Head Teacher (Head Start Preschool)

Job Description

Job DescriptionSalary: $62,00-$65,000 a year depending on experience

Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00 am- 5:00 pm with an hour lunch, and some evenings for parent conferences scheduledin advance.

Compensation:$ 29.81- $31.25 an hour depending on experience.

Benefits: St. Marys Center offers comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, health reimbursement account, 401(k) retirement plan, 14 paid holidays, generous vacation and sick time, and training opportunities upon successful completion of the introductory 90-day period.

ABOUT ST. MARYS CENTER

St. Marys Center,www.stmaryscenter.org, is a community of hope,healing, and justice. We provide nutrition, advocacy, counseling, and social support to seniors and preschoolers in the heart of Oakland. St. Marys Centeroperatestransitional housing, a senior center, and preschool and is developing permanent supportive housing as part of a comprehensive, collaborative community development strategy along the San Pablo Avenue corridor. We are proud of an excellent multidisciplinary team delivering high-quality services to people with urgent needs. Charity Navigator awarded us a 4- star rating for fiscal management and integrity for six consecutive years, and St. Mary's Center was the California Association of Nonprofits District 9 Nonprofit of the Year in 2021.

POSITION SUMMARY

Under the supervision of the Preschool Director, the Head Teacher establishes and maintains a safe, healthy learning environment. This position promotes physical and cognitive growth in children while supporting their social and emotional development, providing positive guidance for students, and maintaining positive relationships with families.

AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

Classroom Time/ School Readiness

• Supervise and monitor children at all times and respond appropriately to crisis or emergency situations that may occur.
• Establish a positive classroom climate.
• Guide the behavior of children in positive, effective ways.
• 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.
• Encourage experimentation, exploration, problem solving, cooperation, socialization, and choice-making; ask open-ended questions and follow-up questions to promote further learning and thinking.
• Release children only to individuals with appropriate signed consent.

Individualization, Curriculum, and Assessment

• Follow agency-adopted curricula, using effective strategies to guide learning.
• Prepare the classroom environment and materials to support developmentally appropriate curriculum plans and learning experiences.
• Assess individual and group needs, attending to specific interests, strengths and concerns.
• Work with appropriate agencies to develop specialized planning for children and families as needed.
• Coordinate with support staff when indicated, developing a collaborative approach that benefits all children in the classroom.
• Adapt curriculum to address and meet individual goals for children as identified in their individualized family service plans (IFSP).
• Develop and utilize integrated curriculum plans which reflect mandated elements and components, familial and cultural influences, and promote the social, emotional, physical and cognitive development of Head Start children.
• Establish weekly goals that promote individual and group educational plans and include other Head start components.
• Participate in integrated service meetings to plan for and delivery collaborative services across all components.
• Complete required screenings.

Documentation

• Utilize agency adopted tools for ongoing assessment and documentation.
• Ensure all federal, local, state and/or agency documentation is completed accurately.
• Monitor and report child abuse.

Professional Development

• Attend and participate in training and appropriate professional development activities.
• Attend and participate in meetings.
• Engage in ongoing self-assessment about job performance.

Additional Job Responsibilities

• Assist with breaks, food service as needed.
• Work with other staff to ensure the general maintenance and security of the facility.
• Assist with inventory of equipment and supplies.
• Other duties as requested.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES

• Ability to apply Early Childhood Development theory in daily activities, and adapt to the individual needs of children.
• Significant decision and problem solving abilities.
• Ability to work as a team member collaborating with staff, families and community resources.
• Ability to maintain respectful relations and communication with staff, families, children and community.
• Ability to supervise preschool children and ensure a safe environment.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Educational requirements: An Associate of Arts degree or higher level degree in Early Childhood Education/Child Development, Education, Home Economics, Music, Art, Library Science, Physical Education & Recreation, Psychology, Family Studies, or other Early Childhood Education/Development related fields.
• Child Development Permit: Must possess and maintain a valid CA Child Development Teacher Permit or higher-level permit issued by the CTC. For information on permit requirements, go to ctc.ca.gov.
• Must complete 21 hours of annual training.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills. Bilingual English/Spanish skills highly desirable.

GENERAL STAFF ROLES:

Along with all employees, the Head Teacher is expected to:

• Foster an environment that promotes trust and cooperation among leadership and staff.
• Follow policies and procedures to ensure that the principles of St. Marys Center are implemented.
• Maintain confidentiality in accordance with federal, state, and local regulations and in accordance with professional codes of conduct.
• Understand the mission, values, and principles of St. Marys Center and apply them in work responsibilities.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. In general, while performing the duties of this job, the employee is expected to stand; walk; sit; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.

• Ability to respond to events happening at all times in classroom, outdoor play areas and on field trips, including school bus. This includes the physical ability to move quickly in order to respond to children who are very active and may need redirection or restraint in order to ensure their safety or the safety of others in the environment.
• Ability to interact with children at their eye level, ie. sitting, kneeling, stooping, bending.
• Must be able to lift and/or move up to 10 pounds occasionally.
• Frequently required to stand, walk, and sit for extended periods of time
• Use of hands and fingers for typing, handling, or feeling objects, tools, or controls.
• Occasional reaching with arms and hands above shoulder level.
• Ability to bend, stoop, kneel, or crouch as needed.
• Vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and ability to adjust focus.
• May be exposed to varying environmental conditions (e.g., temperature, noise) depending on work setting.

WE ARE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
St. Marys Center is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an active Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). It is the stated policy of St. Mary's Center that all employees and applicants shall receive equal consideration and treatment in employment without regard to race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, marital status, medical condition, or physical handicap. Pursuant to Californias Fair Chance Ordinance, we consider qualified applicants with arrest/conviction records.