- Support development of healthy eating habits for children and families through modeling, education, and encouragement.
- Assist in preparing and serving food to children, in compliance with CACFP regulations.
- Demonstrate knowledge of food safety and sanitation guidelines.
Supervisory Responsibility
This position supervises classroom volunteers.
Position Type/Expected Hours of Work
This is a full-time position, Monday-Friday, work hours between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Occasional Saturday or evening assignments may be required.
Qualifications
Associate’s Degree in early childhood education and/or related field, CDA with Infants/Toddlers designation, or experience working with Infants/Toddlers and enrollment in CDA or Early Childhood Education program, required
12 months of experience working with children, between ages birth to 3 years, in a child care center, school or Head Start, required.
Must be able to pass a state background check with no felony convictions and no misdemeanor convictions deemed relevant to work performed in this classification. Any conviction listed in the Louisiana Child Protection Act (Louisiana R.S. 15:587.1) is considered disqualifying, unless written proof of pardon is submitted in time for consideration with the application.
Very strong knowledge of early childhood development, ability to implement curriculum teaching strategies and assessment methods, ability to implement positive guidance strategies, strong organizational skills, strong written and verbal communication skills, ability and interest in working cooperatively in a team, a strong desire to include and involve parents and community partners in the educational process, the ability to implement Head Start Performance Standards.
Must be at least 18 years of age.
Must be able to lift 40 lbs.
Proficiency in technology, Microsoft Outlook, etc.
Excellent verbal communication skills.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: Up to $32,700.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Schedule:
- 8 hour shift
- Monday to Friday
Education:
Experience:
- Childcare: 1 year (Preferred)
License/Certification:
- Child Development Associate Certification (Preferred)
Work Location: In person
