Teacher Advocate, Head Start

Description:

Do you have an Associates degree or better in Early Childhood Education or a related field with 35+ ECE credits? Do you have some experience in a preschool setting in a teaching role? Are you looking to give the very best to children and families with 3-5 year olds? Then the Head StartTeacher Advocate position is for you! Come to work for one of Oregon’s 100 Best Non-Profits where all your insurance premiums are 100% paid, even during furlough periods and you’ll never have to work another weekend!

Locations: Redmond and Bend

Compensation: $28.27 or $30.61/hour depending on education (plus .50 for Bilingual English/Spanish) - Union represented

Hours: 40 hours/week, subject to normal school year furloughs (approximately 12 weeks per year)

Benefits: 100% premium paid Medical, Dental, Vision and Life Insurance, Agency paid Retirement plan (up to 6 %!), almost 2 weeks of paid vacation accrued within first year, plus 14 paid Holidays annually and a separate sick leave accrual.

Overview of Key Duties and Responsibilities:

The Teacher Advocate provides both classroom and in-home instruction to Head Start children and parents; enhancing the parent’s ability to fill the role as the primary educator of their child. Teachers focus on the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework to ensure that the children are working towards school readiness. This occurs through meaningful planning and implementation of developmentally appropriate curriculum providing a safe classroom environment for children. The Teacher Advocate partners with parents to develop individual goals for children provide on-going assessment of child progress and facilitate transition into kindergarten. On-going contact with families is maintained and home visits are completed to promote asset development, family wellness, family partnerships, and parent involvement in the Head Start program. This position coordinates services in the Head Start functional areas (education, family services, literacy, health, and mental health) for assigned children and families.

Requirements:

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum education required is an Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education or related field (human development, child and family studies, social work, sociology/psychology, education) with a minimum of 35 college quarter credit hours in Early Childhood Education, Child Development or related classes

• Diploma and transcripts are required to validate degree in Early Childhood Education/Related field and to verify ECE/Related coursework

• One year experience as a lead teacher (or equivalent) in a preschool classroom required

• One year experience in a social services field, or home visiting experience required

• Within 18 months of hire, 120 training hours or 11 college credit hours in social work, human services, family services, counseling, or a related field required

• Completion of Teaching Strategies GOLD inter-rater reliability within 90 days of hire and maintain throughout employment required

• Current or past Head Start parent preferred

• Must be available for a flexible work schedule to accommodate family needs, may include some evening or weekend hours

• Frequent kneeling, stooping, bending, and sitting on the floor to attend to children’s needs. This position is rated as active and occasionally requires the individual to lift 50 pounds

• Must have an initial health examination, and a periodic re-examination (as recommended by health care provider)so as to assure that employees do not because of communicable diseases, pose a significant risk to the health or safety of others, that cannot be eliminated or reduced by reasonable accommodation.

• Prior to date of hire and throughout employment, certification of the following are required:

• Valid driver’s license

• Proof of current auto insurance

• Food Handler’s Card

• Current enrollment in the OR Office of Childcare Central Background Registry

• Within 60 days of hire, Pediatric CPR/First Aid certification is required

• Above certifications must be kept current to remain employed

• Access to reliable transportation required

• Within 90 days of hire complete and submit paperwork for the Oregon Registry