Teacher, Early Head Start- Hancock County

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

The following examples are intended as illustrations only of the various types of duties assigned to this position. The absence of specific statements of duties does not exclude those tasks from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment of the position.
• Demonstrate a warm, calm, and unhurried manner while serving as a positive role model for children and families.
• Provide individualized education, care, safety, and well-being for all infants/toddlers in the class.
• Meet each child’s social, emotional, physical, and developmental needs through nurturing interactions and planning.
• Plan and implement developmentally appropriate learning activities using the Integrated Approach, incorporating Head Start content areas of health, nutrition, and parent involvement.
• Prepare and arrange the physical environment and child development materials to meet the changing needs of infants and toddlers.
• Serve as the primary provider for a small group of children, ensuring consistent and responsive caregiving.
• Observe children daily for safety and assessment purposes, maintaining accurate child assessment records and documentation.
• Provide individualized plans for each child to support growth and development, including children with special needs.
• Schedule and conduct at least three home visits and two parent-teacher conferences per year, documenting all meetings appropriately.
• Establish and maintain ongoing communication with families to strengthen family engagement and partnerships.
• Supervise and guide children during mealtime, toileting/diapering, handwashing, rest periods, and play activities, promoting healthy routines and independence.
• Model exemplary classroom practices consistent with the Teacher Success Rubric and CLASS, mentoring assistants, new staff, and volunteers.
• Maintain a safe, clean, sanitary, and pleasant classroom environment that supports child development.
• Participate actively in planning, assessment, evaluation of program content, and development of classroom resources.
• Attend staff meetings, in-service training, and professional development workshops to stay current on best practices in early childhood and Head Start standards.
• Adhere to all MSU Extension Head Start Program and University personnel policies, as well as MS Child Care Licensing Standards and Early Head Start Performance Standards.
• Report concerns regarding child development, classroom management, or family needs.
• Perform other related duties as assigned to ensure high-quality services for children and families.

Teacher Success Rubric:
• CLASS teacher-child interactions
• Learning environment
• Curriculum
• Child assessment
• Meeting all children’s needs
• Working with families
• Professional growth and collaboration

Minimum Qualifications:

Education:
• AA/AS in Early Childhood Education or related field.
Substitution:
• An equivalent combination of related education and related experience may be considered for this position.
Licensures:
• Valid driver’s license
• Certification in CPR and First Aid – Will be required to obtain within the first nine (9) months of employment. Certification must be maintained.

Preferred Qualifications:

• BA/BS in Early Childhood Education, Child Development or related field, or state awarded preschool teacher certification with experience teaching preschool-aged children, or BA/BS in related field with at least six college courses in Early Childhood Education plus experience teaching young children.
• Experience teaching preschool children including group experience with children four
years and younger.
• Certification in CLASS

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Current understanding of MS Child Care Licensing requirements
• Current understanding of Head Start Performance Standards
• Able to anticipate the needs of children
• Must be able to organize and execute daily activities
• Works well with other staff
• Intermediate computer literacy skills in email, Microsoft Office

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

• Subject to background check and finger printing as required by the State Department of Health/Child Care Licensure Standards for staff.
• A physical exam is required for this position.
• Travel required locally or long-distance up to 10% of the time for work-related meetings
and other functions.
• Able to lift a child weighing 40 pounds, 20 times a day if needed.
• This position will be inside and outside supervising children as weather permits as well as monitoring.
• Due to the primary work with young children, some exposure to communicable disease is likely.
• Moderate to loud noise levels.

Instructions for Applying:

Link to apply:  http://explore.msujobs.msstate.edu/

All applicants MUST apply online at www.jobs.msstate.edu to be considered for this position.