Early Childhood Educator

Job Summary

Required Qualifications

• •Associate degree in Infant and Child Development or Early Childhood Education or related area
• •Bachelor's degree preferred
• •Significant experience and alternative training in early childcare and development
• •Knowledge and experience in the philosophy and practices of Head Start (or comparable child development programs), early childhood education, developmentally appropriate practice, and bilingual education
• •Experience of working with children three to five years of age
• •Current CPR and First Aid certifications
• •Annual physical
• •Tuberculosis vaccination
• •Good communication skills
• •Flexibility
• •Teamwork
• •Must successfully pass a drug screening and background check
• •Must be able to work Monday-Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p. m.
• •Must have own reliable transportation to travel to and from one of the centers located in Taylor, Macon, Dooly, Peach, and Crisp counties
• •Must be able to lift approximately 50 pounds
• •Must be able to lift and/or move up to 20 pounds
• •Must be able to occasionally lift 20 pounds overhead and 40 pounds from waist to shoulder
• •Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, distant and color visions, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus
• •Must be able to work indoors as well as transition the classroom to outdoors
• •Must be willing to relocate to another center within the program whenever needed
• •Must maintain regular job attendance and adherence to working hours
• •Must display a high level of effort and commitment to performing work
• •Must operate effectively within the organizational structure and be inclusive of children with special needs and disabilities
• •Must maintain complete and accurate required family/child files, forms, and records within required timelines
• •Must assist in implementing children's I.E.P. (Individual Education Plan)
• •Must ensure compliance with state law regarding the mandatory reporting of child abuse
• •Must participate as a member of the annual self-assessment program
• •Must develop own professional work goals and training plan working towards required Head Start degrees
• •Must consistently maintain and promote excellence in service through open and honest relationships with co-workers, clients, community members and other FVSU Head Start/Early Head Start staff
• •Must consistently address clients, community members and co-workers in a courteous, pleasant and respectful manner
• •Must supervise and monitor children at all times and respond appropriately to crisis or emergency situations that may occur
• •Must maintain confidentiality and exercise good judgment concerning confidential information
• •Must follow a consistent schedule, which includes small and large group experiences, choice time, music and movement, large and small motor activities, skill development, meals, and effective transitions between activities
• •Must create weekly/monthly lesson plans addressing individual goals for children
• •Must provide a comprehensive safe and healthy learning environment for the children
• •Must assure classroom operates within the guidelines and standards of the Fort Valley State University Head Start Policies and Procedures and the Head Start Performance Standards
• •Must develop and implement curriculum, which reflect mandated elements and components, parental and cultural influences, and promotes the social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development of Head Start children
• •Must possess and demonstrate a strong working knowledge of Head Start Program Performance Standards and other regulations
• •Must maintain a developmentally appropriate classroom setting
• •Must be confident files on all children
• •Must correspond and work with parents
• •Must schedule educational home visits and parent teacher conferences
• •Must develop and implement classroom curriculum to provide learning opportunities for individual child goals
• •Must provide on-going assessment on progress and facilitate transition to kindergarten
• •Must work toward compliance in all facets of Head Start and program performance standards and regulations
• •Must be responsible for education requirements of children in assigned classroom, including all required daily health checks, screenings and ongoing child assessment data related to the identified school readiness goals
• •Must assess children, document behavior, and evaluate results
• •Must complete required screenings within 45 days of child's first day in program
• •Must complete and submit required forms and records in a timely and accurate manner, e.g., lesson plans, COR, Child Plus, and meal reports etc
• •Must be responsible for meal implementation with other staff and for maintaining a developmentally appropriate classroom environment, including organization of space and material storage
• •Must use home visits and parent conferences to discuss the child's individual development and progress, assist the parents in developing observational skills and solicit parent observations
• •Must maintain an annual physical and Tuberculosis vaccination

Desired Qualifications

• •Bachelor's degree or higher in Early Childhood Education or related area