Essential Job Functions:
Plans and conducts daily activities to develop children intellectually, physically, emotionally and socially, according to individual stages of development; develops daily lesson plans; plans and implements adopted curriculum.
Uses a variety of instructional strategies, including a variety of instructional media and technology.
Evaluates and records student progress.
Maintains a physical environment that conforms to county and state regulations for student safety and cleanliness.
Plans and executes parent/family activities, workshops and home visits as deemed necessary and appropriate.
Plans and directs activities for the instructional assistant.
Conducts student screenings and assessments and provides ongoing developmental evaluations of students.
Communicates with parents/families on a regular basis through phone calls, newsletters and parent workshops.
Maintains required Head Start records for local, state and federal monitoring.
Attends and participates in staff meetings, in-service trainings and conferences, as well as, professional meetings as deemed appropriate and necessary.
Works in conjunction with the Disabilities Coordinator to initiate referrals for special education services and provides follow up as needed.
Collaborates with all Chesterfield Preschool teachers, staff, and Early Childhood Special Education.
Occasional overnight travel for professional development activities.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Budgetary Responsibility:
N/A
Report Preparation:
Report preparation includes but is not limited to daily child attendance reports, weekly lesson plans, field trip request forms (as needed), field trip notification forms, parent/teacher conference forms, High Scope student progress reports, etc. End of the year reports include: record of professional development, program tracking sheet, preschool information form, as well as, monthly parent newsletters articles.
Equipment Operation:
Equipment used includes: copy machine, computer (for generating e-mail, lesson plans, newsletter articles, etc.), telephone, laminator, cell phone (where applicable) and answering machine (where applicable).
Contacts: Frequent contact with school personnel including but not limited to the principal, other teachers, cafeteria staff, Head Start Education Manager, Head Start Instructional Specialist and other personnel as deemed appropriate and necessary.
Work Direction: This position provides work direction to substitutes, classroom paraprofessional, as well as, other classroom visitors.
Supervision:
This position reports to school-based administration and the Head Start Director.
Decision Making:
Requires good judgment and independence in making decisions about children, parents and other staff members in accordance with the policies of CCPS and Head Start performance standards.
Formal Policy Setting Responsibilities:
May assist with revision of policies.
Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here represent those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. While performing this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, talk or hear; use hands to finger, handle or feel objects; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; reach with hands and arms; stand, walk and smell. The employee must occasionally lift or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required include close and distance vision as well as the ability to identify and distinguish colors.
Work Environment:Work is primarily performed in a classroom environment. The noise level in the work environment is moderate to loud. Work may require the transport of some materials from location to location.
Considerable knowledge of child development and best practices in early childhood education. Working knowledge of the concepts, principles and methodologies of instruction. Working knowledge of Head Start requirements and other local, state and federal requirements. Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with parents, students and staff to implement programs. Demonstrated ability to work independently with limited supervision, including high pressure and difficult situations. Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively with the Head Start Education Manager and Head Start Instructional Specialist, building administrators and other preschool programs within CCPS. Demonstrated ability to develop instructional goals; to design and deliver instruction and to assess students’ learning. Demonstrated ability in decision making, problem analysis, conflict resolution, interpersonal relationships and planning.
