What Success Looks Like In This Job

View our Head Start Teacher video
Perform various duties to provide students with appropriate learning activities and experiences to help them develop their full potential in areas of language, literacy, social-emotional, physical, and mathematics.  

The Department has elected to consider a range of experience for this vacancy. A candidates' qualifications will determine the level at which they are hired.

Examples of Duties for Success

• Develop, prepare, and implement daily, weekly, and monthly instructional activities in accordance with Head Start Program Performance Standards and additional program requirements, taking into consideration the needs and skills of the children
• Provide instruction to children involved in various classroom activities, including educational programs to develop children's growth in socio-emotional, psychomotor, cognitive/language, health, and personal hygiene skills, using development appropriate activities, best practices, and positive discipline practices
• Observe, record, and evaluate each child's activity, performance, behavior, and development; accommodate and modify individual activities based on developmental needs or behavior
• Utilize various screening tools to assess children in all areas of development, then use the outcomes to create individual learning activities that support children's learning
• Adapt and implement behavior plans and Individualize Education Plan to meet the goals and objectives of each child receiving consultation or special education services. Attend and provide adequate information during Individualize Education Plan and behavior plan meetings for the individual child
• Implement and support cultural responsiveness efforts to understand differences, recognize bias, and look beyond differences to work productively in educational settings
• Always utilize positive discipline practices
• Always supervise children in our care  
• Attend and participate in staff meetings, workshops, formal classes, in-service training, and program events to continually advance teaching skills and knowledge, as requested.
• Participate in professional development opportunities and education coaching for continuous improvement 
• Ensure and maintain a healthy and safe environment. Ensure that the classroom's appearance, cleanliness, and safe classroom environment are appropriately maintained 
• Direct the activities of other staff in the classroom to ensure the classroom functions orderly, including completing and monitoring daily health and meals and attendance logs
• Schedule and conduct home visits and parent/teacher conferences with families
• Maintain ongoing contact with parents; encourage and promote parent involvement; work with parents in developing an understanding of their role as the primary educator of their children; encourage parents in the reinforcement and transfer of concepts and behaviors from the school to the home setting; schedule and participate in parent conferences; visit parents; prepare home activities for parents and children
• Support transition efforts from Head Start to kindergarten
• Recruit volunteer parents to assist in the classroom
• Assist in all forms of communication with parents
• Ability to work and collaborate in a team to support young children with and without behavior needs, language delays, disabilities, and special needs 
• Ensure all classroom/outdoor equipment is in good working condition and used /appropriately maintained
• Ensure the accuracy and completion of Record of Meals, that standards operating procedures are met and carry out job duties efficiently and in a timely manner
• Implement family-style mealtime and clean up, nurturing social/emotional and self-help development
• Abide by medical/nutritional restrictions 
• Accept temporary work assignments within Adams County if regularly scheduled personnel are unavailable
• Ability to use various forms of technology such as tablets and computers 
• Check various communication avenues such as email, curriculum platforms, and phone calls and respond in a timely manner  
• Always maintain confidentiality and abide by the program's employee standard of conduct
• Perform other related duties and responsibilities as required 

Qualifications for Success

• Adequate understanding of early childhood principles of child development theory and early childhood education
• Use only positive discipline practices
• Apply principles and procedures of record keeping and report writing
• Follow pertinent Federal, State, and local laws, codes, and regulations, including childcare licensing regulations
• Maintain professional boundaries and confidentiality
• Instruct and supervise children
• Complete Teaching Strategies GOLD inter-reliability certificate yearly
• Director certification and level 3 or higher on Colorado Shines PDIS
• Basic computer skills and use of Microsoft software
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing
• Proper English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and harmonious working relationships with those contacted during work
• Demonstrate a professional and positive attitude and appearance
• Demonstrate a willingness to serve and a passion for exceeding customer service expectations
• Safely operate an automobile

More Qualifications for Success

Teacher I:

• Experience: Two (2) years of experience in early childhood education. 

• Education and Training:

  • An Associate of Arts degree is required, with significant early childhood coursework in the following fields: Child Development; Child Psychology; Early Childhood Special Education; Educational Leadership and Administration; Elementary Education; Family and Human Development; Family Studies; Child and Family Development, or Special Education
  • OR an Educational Waiver through the Office of Head Start is available for those currently enrolled in a program leading to an Associate or Baccalaureate degree with completion expected within 3 years of hire in one of the  following fields: Child Development; Child Psychology; Early Childhood Special Education; Educational Leadership and Administration; Elementary Education; Family and Human Development; Family Studies; Child and Family Development, or Special Education. 
  • Possession of a Bachelors degree in one of the following fields is preferred: Child Development; Child Psychology; Early Childhood Special Education; Educational Leadership and Administration; Elementary Education; Family and Human Development; Family Studies; Child and Family Development, or Special Education

• License or Certificate: 

  • Valid Colorado Driver's License and Proof of vehicle insurance 
  • A Motor Vehicle record check will be conducted
  • Ability to obtain CPR and First Aid Certification
  • Ability to obtain medication administration certificate

• Background Check: 

  • Ability to pass multiple criminal backgrounds and Central Registry checks
  • A fingerprint check may be conducted
  • A Motor Vehicle record check will be conducted

• Other: 

  • Must complete physical examination and TB test upon hire
  • Ability to sit, stand, walk, run, kneel, crouch, stoop, squat, crawl, twist, and climb
  • Ability to lift-up to 45 pounds
  • Exposure to childhood diseases

Teacher II:

• Experience: Three (3) years of experience in early childhood education. 

• Education and Training:

  • Bachelor of Early Childhood Education 
  • OR Bachelor of Arts degree with significant early childhood course work in one of the following fields: Child Development; Child Psychology; Early Childhood Special Education; Educational Leadership and Administration; Elementary Education; Family and Human Development; Family Studies; Child and Family Development, or Special Education. 

• License or Certificate: 

  • Valid Colorado Driver's License and Proof of vehicle insurance 
  • A Motor Vehicle record check will be conducted
  • Ability to obtain CPR and First Aid Certification
  • Ability to obtain medication administration certificate

• Background Check: 

  • Ability to pass multiple criminal backgrounds and Central Registry checks
  • A fingerprint check may be conducted
  • A Motor Vehicle record check will be conducted

• Other: 

  • Must complete physical examination and TB test upon hire
  • Ability to sit, stand, walk, run, kneel, crouch, stoop, squat, crawl, twist, and climb
  • Ability to lift-up to 45 pounds
  • Exposure to childhood diseases

 

Adams County complies with Colorado’s Job Application Fairness Act (“JAFA”). JAFA prohibits employers from asking individuals to disclose their age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation on an initial employment application. However, additional application materials such as certifications and transcripts containing this information may be required for certain positions; if such additional materials are requested, applicants may redact information that identifies the applicant’s age, date of birth, or dates or attendance or graduation.