Head Start Teacher Job Opening

Head Start Teacher

Maricopa County, AZ

• Mesa, Arizona
$31,824.00 - $40,560.00 a year
Category: Teacher
Position Overview

The Head Start Teacher is a collaborative member of the Maricopa County Early Education Division (EED). The Head Start Teacher promotes active learning in the preschool classroom by planning and implementing developmentally appropriate, individualized experiences and by creating a safe and nurturing environment in which three (3) through five (5) year old children can enhance their skills in: language and literacy, cognitive developmental, approaches to learning, perceptual, motor, and physical development, social-emotional development, and develop of age-appropriate social and self helps skills. This includes planning and participating in parent education, parent engagement and family support activities.

Position Qualifications

We recognize your time is valuable, so please apply if you meet the following required qualifications:

Education:

  • Associate's degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development or equivalent college degree with 18 credits in early childhood education and/or child development.
OR
  • Bachelor's degree or higher in Early Childhood Education, Child Development or equivalent college degree with 18 credits in early childhood education and/or child development or infant/toddler development.

Experience:

  • Six (6) months of experience teaching in a licensed childcare or pre-k setting.
  • Completion of supervised student teaching in an early childhood setting may substitute for the teaching experience requirement.
Other Requirements:
  • Must possess, or have the ability to obtain a valid Arizona driver license at time of hire.
  • Must complete background check and fingerprint identification upon hire to successfully secure and maintain Level 1 DPS Fingerprint Clearance Card.
  • Successful candidates must also complete a medical exam that includes screening for TB, as required by Federal and State regulations, and be free of communicable disease.
  • Certification in CPR, First Aid, and Food Handler's must be obtained within six (6) weeks of hire.
  • Ability to read, write and speak Spanish may be required for some positions.
Our Preferred Candidate has:
  • Preference is given to current or former Early Head Start and Head Start parents.
  • Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development or equivalent college degree which includes 18 credits in early childhood education and/or child development.
  • One (1) year of experience teaching in a licensed childcare or pre-k setting. (Completion of supervised student teaching in an early childhood setting may substitute for the teaching experience requirement).
  • Bilingual in English/Spanish.

Essential Job Tasks

  • Assumes responsibility for the supervision, care, and welfare of the classroom children to ensure their safety and wellbeing at all times
  • Effectively develops, plans, organizes, and implements age appropriate child education curriculum
  • Plans classroom experiences that meet different developmental stages, interests, temperaments, learning styles, languages, and cultural backgrounds
  • Develops and implements a multicultural curriculum utilizes developmentally appropriate practices which meet the needs and interests of students
  • Ensures compliance with all Federal, State, and Head Start licensing requirements and program policies and procedures
  • Respects, values and facilitates parent participation as equal partners in all aspects of Educational Plans
  • Develops and maintains positive relationships with each family, site team members, community agencies, community partners, and grantee staff members

Working Conditions:
Work is performed in classroom, playground and office environments. Requires travel to and from job related locations during the course of a scheduled workday, subject to County policies regarding use of County vehicles and/or private vehicles used on County business. Requires use of personal vehicle to travel to and from children's homes, classrooms and other job related locations. May be required to fill in as a substitute staff member at another program site. Must be able to lift up to 40 pounds. Must be able to stand, sit on floor, and be indoors or outdoors for extended periods of time. Possible exposure to bodily fluids and infectious disease.

Head Start Teacher positions follow either a full or partial year schedule. Positions that follow a full year schedule are typically comprised of 2088 hours annually. Partial year schedule positions are typically comprised of 1,608 hours annually. Birth to Five site classrooms operate Monday through Friday.

Maricopa County is an EEO/ADA Reasonable Accommodation Employer.

Selection Procedure

The hiring authority will select the successful candidate based on departmental needs.

All offers of employment made to new hires and rehires at Maricopa County are contingent upon successful completion of a post-offer, pre-employment thorough background investigation. A background investigation is conducted on a current employee who changes to a Safety Sensitive Position or one having the potential for serious adverse impact on the integrity or efficiency of the County. These requirements do not pertain to employees of elected officials who undergo background investigation processes administered through their respective offices.

Typically successful candidates are hired at a salary rate, up to midpoint of the range, based on applicable experience, internal equity and budgetary allowances.