JOB DESCRIPTION
\*\*\*P-3 Certification Required\*\*\*
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Title: Teacher*
Reports to: Education Manager
FLSA: Exempt
Position Summary:
The teacher serves as the lead person in their classroom and is responsible for ensuring that the classroom runs smoothly on a daily basis. In addition to the responsibilities of being a classroom teacher in the center, the Teacher serves as a means of immediate support to the Teacher Assistant and/or Teacher Aide assigned to that classroom.
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Responsibilities:*
- Learns and adheres to the philosophy and mandates of Head Start and Early Head Start as outlined in the Performance Standards, licensing requirements, and the Policies and Procedures of Greater Bergen Community Action (GBCA).
- Understands how children develop and learn in a variety of school, family and community contexts and provides opportunities that support their intellectual, social, emotional, and physical development.
- Ensures children receive individual attention and supervises children all the time by using your eyes and ears.
- Creates a learning community in which individual differences are respected.
- Prepares classroom prior to the children arriving daily.
- Designs and implements developmentally appropriate learning experiences making subject matter accessible and meaningful to all students.
- Prepares weekly lesson plans one week in advance and posts lesson plans in designated area that is easily visible to all pertinent individuals.
- Assumes responsibilities for all mandated classroom documentation for the education component.
- Keeps the classroom neat and assures that all equipment and materials are in good condition.
- Maintains the safety and bodily cleanliness of each child.
- Participates and conducts the Early Screening Inventory and Ages & Stages and/or any other assessment tool required by the agency and/or any other regulatory body.
- Attends in-service and pre-service training workshops as required and/or requested.
- Plans for and participates in home visits, parent/teacher conferences, and back to school events. These activities will be scheduled during the day and evening.
- Plans and/or participates in class trips or any other type of event that may take the teacher and/or students out of the typical classroom environment.
- Shares information with parent/guardian and plans, as a team, strategies for meeting the individual needs of each child.
- Shares information as needed with Family Support Specialist concerning individual needs and/or concerns regarding each child.
- Meets with supervisors to discuss progress, classroom observations, program planning, professional development, and plans for specific training as needed.
- Submits weekly anecdotal records in the assessment tool online used by the program on each child and completes written evaluations of each child’s development.
- Keeps daily attendance records and meal count records on each child.
- Ensures that the “Daily Drop off/Pick up Log “is completed.
- Collaborates with Family Support Specialist and follows up on each child in case of a prolonged absence.
- Participates as an active and responsible member of the professional community, engaging in a wide range of reflective practices, pursuing opportunities to grow professionally, and establishing collegial relationships to enhance the teaching and learning process.
- Knows and understands how education research and other methods of inquiry can be used as a means for continuous learning, self-assessment, and development.
- Participates in the design and implementation of the Individualized Education Program (IEP) and Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) if requested.
- Makes the entire school a productive learning environment through participation in collegial activities.
- Establishes and maintains a harmonious relationship with supervisors, fellow staff, and parents.
- Attends all meetings as specified by the Head Start Leadership.
- Is punctual and adheres to the work schedule assigned.
- Assists with classroom coverage at own site and/or any other sites upon request of supervisor and/or administration.
- Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with management, clients, representatives of community organizations and other staff members.
- Implements with fidelity the curriculum used by the program.
- Education Staff is required to participate in the coaching program implemented for the Education Department.
- If the program requires virtual/remote learning, staff must comply with all assignments from their education supervisor.
- Participates in videotaping that may be used as part of ongoing professional development.
- Understands and implements the School Readiness Plan in the classroom.
- Responsible for the overall safety of each child in the GBCA HS/EHS program.
- Assumes and performs any other additional assignments as directed by the Education Supervisor and/or administration.
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Knowledge of:*
- Principles and practices involving the implementation of a developmentally appropriate curriculum.
- Applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations relating to preschools and childcare.
- Cultural and socio-economic issues relevant to providing appropriate services to special population groups.
- How student learning is influenced by individual experiences, talents, and prior learning, as well as language, culture, family, and community values.
- Characteristics, uses, advantages, and limitations of different types of assessments.
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Mandated Reporting:*
As per New Jersey mandated reporting guidelines, any person having reasonable cause to believe that a child has been subjected to abuse or acts of abuse should immediately report this information to the State Central Registry (SCR). If the child is in immediate danger, call 911 as well as 1-877 NJ ABUSE (1-877-652-2873).”
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Qualifications:*
- Communicates clearly and effectively.
- Must demonstrate English proficiency - both oral and written
- Demonstrates good computer skills and ability to integrate technology into the classroom and can accurately enter information into agency data management systems.
- Ability to physically care for the needs of the children in the classroom. This includes being able to sit, stand, bend, and lift up to fifty (50) pounds.
- Will work outdoors with children during part of the day during each season.
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Tier I*
- Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education, and
- NJ P-3 or Nursery Certification
- Valid NJ driver’s license preferred; local travel is required.
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Tier II*
- Bachelor’s degree in Education or related field, and
- NJ P-3 or Nursery Certification
- Valid NJ driver’s license preferred; local travel is required.
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Physical & Mental Demands:*
The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by employees to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
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EEO Statement*
Greater Bergen Community Action, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $60,000.00 - $63,000.00 per year