Job Description

Posting Date

01/22/26

Application Deadline

Open Until Filled

Pay Range

$45,500 - $64,000 annually

Salary offers are based on the candidate's equivalent experience and internal equity with other employees within the same job classification. This position is not eligible for overtime compensation.

Job Type

Unclassified

Department

Human Services

About the Position

Do you want to make a difference in a young child’s life? As an Early Head Start Teacher, you will provide active learning by planning and implementing developmentally appropriate individualized experiences and creating a safe and nurturing environment in which 0 to 3-year-old children can enhance their development and skills. You will also plan and participate in parent education, parent involvement, and family support activities. As an Early Head Start Teacher, you will help build stronger families and brighter tomorrows for our youngest residents of Maricopa County.

Our classrooms are welcoming and designed for interactive learning by children and their families. We offer a low teacher-to-student ratio of 1:4 with 8 students per classroom, to provide the greatest opportunity for a healthy and effective learning environment. Did we mention the County provides the supplies needed to support our teaching staff? We also offer to be part of a compassionate team of early education professionals who believe in the mission of preparing these children for future school success.

As a teacher, you will be excited to learn about other added benefits, including:

• Paid continuing education, professional development, and tuition reimbursement
• Paid Child Development Association Certification (CDA) that you can earn on the job! With this certification you can grow in your Head Start career by advancing into teaching positions.
• Candidates without required credentials are encouraged to apply for the Teaching Assistant while they earn their CDA.
• Amazing health and wellness programs including Pet Insurance! Our health insurance plans are more than competitive, with the option to earn a wellness incentive payback of $60 per month.
• Free Office of Head Start https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ohs membership

Be the spark that lights our children’s future. Become an Early Head Start Teacher!

About the Early Education Division

The Early Education Division is federally funded to administer center-based Head Start and Early Head Start early care and education along with community resources and referrals to support economically disadvantaged children to be ready for school and families to achieve self-sufficiency. Currently, classrooms are operated through a mixed service delivery model of full-year, part-year, community and school-based sites; operated directly by Maricopa County and through contracted Child Care Partnerships.

About the Department
The Maricopa County Human Services Department (HSD) builds resiliency in the community and promotes the well-being of County residents experiencing adversity through a variety of programs and services to help people and families thrive. These opportunities include early childhood education, housing, homeownership, independent living services for seniors and adults with disabilities, career development for job seekers with barriers to employment, crisis rental and utility assistance, and support for people experiencing homelessness. HSD is committed to delivering innovative and comprehensive services in a collaborative approach that preserves dignity, promotes respect, and facilitates social and economic mobility.

In 2025, the Human Services Department was the proud recipient of 23 Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo), highlighting the Department’s commitment to providing support for low-income and at-risk communities. Maricopa County Human Services was honored for a wide variety of programs showcasing their valuable work including Regional Solutions to Homelessness in Rural and Underserved Communities, Pathway to Rapid Reemployment, Tonopah Fire Station Improvements, Refugee Relocation Assistance Program, Early Education Division’s EVIT Expanded Partnership, and several other initiatives.

Join our team and unlock your potential!

Proud to Offer

• Work with a greater purpose
• Tuition reimbursement
• Exceptional work-life balance
• Opportunities for growth and development within Maricopa County
• Low-cost, high-value healthcare for you and your qualifying dependents
• Child care benefits, including access to our on-site center Maricopa County Kids Club, dedicated to serving Maricopa County families
• Paid vacation, sick time, and parental leave
• Extensive wellness program, including an incentive
• Enrollment in the Arizona State Retirement System, a defined retirement benefit requiring a 12% monthly contribution rate that includes a 100% employer match on Day 1
• Want to learn more about the County’s Qualifying and Compensation Philosophy? Follow this link to learn more! Work With Us | Maricopa County, AZ

We Require

• Six months of experience teaching in a licensed childcare or pre-k setting
• Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development or equivalent post-secondary degree which includes 18 credits in early childhood education and/or child development
• Completion of supervised student teaching in an early childhood setting may substitute for the teaching experience requirement

Other Requirements

• Must have reliable transportation and have the ability to travel from different county locations as required
• Must secure a Level 1 Fingerprint Clearance Card through the Arizona Department of Public Safety
• Must complete a medical exam that includes screening for tuberculosis (TB)
• Must obtain a CPR, first aid, and food handler’s certification within six weeks of hire
• Ability to read, write, and speak Spanish may be required for some positions

Job Contributions

• Assumes responsibility for the supervision, care, and welfare of the classroom children, ages 0 to 3 years, to ensure their safety and well-being at all times
• Supports and promotes each child’s physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and language development
• Develops and maintains positive relationships with each family, site team members, community agencies, community partners, and grantee staff members
• Respects and supports the diverse cultural and family backgrounds and treats each child and parent as an individual; respects, values, and facilitates parent participation as equal partners in all aspects of Educational Plans
• Develops and implements a multicultural and age-appropriate child education curriculum and experiences that utilizes developmentally appropriate practices, which meet the needs and interests of students and comply with local and federal standards
• Ensures compliance with all local, state, and federal regulations, including the Office of Head Start Performance Standards; Arizona licensing requirements, Child and Adult Care Food Program guidelines, and CACFP record keeping, and County program policies and procedures
• Prepares and maintains accurate records that evaluate ongoing observations of each child’s growth and development; these records include child health records, child observation, individualization, lesson plans, attendance, meal counts, parent involvement, family support, and additional items as directed while maintaining the confidentiality of child, family, and program information
• Completes formal developmental assessments on children with finalization/analysis and works with parents to develop an Education Plan based on these assessment results
• Participates in the development and implementation of Individual Family Service Plans (IFSP) for children with disabilities and plans classroom experiences to support the IFSP plan
• Carries out authorized emergency and safety procedures and administers first aid and/or CPR in the classroom as needed

Working Conditions

• Position follows a full-year schedule that is typically comprised of 2,088 hours annually
• Work is performed in a classroom, playground, and office environment as assigned and is subject to change based on the program's needs
• May require travel to and from job-related locations during a scheduled workday, subject to County policies regarding the use of County vehicles or private vehicles used on County business
• Must be able to lift up to 40 pounds
• Must be able to stand, sit on the floor, and be indoors and outdoors for extended periods
• Possible exposure to bodily fluids and infectious disease
• May be required to fill in as a substitute staff member at another program site
• Birth to Five site classrooms operate Monday through Friday

Selection Procedure

• Only the most qualified candidates will be considered

• Consideration will only be given to candidates who submit online applications

• Candidates will be contacted primarily through email and their Workday online application profile

• Must pass a pre-employment background and/or fingerprint investigation as required by statute or policy, including drug and alcohol testing requirements for positions designated as safety-sensitive

Maricopa County is an equal opportunity employer.

Apply Now!