Job Title: Early Head Start Lead Caregiver
| Reports to: | Designated Administrator |
| Typical Schedule: | 230 or 245 days/7.5 hours |
| Bargaining Unit: | SRP USEP |
| FLSA: | Non-Exempt |
| Job Code: | 6323, 6330 |
| Salary Schedule: | SRP S11 |
JOB GOAL
Responsible for leading children toward the fulfillment of their potential for intellectual, social, emotional, physiological growth, and maturation and for assisting families to receive comprehensive services to ensure Head Start performance standards are met. This includes serving as a lead coordinator of assigned program job duties and as a communications liaison between caregivers at the site, site based administration, and the department.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
- Coordinate and manage a schedule to ensure all employees receive required breaks and lunch, while maintaining child adult ratios.
- Assist and coordinate duties of non-instructional substitutes and ensure that required timesheet and payroll information are submitted.
- Facilitate team meetings to share pertinent program information.
- Assist with the delivery of services to children and families in accordance with Head Start performance standards to encourage school readiness skills and parent engagement.
- Prepare developmentally appropriate weekly lesson plans that support the child’s cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development; and conduct developmental screening and assessments of children to evaluate progress on a regular basis, and document and share results with families.
- Develop and maintain a developmentally appropriate learning environment and routine conducive to effective learning.
- Employ a variety of developmentally appropriate instructional techniques and instructional media in accordance with the curriculum to meet the needs and capabilities of each child and to support children’s play and modeling skills.
- Assist children with personal care needs (toileting, diaper changing, feeding, etc.).
- Promote the importance of a home-school team approach in meeting the educational needs of families and support parents to be the first educators of their child by conducting home visits and parent conferences to develop educational goals with parents.
- Select, develop, prepare, and provide parents with appropriate materials and guidance on home safety, nutrition, effective discipline, constructive play activities, and other related topics.
- Participate in planning and implementation of program activities and functions.
- Model and provide experiences to families to support school readiness goals and promote effective strengths-based parent education, including methods to encourage parents as their child’s first teachers.
- Participate in case management and/or the Multi-Tiered System of Supports process to ensure the involvement of professionals needed to provide interventions and address children suspected of having special needs.
- Continue professional growth through an ongoing program of reading, workshops, training, and/or advanced course work.
- Maintain and promptly submit complete and accurate records as required by federal and state guidelines, district policy, and administrative regulations while maintaining confidentiality.
- Ride bus and assist with the supervision and loading/unloading of children.
- Provide coverage and assistance at other Early Head Start sites.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES
- Ability to relate to and communicate with expectant mothers, infants, toddlers, preschool children, and families in ways that ensure a sense of safety and security
- Ability to travel to a variety of locations and work a fluctuating schedule to meet program requirements
- Ability to communicate effectively with all stakeholders in written and oral form, including electronic media, using positive interpersonal skills
- Ability to prepare and maintain required program records
- Ability to function as an effective team member with co-workers and the community to build productive, collaborative relationships and to achieve program goals and objectives
- Ability to effectively use technology
- Ability to organize, prioritize, manage, and carry out duties efficiently and within established timeframes
EDUCATION, TRAINING & EXPERIENCE
- Associate degree in Early Childhood
- OR
- Associate degree with a Child Development Associate Credential (CDA) or Child Development Associate Equivalent Credential (CDAE)
- OR
- Associate degree and agree to earn a Child Development Associate Credential (CDA) or Child Development Associate Equivalent Credential (CDAE) within two (2) years of employment: An employee must enroll in a CDA/CDAE program within the first year of employment and must complete all requirements for the credential and obtain the certificate by the end of the second year of employment
- At least three (3) years experience working in an Early Head Start or similar program
CERTIFICATES, LICENSES & REGISTRATIONS
- Valid Florida driver license and record of safe driving
- Initial health examination that includes screening for tuberculosis
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Satisfactory completion of American Red Cross First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) course for infants and toddlers
- Bilingual
- Experience working with families in poverty
- Experience working in schools and with social services agencies
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY
None
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Medium Work: Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to sit, talk, and hear; stand and walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms. The employee occasionally lifts and/or moves up to 50 pounds. Specific vision ability required by this job includes close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Indoors and Outdoors: The worker is subject to both environmental conditions. Activities occur inside and outside.
Other: The worker is required to work in families’ homes, which could subject the to lack of air conditioning and other family environmental conditions which may affect existing health conditions.
MACHINES, TOOLS, EQUIPMENT
- General office equipment, including personal computers, fax machines, copiers, telephones, etc.
TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT
Salary and benefits shall be paid consistent with the District’s approved compensation plan. Length of the work year and hours of employment shall be established by the District.
Performance of the job will be evaluated in accordance with provisions of the School Board’s policy on evaluation of personnel.
Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.
Pasco County Schools will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities to allow them to perform the essential functions of the job when such individuals request an accommodation.
