Teaching Associate Jobs in Homestead, FL (NOW HIRING)

POSITION SUMMARY:
This is an exempt position that is responsible for conducting developmentally appropriate instruction and activities for children according to the Head Start Performance Standards (HS), Council on Accreditation (COA), National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) guidelines and to ensure compliance with all Performance Standards, Department of Children and Families (DCF) licensing requirements and Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Program requirements under the Florida Department of Education, federal, state and local laws requirements. The position requires that all documentation is conducted in accordance with regulatory body requirements, which include Catholic Charities Policies and Procedures, the HS and EHS contract and the accreditation standards of the program. Incumbent in this position demonstrates sensitivity to the service population's cultural and socioeconomic characteristics and will demonstrate professionalism, and organizational skills, and adhere to all safety practices in order to meet all duties and responsibilities listed below.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Service Delivery & Child Care
• Maintains knowledge of the specific safety rules and is responsible for managing the education, care, safety and well-being of each child.
• Develops and implements daily lesson plans which utilizes strategies according to funding source requirements which address children's individual needs as well as to create learning experiences that are meaningful while providing opportunities to scaffold children's learning objectives and stimulate development.
• Arranges the classroom-learning environment according to NAEYC guidelines, encourages high level play, promotes and challenges student thinking and problem solving and is changed throughout the year to reflect children's interest growth.
• Fosters and collaborate with families to effectively prepare children for the transition to kindergarten.
• Promotes and maintains universal health and safety precautions which include proper handwashing, sanitizing and disinfecting areas and proper use of the gloves when handling body fluids.
• Maintains and follow all safety and inspection checklists in place to ensure a safe, clean and sanitary environment including the classroom, bathroom and outdoor facilities at all times.
• Actively supervises students at all times, including nap time.
• Demonstrates regular attendance, punctuality and maintains a professional work image.
Reporting & Compliance
• Completes and records assessments for children within 45 days according to Head Start guidelines.
• Completes a minimum of 15 hours of in-service training each year, including VPK mandatory training and other training required by CCADM.
• Employees are required to provide health examinations and TB screening's results to the Human Resources Department every two years.
• Assures that all screenings and evaluations are conducted accurately and in a timely manner as per each program's guidelines and due dates.
• Promotes regular school attendance and makes timely referrals of any child with suspected special needs, health concerns and consecutive absences to case manager.
• Conducts the Health and Safety daily checklists and reports any suspected child abuse and neglect immediately pursuant to Florida law.
• Conducts as needed but at a minimum two (2) home visits as per program guidelines.
• Always follows and implements active supervision and makes timely and accurate records; reports to supervisor of any accidents or unusual incidents.
• Adheres to all Catholic Charities Policies and Procedures including maintaining a sufficient knowledge and understanding of those policies.
• Adheres to all regulatory guidelines including agency policy and procedures, Center guidelines and practices, Head Start regulations and performance standard, DCF and any applicable accreditation guidelines.
• Conducts appropriate Classroom Health and Safety Checklists as required and ensures Zero (0) monitoring deficiencies in classroom
• Complies with USDA Food Program guidelines of recommended portions, family style serving, and menu/nutrition discussions and activities as well as involving parents in the development and implementation of healthy nutrition habits.
• Maintains confidentiality where appropriate as stipulated in the Head Start Standard of Conduct and Catholic Charities Policies and Procedures.
Communication & Partnerships
• Engages in positive interactions and conversations during lunch and snack activities to promote language and back and forth exchanges with the children.
• Attends professional meetings, conferences, and/or workshops to maintain and improve professional competence. As a representative of Catholic Charities, professionalism in speech, actions and appearance is expected.
• Establishes and maintains positive family relationships to effectively carry out the requirements of conducting and documenting parent/teacher conferences per program guidelines. Communicates regularly and shares daily incidents with parents/guardians.
• Obtains written consent from parents or guardians for special events including field trips.
Supervisory Responsibilities
• Work collaboratively as educational partners to plan assignments that support and enhance student
learning.
• In conjunction with Education Coordinator, supervise and evaluate Teacher Aide and volunteers.
• Participates in annual performance evaluations of the Teacher Aide.
• Conducts training for the Teacher Aide and volunteers as necessary.
Additional Duties
• Ensures that all children are dropped off and picked up by parent/legal guardian or authorized person who does not pose a risk and as indicated in child enrollment form and center's card.
• May be required to work past the normal work hours in case of situations at the center.
• Measures accurate weight and height of children and appropriately documents obtained measures.
• Ensure attendance is completed on a daily basis within the allotted time frame.
• Ensures timely and accurate data entry in all required databases.
• Makes timely and accurate recordings of daily meal counts per the CCFP and agency meal count documentation process.
• Completes and is accountable for all required or requested training topics and a minimum of 15 hours as per DCF, COA standards, Head Start, VPK, CCFP and any other applicable regulatory and as requested by supervisor.
• Performs assigned duties consistently in an efficient, professional and courteous manner.
• Performs all other duties as assigned by supervisor.
Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
• Has knowledge and command of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar.
• Reads Standard English text.
• Writes grammatically correct routine correspondence/reports including but not limited to lesson plans, parent-teacher reports, incident reports, referral forms and anecdotal notes.
• Speaks Basic English using appropriate vocabulary and grammar while communicating with children.
• Has proficiency in the use of the following technology resources - Head Start and Catholic Charities databases.
• Communicates effectively with parents/guardians, children, and staff.
• Always maintains an appropriate level of professionalism with supervisors, subordinates, parents/guardians and volunteers.
• Develops and maintains constructive and cooperative working relationships with all staff within departments and or job functions.
Physical Demands
The work is in a childcare setting. The following physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job and are not meant to be all inclusive:
• Regular to frequent requirement, and as needed, to lift children (up to 50 lbs.)
• Regular to frequent bending, stooping, stretching, walking, squatting, pushing, pulling, kneeling, crawling, sitting on low chairs or on the floor.
• Noise level can be moderate to loud
• Detecting unsafe situations by sight or sound.
• Moving quickly to intervene in unsafe situations.
• Occasional exposure to a variety of weather conditions.
• Exposure to a variety of childhood and adult diseases and illnesses.
Educational & Experiential Requirements
• DCF 45 hours (Introductory 30 Child Care Training Hours, 10 Hour Special Needs and 5 Literacy Hours);
• A Bachelor or associate's degree in child development or early childhood education with 18 credits in early childhood education with experience teaching preschool-age children; or
• A bachelor's degree in Elementary Education with 18 credits in Early Childhood Education; or
• A bachelor's degree or associate degree plus 18 credits in Early Childhood Education
• Supervisory teaching experience.
Reporting to this position
In conjunction with the Education Coordinator, supervise and evaluate the Teacher Aide.
Please see the link to the new Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse Education and Awareness website.
https://info.flclearinghouse.com
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.