Preschool Teacher (Head Start CAPHR)

Job title: Preschool Teacher (Head Start CAPHR)

About the Role The incumbent is responsible for the overall health and safety of preschoolers in the Head Start program. Working as a member of the classroom team, you will foster trusting relationships with children and families and support daily classroom functioning. Your schedule is developed to provide classroom coverage as needed.

What You'll Do

• Maintain and support a safe, healthy learning environment.
• Develop trusting relationships with children and families; encourage family involvement and support the development of relationships between children and families.
• Support the mission and philosophy of the Head Start program; work in partnership with families without judgment or bias and respect individual differences.
• Demonstrate the highest standards of personnel integrity and professionalism to inspire confidence in the Community Action movement.
• Support daily learning experiences that advance literacy, phonemic and print awareness, language development, vocabulary, early math and science, problem solving abilities, and approaches to learning.
• Welcome and support families as the primary educators of their child; provide opportunities for families to participate in the curriculum outside the classroom (home-school connections); encourage family engagement in the classroom and program through volunteering, curriculum development and planning.
• Provide positive guidance for children, following CAPHR Child Development Program’s Behavior Management Policy, including PBIS.
• Attend not less than 15 clock hours of classroom-focused professional development; complete not less than 18 hours of professional development annually to meet NH State Licensing Requirements; work with supervisory staff to develop professional development plans; explore outside trainings to meet those plans, if applicable.
• Participate fully in training opportunities exhibiting professionalism as outlined in program guidelines for professional development.
• Relate professionally and tactfully with all program participants and co-workers; maintain positive interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to work as part of a team.
• Build partnerships with families within professional boundaries, communicating program policies and procedures.
• Take part in classroom and center team responsibilities including: participate in family style meals; support completion of required classroom paperwork (bleach logs, meal tallies, attendance); know the health and nutrition conditions of the children in care; understand Emergency Preparedness Procedures; coordinate with community members to provide onsite field trips; attend parent meetings as scheduled; share in cleaning responsibilities with all team members.
• Participate in all Family Engagement initiatives; take part in recruitment efforts when opportunities arise; attend center staff meetings and training as scheduled.
• Change diapers when appropriate, maintaining proper hygiene (gloves, hand-washing); maintain current CPR and First Aid Training as assigned; must possess a valid driver’s license and be able to travel when needed.
• Maintain professional boundaries with all current, past, and prospective clients, and maintain confidentiality of clients and staff, in accordance with SNHS policy and procedure.
• Abide by all CAPHR Safety policies and procedures; present a professional and positive image as a representative of SNHS.
• Be responsible for having adequate knowledge of all CAPHR programs and gather sufficient intake information to make referrals to other CAPHR programs which are beneficial to the client and family.
• Perform other related duties as required.

What We're Looking For

• In the CAPHR Child Development Program, a teacher should expect to: kneel to address children at eye level; demonstrate motor activities that may include running, hopping, jumping, dancing, and full body motions; be able to run after a child in peril; lift children in emergencies; nurture children who may need consoling; get on the ground with children in case of fire and help them crawl to safety; sometimes get kicked or hit accidentally during exuberant play.
• The candidate will be at least 18 years of age, have a minimum of a High School diploma or GED, a Child Development Associate Credential (CDA) or 9 credit hours of early childhood college coursework (including 3 hours of child growth and development); Associate’s Degree in ECE preferred.
• Candidate must have an awareness of developmentally appropriate practice and the ability to relate well to children and adults.
• All hiring is subject to NH Code Administrative Rules and Head Start Performance Standards and mandates for professional accreditation.

Nice to Have

• Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education (ECE) preferred.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary: $18.05 - $20.83 per hour (based on education and experience).