POSITION SUMMARY:
The Instructor, under the direction of the Early Childhood Programs Manager, is responsible for operating and maintaining a quality early childhood classroom, in accordance with Federal, State, and Tribal regulations that will provide children developmentally appropriate experiences in preparation for school readiness and future success.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: (includes, but is not limited to, the following)
- Implements and supervises developmentally appropriate activities that promote healthy emotional, social, intellectual, physical development including small and large groups and individualized teachings.
- Assists and participates in duties as it relates to daily care of children, classroom management, and sanitation of the classroom.
- Conducts and records daily on-going observations and anecdotal notes used in the development of individualized teaching activities.
- Communicates daily with families in a positive manner through notes, telephone, or personal contact about their child's daily activities, social emotional well-being, and health needs in order to foster a positive home school connection.
- Develops and implements lesson plans for children birth to five that are in accordance with the Head Start Performance Standards and Early Childhood Programs curriculum ensuring multicultural principals and Ojibway culture are also incorporated.
- Ensures that goals and objectives stated in the child's IEP/IFSP are reflected in the lesson plans and incorporated in the individual teachings of that particular child.
- Monitors and carries out behavior plans and interventions as determined by classroom staff, on-site consultants, and child's parents.
- Completes and analyzes individualized assessments in order to determine where children are at developmentally, socially, and emotionally in order to develop individualized service plans.
- Supervises all meals ensuring that children are developing good nutritional habits by modeling eating the same foods as them and discussing nutrition.
- Conducts two home visits and two parent/teacher conferences per year to discuss the child's developmental growth and plan for future growth based on assessments, anecdotal notes, and shared observations.
- Organizes developmentally appropriate field trips that enhance the curriculum and children's understanding of their community.
ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES: (includes, but is not limited to, the following)
- Evacuates children during emergency and monthly drills.
- Cleans and sanitizes as assigned and needed.
- Provides activities that support healthy nutritional experiences, prevention activities, along with health and safety activities.
- Promotes everyday hygiene opportunities for children (tooth brushing, toileting, hand washing, etc.) each day by modeling.
- Changes diapers as needed.
- Completes and submits required paperwork to designated individual on time.
- Supervises classroom volunteers.
- Attends and participates in staff meetings, trainings, weekly study teams, and wellness meetings.
- Supervises and documents emergency evacuations.
- Encourages parents to participate in all aspects of the program, attend parent meetings, join policy council, and other school functions.
- Participates in various committees such as the Health Advisory Committee, Education Advisory Committee, and/or Self-Assessment Committee.
- All other job related duties as assigned.
CONTACTS:
Immediate peers, peers in other departments, immediate supervisor/manager, managers in other departments, customers and outside vendors/service providers.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Position heavy with lifting of 100 pounds maximum and frequent lifting/carrying up to 50 pounds. Physical factors include constant walking, standing, stooping, kneeling, crawling, reaching, use of hearing, smell, near/mid/far vision, depth perceptions, color and field of vision and bending; frequent carrying/lifting and handling; and occasional sitting, pushing/ pulling, climbing, reaching, travel and typing. Working conditions include constant exposure to noise, frequent exposure to weather and occasional exposure to wet/humidity. Potential hazards include constant client contact and occasional exposure to chemicals, infectious exposure, needles/syringes, computer, medical and other equipment use. Must obtain an annual TB Test. Must be in good physical health as determined by physician.
REQUIREMENTS:
Education: Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education, Education, Teacher Prep, Human Services with a minimum of 26 credits in Early Childhood Education required. Must obtain Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education with 2 years of hire.
Experience: Minimum of 1 year experience working in Early Childhood Program required. Experience working with children who have special needs preferred.
Certification/License: Must have or obtain CPR/First Aide Certification within 1 year of hire. Will be required to undergo and successfully pass a background check. Must maintain a good moral character standing. Will be required to complete and pass pre-employment drug testing.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Knowledge and understanding of sequential development in order to provide instruction that is scafolded to meet the needs of all children required. Knowledge and awareness of resources available to meet the needs of children and families with special needs preferred. Knowledge of the Anishinabe Culture and language preferred. Knowledge of or the ability to learn the Anishinabe Culture and incorporate the culture into the classroom environment and curriculum required. Must be able to assume the responsibility for classroom operations. Must be able to create a positive and maintain a positive and nurturing learning environment. Must be able to maintain a neat and organized classroom. Must be able to work with parents to promote understanding of growth and development of their child. Must be able to analyze and interpret data collected from assessments and communicate this data to parents in order to develop school readiness goals for each child. Must be able to mentor and manage classroom staff in the performance of their job duties. Must be able to maintain detailed and accurate record keeping such as but not limited to: lesson plans, attendance records, volunteers and donations, anecdotal notes, on-going observations, take home projects, Individual Service Plan. Knowledge of or ability to learn to use word processing and spreadsheet and data base software required. Must be able to be flexible and adaptable in order to meet the children's needs on a daily basis. Must be flexible with work schedule. Must be able to establish and maintain an effective working relationship with supervisory personnel, coworkers, and the general public. Must maintain confidentiality. Native American preferred.
