QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Ability to communicate and work with staff, children, and families not excluding children with special needs.
2. Through personal interview, gives evidence of familiarity with Head Start philosophy and program structure.
3. Ability to communicate with staff, children, families, and community members.
4. Ability and desire to work with children.
5. Ability to complete all the paperwork and forms for Head Start.
6. Maintain confidentiality and professional discretion.
7. Ability to lift, unassisted, as required by the job.
8. Must have, or be able to obtain, and maintain a valid Kansas CDL driver’s license.
9. Must have and maintain a dependable means of transportation with minimum vehicle insurance.
10. Appropriate background check completed

CERTIFICATE/LICENSE REQUIREMENTS:

1. Kansas teaching certificate with an endorsement in early childhood special education or a CDA within 6 months  of employment.
2. Current Pediatric CPR/First Aid credential

REPORTS TO:

Head Start classroom teacher

Director of Head Start

Assistant Director of Head Start

Family and Child Manager

NKESC Executive Director

School District Superintendent and/or Principal

Performance of job will be evaluated by the NKESC Head Start Director

JOB GOAL:

The teacher’s primary goal is to provide a positive environment for preschool children and their families who qualify for the Head Start program.  The teacher will provide intervention that will make the child obtain success and improve their self-image.

The primary goal of the case manager is to work with the Head Start families.  The case manager will provide services in the six areas (Social Services, Nutrition, Health, Mental Health, Disabilities/Education, and Parent Involvement).  The case manager will be responsible for designing and implementing the family partnership agreement with the families on their case load.

PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Serve as a program coordinator in assigned site.
2. Serve as an advisor to the other NKESC Head Start staff members.
3. Prepare and carry out weekly lesson plans.
4. Supervise the activities of children in an educational environment, which is safe, healthy, enriching, and conducive to the maximum social and cognitive development of each child.
5. Teacher must visit each family twice a year at a parent-teacher conference.
6. Help families complete the goals and needs as indicated on the Family Partnership Agreement and Family Assistance Plan.
7. Prepare schedules and plans for the most effective use of volunteers; supervise the activities of volunteers on-site according to plans.
8. On home visits, make sure parents are informed of classroom activities, given a calendar of activities, obtain signatures on consent forms and carry-over benefits of Head Start activities into the home.
9. Maintain accurate records of child attendance and volunteer participation and submit reports in a timely manner.
10. Conduct conferences with child’s parents, as needed, to gain insight from the parents and/or provide “feedback” to parents on their child’s development.
11. Advise the Head Start Director and/or Assistant Director of the need for classroom equipment and supplies; insure that equipment is functional each day and that adequate supplies are on hand.
12. Participation in staffing to provide insight from educational perspective in the planning for services to the family as a whole.
13. Coordinate daily center activities with the cooperation of other component staff (i.e. cooks, bus drivers, etc.)
14. Work with families and community on the Parent Meetings.  Help with arranging training for the Parent Meetings.  Staff must attend parent meetings.
15. Help families receive training on health services, education, family involvement, nutrition, and social services.
16. Assess Head Start children to determine their strengths and challenges
17. Adhere to Head Start, NKESC, and the local school district policies.
18. Prepare requests for material purchases.
19. Attend inservices as directed to meet local, state, and federal guidelines.
20. Serve assigned families in providing services to meet their needs.
21. Help families evaluate and prioritize their needs
22. Complete home visits at least 2 times a year excluding screenings.
23. Provide services that will allow families to become independent enough to ask for assistance when needed, but will help provide solutions to most of their needs
24. Evaluate the children’s health and medical needs.  This will require verifying that students receive their immunizations and screenings within the time limits stated by Head Start
25. Develop knowledge of community services and make referrals to those agencies for Head Start families.
26. Serve as an advocate for Head Start families.
27. Encourage parental participation in the education and activities of their child in Head Start.
28. Ensure accurate and effective record keeping of the family partnership agreement with the program manager and families in the development of events and activities, which ensure the program’s emphasis upon total family development.
29. Assist parents to conduct “self-help” and life enriching programs for themselves; e.g. education and parenting skills, health care, mental health, job preparedness training, and cultural activities.
30. Complete all other duties deemed appropriate to fulfill the job as requested by the Executive Director, Head Start Director, Assistant Head Start Director, and/or their designees.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT:

 Per Negotiated Agreement.