Early Head Start Teacher

Full-Time Position: 40 Hours per week / 52 Weeks per year

Early Head Teachers provide and coordinate education services to children and their families enrolled in assigned classrooms. Teachers work in partnership with parents on child issues as they relate to the family and provide direction and leadership to teacher assistants, classroom assistant and classroom volunteers.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE POSITION:

The essential functions of this position require prioritizing and completing all assigned tasks in a timely and efficient manner, adjusting for changing priorities and availability of resources, and demonstrating initiative in identifying additional job-related tasks to be completed when time permits. These duties are a representative example of position expectations. Actual duties assigned may vary and change depending on the business needs of the department and the agency.

• In a classroom environment, follow the assigned curriculum and developmentally appropriate practices, observe children weekly and regularly document progress in web based data system as directed by child development services supervisor.
• Plan and carry out daily activities as designed in weekly lesson plans.
• Conduct home visits and parent conferences. Follow the assigned curriculum and developmentally appropriate practices. Conduct monthly social activities for all families.
• Document all child and family contact information, attendance, observations and lesson plans in web based data systems.
• Nurture children and respond to their individual needs using developmentally appropriate practices while following a consistent schedule, which includes small and large group experiences, choice time, music and movement, large and small motor activities, skill development, meals, and transitions between activities.
• Complete developmental and behavioral screenings on each assigned child within 45 days of enrollment, and refer children with special needs for additional assessment and services.
• Work collaboratively within a team setting with assistant team members; provide clear expectations; observe their performance in working with children in the classroom and outdoor settings, and give verbal and written feedback using meeting notes.
• Participate in twice-yearly family staffing for each child with child development team, family service educator, community agencies, therapists, and DHS worker or family support and/or resource people as appropriate for planning and sharing information. Meet with speech therapist, child development team and appropriate managers on a monthly basis using meeting notes for documentation. Participate in IFSP meetings as requested by developmental specialist.
• Report and document incidents of suspected child abuse and neglect to DHS and child development services supervisor within 24 hours of incident.
• Respect the confidentiality of information about Early Head Start children and families, staff and personnel issues, and agency operations.
• Provide exceptional and measurable customer service to internal and external customers with timely and accurate responses to their inquiries and concerns. Exercise tact, courtesy, and diplomacy when interacting with clients, contractors, vendors and others with whom we may work while enhancing the Company’s public image at all times. Respond to all inquiries for information respectfully without regard to the inquirer’s position, status, or demographic and in a manner that conveys understanding, acceptance and support for UCAN’s programs and objectives.
• Communicate in a professional, respectful and courteous manner with all employees, clients, the Board of Directors, and others with whom we may work. Contribute to a successful work group and foster a team-oriented culture through positive interactions, active listening, meaningful collaborations, and the constructive exchange of ideas.
• Drive a company vehicle in the performance of duties. Driving will be required for travel to training facilities, events, client homes, community meetings, partner facilities, and to perform other essential functions as needed.
• Complete designated job tasks, special projects and all other duties as assigned to meet team, department and agency goals while actively demonstrating accountability, high levels of employee engagement, and responsibility for achieving desired outcomes and measurable results.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

Qualified candidates for this position will have relevant education and experience necessary to perform the essential functions and meet the minimum performance expectations for this position with or without an accommodation.

• Considerable knowledge of child development; considerable knowledge of educational curriculum and development of child progress plans.
• Demonstrated proficiency and experience with Planning and implementing lessons, observing, identifying, and recording children’s levels of development; basic use of computers.
• Strong interpersonal skills necessary to develop, establish and maintain effective, professional, collaborative, and collegial working relationships with customers, other employees, contractors, vendors, and others with whom we may work.
• Strong conflict resolution skills and demonstrated ability and competency to work with a diverse population of clients, contractors, vendors and co-workers of all ages, including people who may be aggressive, belligerent and/or hostile, confused and/or disoriented, or who may be suffering from a medical or physical impairment.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills necessary to communicate clearly and effectively with internal and external customers, vendors, contractors, and other diverse audiences while providing outstanding customer service. Demonstrated ability and competency to communicate clearly and concisely in both individual and group presentation settings.
• Ability to make decisions independently in accordance with established policies.
• Ability to use initiative and judgment in carrying out tasks and responsibilities.
• Well-reasoned decision making with a high attention to detail in actual work product, organization, planning, workflow, and project prioritization to ensure tasks are completed efficiently and accurately.
• Naturally self-motivated, confident individual with ability to work independently and/or with limited direction, as well as cooperatively in a team environment, while consistently demonstrating collaborative, respectful and productive work habits. Actively pursue professional development opportunities to add value to the agency and to help the agency meet its strategic goals and objectives.
• Highly ethical individual who applies ethical standards of behavior to daily work activities. Takes responsibility for actions and decisions and fosters a work environment where integrity is rewarded. Exercises discretion when involved in highly confidential and sensitive matters.
• Demonstrated experience and competency operating and working effectively and efficiently with computers and other forms of office technology, electronic data, computer programs and software applications, especially Microsoft 365, Word, Excel, Outlook and Teams. Ability to use electronic timekeeping system is required.

Required Licenses & Certifications

• Valid driver’s license with a driving record that meets UCAN’s acceptable driving guidelines.
• Prior to hire and continuously during employment - enrollment in the Oregon Department of Education, Early Learning Division, Criminal Background Registry. Link to apply: https://secure.emp.state.or.us/ccd/
• Continuously during employment – complete annual training and education requirements.
• Within 60 days of appointment – participate in Head Start Staff Health Appraisal.

Education & Experience

Minimum Qualifications:

• Child Development Associate (CDA) in in early childhood education, OR
• Oregon Registry Online (ORO) Step 8.
• Experience working with infants/toddlers or preschool children as relevant to the age group working with.
• An equivalent combination of experience and education that demonstrates the required knowledge, skills and abilities required for the position will be considered in lieu of the outlined requirements.

Preferred Qualifications:

• AA/AS in Early Childhood Education, or Oregon Registry Online (ORO) Step 9.
• Experience working with teaching infants/toddlers or preschool children as relevant to the age group working with.
• BA/BS in Early Childhood Education, OR Oregon Registry Online (ORO) Step 10.
• Experience working with Teaching infants/toddlers or preschool children as relevant to the age group working with.
• An equivalent combination of experience and education that demonstrates the required knowledge, skills and abilities required for the position will be considered in lieu of the outlined requirements.
• Consideration for promotion to the next Teacher position level requires meeting equivalent combination of educational requirements and experience.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The physical effort typically applied in this job includes:

• Bending
• Lifting
• Reaching
• Walking
• Carrying
• Manipulating
• Sitting
• Pulling
• Stooping
• Keyboarding
• Pushing
• Standing

The amount of lifting effort typically applied and the percent of time the effort is applied:

• Less than 1lb. – More than 70%
• Between 1 & 5 lbs. - More than 70%
• Between 5 & 25 lbs. - 40% to 70%
• Between 25 & 60 lbs. - 15% to 40%
• More than 60 lbs. - Less than 15%

MENTAL OR VISUAL DEMANDS

• Continuous mental and/or visual attention; the work is either repetitive or diversified requiring constant alertness to monitor the production process and/or identify defects.

WORKING CONDITIONS

The kinds of disagreeable elements the employee would typically be exposed to in the work area include:

• Noise

Description of the physical surroundings or conditions under which the job is typically performed and the extent of exposure to the disagreeable elements noted above:

• Work is typically performed under reasonably good working conditions; while exposure to any or all of the above elements may occur, such exposure is generally not present to the extent of being disagreeable.

AVAILABILITY AND ATTENDANCE

Due to the nature and scope of the essential functions, the importance of personal interactions between this position, employees, clients and other members of the public, and the availability of job-related tools, equipment and resources at work, performance of the essential functions requires regular, consistent and on-site attendance while working independently and with others during our normal business hours, a combination of regular and consistent availability, accessibility and presence on-site.

• Regular and consistent attendance is required.
• Hours of work are during normal business hours and may require occasional evenings and weekends.
• Exempt employees are expected to work as many hours as are necessary to ensure that the goals and needs established by UCAN are met.

FLSA STATUS

Exempt

ABOUT UCAN:

United Community Action Network (UCAN) is a poverty fighting non-profit located in Southern Oregon. Founded in 1969 by low-income community organizers, UCAN now operates programming across four departments, delivering programs to equip our neighbors experiencing the symptoms of poverty with resources and opportunities to help them reach their full social, civic, and economic potential. Our dedicated and energetic employees provide essential and supportive services to individuals and families. We take pride in caring for our communities each and every day.

UCAN has a generous Benefit Package including:

• Medical Coverage
• Dental and Voluntary Vision insurance,
• Generous leave (PTO),
• Retirement plans,
• Basic Life and Voluntary life insurance,
• Employee assistance program.

UCAN is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate in the terms and conditions of employment against any applicant or current employee on the basis of any status or class protected under applicable federal, state or local law.

If you require special assistance at any point during the application or selection process and would like to request an accommodation due to a disability, please e-mail a description of your request to Human Resources: ucanhr@ucancap.org