Head Start Teacher
Location: Tolleson
Posted on: June 23, 2025
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Job Description:
“Helping our community’s most vulnerable with solutions that
permanently improve lives” Catholic Charities Community Services is
currently seeking a passionate individual who has an engaging
classroom presence to work in our Head Start program providing
support to our staff and children. JOB SUMMARY: Under the guidance
and supervision of a Teacher Licensing Supervisor or designee, the
Head Start Teacher is responsible for ensuring student progress as
described in the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework. The
Head Start Teacher is required to demonstrate competencies needed
to effectively implement curriculum, plan and facilitate high
quality learning activities, and provide an engaging and secure
learning environment in which children can form a strong foundation
for school readiness and later school success. Assignment is for
the school year (10 months) with scheduled breaks identified at the
beginning of each program year as dictated by program requirements
and site calendar. ESSENTIAL DUTIES : Child Development, Health,
and Safety 1. Plans and implements a designed bilingual,
multicultural curriculum for children assigned to the classroom
that advances the intellectual and physical development of the
children and improves their readiness for school 2. Develops
children assigned to the classroom in their: literacy, phonemic and
print awareness; understanding and use of their primary language,
including increasingly complex and varied vocabulary; appreciation
of books; understanding of early math and science; problem-solving
abilities; and approaches to learning 3. Creates and maintains a
welcoming, inclusive, safe, and developmentally supportive
environment to encourage the cognitive, language, social/emotional,
and physical development of children and families 4. Meets the
individual needs of each child by providing an environment that
allows for the inclusion of children with special needs and
children who speak a home language other than English 5.
Effectively serves children with disabilities and their families;
making appropriate adaptations for any disabilities and achieving
goals and objectives set forth in the child’s Individualized
Education Plan (IEP) 6. Models use of proper English grammar for
all children, particularly children acquiring English as a second
language, to support proper language development 7. Translates and
interprets daily activities and events to the child’s home language
and/or uses additional strategies when lacking proficiency in the
child’s home language to ensure conceptual understanding and
support dual language learning 8. Completes developmental and
social/emotional screenings within 45 days of enrollment and
accurately documents required health information 9. Completes
regular and on-going assessments according to program guidelines to
identify proficiencies, strengths, possible concerns, and/or delays
by monitoring children’s progress and performing all necessary
observations 10. Utilizes information from child screenings,
assessments, observations, and parent input to establish
individualized child goals and plan learning activities for
children 11. Develops lesson plans that include at least one (1)
home task and one (1) food experience per month 12. Follows
specialized physical health care procedures and, as needs of
students dictate, provides first aid and performs cardiopulmonary
resuscitation (CPR) 13. Implements approved emergency plan and
conducts/documents monthly fire drills 14. Complies with all
Child/Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) guidelines and completes
daily, weekly and end-of-the-month food services documentation and
reporting Family Engagement 1. Builds positive relationships with
parents/guardians and encourages family involvement in center
activities 2. Implements the Strong Fathers Strong Families (SFSF)
curriculum and engages fathers and other male guardians to
contribute to the education of their children through their
participation in center activities 3. Conducts two (2) parent
conferences and two (2) educational home visits for each child
assigned to the classroom each academic year to build a strong home
to school connection and support child/family growth and
development 4. Maintains awareness of and contact with community
based organizations and service agencies to utilize when
coordinating parent conferences and meetings 5. Provides advocacy
for participant families and links them to needed community
services and resources 6. Provides families with information about
community organizations and events and encourages their
participation and further involvement in community groups and
activities to promote building parents as advocates and leaders 7.
Includes and involves parents in planning Parent Center Committee
meetings and facilitates committee meetings with the Family Support
Specialist (FSS) 8. Evaluates the needs and identifies the
interests of participant families and coordinates parent education
activities in support of these needs and interests Teamwork,
Communication, and Professional Standards 1. Maintains appropriate
communication with and seeks out information and assistance from
supervisors, managers, other Head Start staff, and parents as
needed to provide services and fulfill job responsibilities 2.
Works closely with other Head Start staff to promote and maintain a
high level of parent participation in program activities and
ensures that parents are aware of and understand the full range of
options available to them in becoming actively involved in Head
Start 3. Understands the requirements of Mandated Reporter Laws and
demonstrates the importance of informing their supervisor/manager
of any concerns about children and suspicions of child abuse and/or
neglect 4. Demonstrates dependability by arriving to work on time,
maintaining regular work attendance, and following program
procedures when needing to be absent from work 5. Accepts
responsibility for participating in the planning and achievement of
team goals and objectives 6. Plays an active role in continuous
self-assessment and evaluation of program services 7. Demonstrates
an ability to adapt to changing needs, problem solve, and
incorporate innovations to fulfill program requirements and improve
program services 8. Accurately completes detailed paperwork and
submits all required documentation and periodic reports within
provided timelines 9. Maintains confidentiality of personal
information and the integrity of the record keeping process 10.
Participates in staff development activities including in-service,
training sessions, and meetings as required 11. Identifies own
training needs for the purpose of fulfilling professional
development requirements and individual growth 12. Supports and
assists other personnel in the completion of their work activities
as may be required 13. As program needs dictate, may be called upon
to fill in as a substitute in another classroom or at another site
to ensure uninterrupted service delivery to children and families
14. Inventories and orders needed supplies monthly 15. Promotes
ongoing commitment to excellence and continual quality improvement
to ensure the highest quality of services to children, families,
and staff 16. Other duties as assigned REQUIREMENTS : To perform
this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each
essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are
representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required.
Knowledge 1. Knowledge of child development theory; specifically
early childhood development 2. Understanding of the scholastic
structures required for the coordination and delivery of a
developmentally appropriate early education program 3. Familiarity
with Head Start standards, requirements, goals, objectives,
policies, and procedures 4. Strategies to motivate children and
parents to become involved in activities 5. Understanding of and
sensitivity to cultural differences within the community, program,
and agency 6. Techniques for accurate record-keeping and data
management 7. Awareness of community resources and available
support services 8. Understanding of Head Start Act and Performance
Standards preferred Skills 1. Directing individual and group
activities for children and families 1. Proper English grammar and
usage 3. Communicating effectively with parents and children 4.
Using, structuring, and managing time effectively 5. Understanding,
following, and carrying out written and oral instructions 6.
Critical thinking and resourcefulness to overcome challenges and
solve problems 7. Managing change and demonstrating adaptability,
flexibility, and responsiveness to varying needs and situations 8.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Applications including Word,
Outlook, PowerPoint, and Excel 9. Maintaining cooperative work
relationships 10. Bilingual (English/Spanish) skills preferred
Abilities 1. Work successfully with socio-economically
disadvantaged and culturally and linguistically diverse pre-school
age children and their parents in a fast-paced environment 2.
Identify and utilize a variety of materials for use in a pre-school
developmental setting 3. Read, understand, interpret, and apply
rules, regulations, and policies 4. Maintain a structured schedule,
adhere to timelines, and meet deadlines 5. Visually and auditorily
assess students/parents to ensure their safety and well-being 6.
Stand and/or sit for prolonged periods of time 7. Lift children up
to 40 pounds and assist them to the bathroom as necessary 8. Sit on
floor and ambulate over uneven floor surfaces including stairs,
steps, and playgrounds 9. Other significant physical abilities
include lifting/carrying/pulling, stooping/kneeling/crouching,
reaching/handling/fingering, talking/hearing conversations and
other sounds, near/far visual acuity/depth
perception/accommodation/field of vision
Keywords: , Prescott Valley , Head Start Teacher, Education / Teaching , Tolleson, Arizona
