The Teacher provides leadership to Teacher Aides, foster grandparents, and volunteers. The goal is to provide a child development experience for every child in the Teacher’s class based on educational principles. The Teacher is responsible for behaving in a positive manner, as an appropriate role model for the staff, parents, children and visitors. This position directly relates to teaching, learning and direct child care and supervision of children as it relates to Performance Standards and State Licensing.

DUTIES:

1. Engages and interacts with the children using rich language and literary material that contains rich language and predictable text.
2. Plans and implements learning experiences that advance the intellectual and physical development of children by using material that is developmentally appropriate as the children progress from one developmental stage to the next, including the use of Phonemic Awareness activities, their understanding and use of language, their understanding and use of increasingly complex and varied vocabulary, their appreciation of books, and their problem solving abilities.
3. Aids children in potty training. If a child has an accident, the Teacher ensures that the child is changed and cleaned, soiled clothing sent home and soiled area cleaned/disinfected in a timely manner.
4. Encourages the families’ involvement in the Early Head Start program and supports the development of relationships between children and their families.
5. Performs other duties as assigned.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPECTATIONS OF EMPLOYEE:

• Possesses a warm personality and willingness to respond to infants' and children’s needs in a manner that fosters emotional growth and development.
• Possesses an understanding of the dynamics of poverty, oppression, sexism, racism, ageism and other forms of societal and individual prejudice that confront people today.
• Demonstrates a philosophy and value base consistent with the purpose and goals of Clover, utilizing a strengths and empowerment perspective and working towards increasing the capacities of program participants and their families.
• Possesses the ability to work holistically, as part of a team, with staff, program participants and their families, volunteers and the community at-large towards successful outcomes for program participants.
• Respects the integrity of each program participant, their right to privacy and confidentiality, and their right to participate to their maximum capacity in determining their participation in agency programs, including the formation of a case/treatment plan.
• Ability to meet deadlines, well organized, and able to work under pressure of multiple deadlines; demonstrates flexible and efficient time management and ability to prioritize workload.
• Adheres to agency policies and procedures.

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Child Development Associate (CDA or AA) in Early Childhood Education, plus one year experience working in an Early Childhood environment with children ages 6 weeks to 2 years old.