Job Description
La Mesa, NM
PRIMARY FUNCTIONS:
The Preschool Teacher is responsible to promote school readiness by preparing children and families for
school success and life success as it relates to this position. To provide high quality developmentally
appropriate care and education for children age 3-5 in a center based classroom in the CPLC ECD
Program. Work as part of a center based inter-disciplinary team to support the child in all areas of
development while providing education, disabilities, health and social service support to families.
Abide by all state and federal regulations that apply to care and education of young children including the
revised Head Start Program Performance Standards (issued 9/1/2016), Head Start Act (12/7/2007),
Texas Child Care Licensing-(for centers in Texas), New Mexico State Child Care Regulations-New
Mexico Kids-(for centers located in New Mexico),, Office of Head Start Initiatives and ECD Content
Area Plans and Procedures. Actively supervise children by sight and sound at all times and in all
environments. Maintain all health and safety regulations to create an optimum learning environment.
Facilitate health practices to keep children safe in the school bus, outdoor and indoor environments.
SPECIALIZATIONS
For the successful candidate hired for Texas Centers, initial employment physical and TB test or Chest
x-ray,T-dap, a valid Texas Driver's License and vehicle insurance are required. For the successful candidate
hired for New Mexico centers, initial employment physical and TB test or Chest x-ray, Tdap, a valid New
Mexico Driver's License and vehicle insurance are required. Must pass a criminal background check to
include a Child Abuse and Neglect register check, sex offender registry check, and obtain a Level One
Fingerprint Clearance card. According to the new Head Start Performance Standards (HSPPS) an applicant
must be First Aid and CPR certified or must obtain certification within the first 6 months of employment.
Computer literacy is necessary. Applicant must have basic keyboard skills and be able to use computer,
computer software programs (e.g. Microsoft Office, Adobe) and web based systems. Applicant must
obtain Food Handlers card upon hire.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Minimum qualifications for the Preschool Teacher position is an Associates degree or a Bachelors degree
in Child Development or Early Childhood Education (ECE) or coursework equivalent to a major relating
to Early Childhood Education in a related field and six-month experience in teaching preschool aged
children is required. Baccalaureate or advanced major in ECE or a related degree to early childhood
education and experience teaching preschool age children is preferred. Bilingual Spanish/English
preferred. Education obtained outside of the United States of America (USA) and from another country
must be evaluated from an accredited organization to determine equivalency to USA education standards.
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES AND COMPETENCIES
Center-based teachers, teacher assistants and family child care providers are expected to demonstrate
competency to provide effective nurturing teacher-child interactions, plan and implement learning
experiences that ensure effective curriculum implementation and use of assessment and promote
childrens progress across the standards described in the Head Start Learning Outcomes Framework: Ages
Birth to Five and applicable state early learning and development standards, including for children with
disabilities and dual language learners.
Program Management:
Demonstrate awareness and sensitivity to cultural issues and community
practices of low income and at risk families, including dual language speakers. Implement Office of Head
Start initiatives. Provide task based training mentoring/modeling to teacher assistants, new co-teachers,
substitutes and volunteers. Attend designated program and center meetings. Assist and participate in
parent involvement activities. Perform other duties as requested by immediate supervisor necessary to
fulfill the goals and objectives of CPLC ECD. Maintain and keep current all necessary and required
certifications.
Safety:
Supervise children by sight and sound at all times in all environments. Maintain all safety
regulations to create an optimum learning environment. Facilitate health practices in all indoor and
outdoor learning environments. Establish and maintain a safe, supportive environment in the classroom
and the playground. Increase vigilance while walking children to and from various site locations during
transitions. Create and implement a safety plan for classroom and play areas. Safety practice to include
daily are: zoning, verbal hand off of safety monitoring, counting children at every classroom transition,
before and after going to the playground, bus and leaving the classroom. Incorporate Office of Head Start
(OHS) safety guidance and protocols including but not limited to OHS health & safety screener and Early
Childhood Environmental Rating Scale (ECERS) classroom arrangement and daily practices.
Assess Development and Learning:
Using designated research based assessment tools to administer,
record, analyze and assess child development and learning information in accordance with assessment
guidance directions provided by authors of the tools used. Implement the assessment systems. Maintain
daily documentation and assessment results, input assessment data into designated electronic recordkeeping
systems. Conduct Parent/Teacher conferences and Home Visits. Administer developmental
screening assessment used by the program and enter data into designated electronic records.
Ongoing Social, Emotional and Physical Care:
Develop and nurture trust based partnership
relationships with parent and children regarding supporting the developing children in your care. Respond
quickly to childs needs. Immediately care for childs personal hygiene needs such as; toileting support,
cleaning, feeding, and changing soiled or wet clothing/diapers. Engage children in vocabulary building
conversation during routine care. Assist in Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) duties such as
implementing CACFP Family style meal service during daily meals, sit and eat CACFP with children
engage in vocabulary building conversation with children. Log temperatures and document Point of Meal
Service. Develop and implement classroom nutrition activities. Implement I am Moving, I am Learning
(IMIL) activities in the classroom daily.
School Readiness Development:
Engage in high quality teacher-child interactions as measured by
Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS). Implement designated curriculum within a dual
language environment. Implement designated curricula as outlined by authors and according to trainings
provided. Engage in weekly intentional planning for creation of weekly lesson plans; engage in multiple
daily learning interactions and conversations with children to vocabulary, concept knowledge in support
of school readiness of children. Develop and implement daily/weekly education plans to support
Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP)/Individual Education Plan (IEP), weekly calendar breakdown
activities as outlined in curricula and Education Content Area Plan and procedures. Conduct Parent
Teacher Conferences and Transition Home Visit to develop transition plans with parents.
Home School Connections:
Develop and implement Weekly Home School Connection activities.
Provide parent with information and resources to assist them in supporting program school readiness
goals, child development goal and curricula learning experiences for the child and parent.
Ongoing Monitoring:
Engage in ongoing monitoring per program procedures. Ongoing Monitoring is
inclusive of all aspects of program service delivery. Analyze all data from program systems to support
high quality delivery program educational services. Engage in program case management: communicate,
plan, and participate in center based case management. Communicate concerns to Center Service
Manager. Monitor and analyze child development and school readiness progress use data to inform
planning and service delivery.
Professional Development:
Attend designated trainings and conferences. Engage in and apply Practice
Based Coaching experiences and guidance received individually or in small groups facilitated by
designated site staff, Education Specialists and designated coach. Implement suggestions, guidance, and
assignments received from coaches. Engage in use of technology to support coaching dialogue and service
delivery: video and photos are used to support staff professional development.
JOB DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to
successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to
enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The employee frequently is required
to sit and use hands along with fingers, to handle or feel. The employee is occasionally required to stand,
walk, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, and stoop, kneel, bending at the waist crouch or crawl.
The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 40 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this
job include close vision.
Must have dependable transportation and able to travel (in state/out of state). Applicant must demonstrate
the ability to communicate clearly and effectively both verbally and in writing.
CONTINUOUS EDUCATION
Employee will be expected to participate in continuous learning, competency building and maintenance
of competency skills. Ongoing professional development as identified in Head Start Act (12/7/2007)
and Head Start Performance Standards (issued 9/1/2016) is required.
TYPICAL WORKING CONDITIONS
Work is performed in structured environments. The work environment characteristics described here are
representative of those encountered while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable
accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
ACCOUNTABILITY
Reports to and is supervised directly by the Center Service Manager. Employee is also accountable for
understanding and complying with CPLC policies and procedures, Office of Head Start Initiatives and
Program School Readiness Goals.