Job Summary:

Creates a nurturing environment that will promote the physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and language development for children ages 12 weeks through three years.  Develops collaborative relationships with parents and guardians to honor their role as the most important teacher. 

Essential Functions:

• Provides an environment of acceptance that supports and respects gender, culture, language, ethnicity and family composition.
• Implements adopted curriculum in a developmentally appropriate manner.
• Posts weekly individualized lesson plans that promote social, emotional, cognitive, physical and language development.
• Engages parents and guardians in lesson planning, goal setting and assessment of child's growth.
• Observes assigned children to identify their preferred ways of interacting with the environment, taking into account their developmental status, preferences and interests.
• Provides an atmosphere that promotes and reinforces parental involvement in the program.
• Conferences with parents and staff regarding each child's developmental and educational status and progress.
• Establishes appropriate safety and emergency procedures and conducts drills on a regular basis.
• Assures that all Early Head Start Performance Standards are met.
• Maintains current knowledge and skills necessary to comply with all Tribal, State, Federal and grant regulations and requirements.
• Gathers information from parents/guardians on home needs and concerns.
• Works with appropriate tribal programs and community resources to identify and address program services requirements.
• Assists with parent trainings.
• Prepares and delivers meals and snacks in a developmentally appropriate manner consistent with UDSA Child Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) requirements.
• Provides appropriate environment and guidance for participation of children with special needs/disabilities.
• Works with appropriate agencies in developing Individual Family Service Plans (IFSP).
• Adapts curriculum to address and meet individual goals for children as identified in the IFSP.
• Maintain record keeping that assures compliance with regulations.
• Ensure proper documentation and confidentiality of child records
• Abides by and is familiar with all preschool policies.
• Participate in weekly staff meetings and scheduled trainings.
• Participates in 20+ hours of training each program year.
• Assists in inventory and ordering of site equipment and materials.
• Reports child abuse/neglect to proper authorities as required.
• Performs a variety of other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Supervisory:

• Supervises assigned employees.
• Ensures the hiring, training, promoting, assigning, disciplining and discharging of employees are in accordance with Tribal Law, including without limitation, the Tribal Employment Rights Ordinance (TERO).
• Assures staff adherence to all policies and procedures, work, safety and administrative rule, Tribal Law and State Regulations.
• Serves as a mentor, as requested, for Tribal career development.

Education, Experience, and Licenses:

• Requires a Bachelor's degree in early childhood education, or, Associate's degree, or Infant Toddler Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential, with the commitment to earn a Bachelor's degree within 2 years.
• Requires three (3) years of work experience with children age three and younger.
• OR equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
• Must maintain a valid Oregon driver's license or obtain one upon hire, qualify for the Tribe's vehicle insurance, and provide proof of personal vehicle insurance.

Qualifications, Registrations, and Certifications:

• Demonstrated ability to plan and implement learning experiences that advance the intellectual and physical development of children required.
• Must be able to establish and maintain a safe, healthy learning environment.
• Must be able to support the social and emotional development of children.
• Must have excellent communication skills, and listening skills.
• Must have a working knowledge of Head Start components.
• Requires TB and Hep B vaccinations and a physical every three years.
• First Aid certification required.
• Food handler's card required or obtains one within 30 days of hire.
• Knowledge of and sensitivity to Native American culture required.

Environmental Factors and Conditions/Physical Requirements:

• Continually requires the ability to express or receive detailed information or important instructions through oral communication.
• Continually requires working with fingers rather than the whole hand or arm. Requires repetitive movement of wrists, hands and/or fingers.  Often requires walking or moving about to accomplish tasks.
• Requires standing and/or sitting for sustained periods of time, raising objects from a lower to a higher position and/or moving objects horizontally.
• Continually requires color identification, close vision, far vision, and depth perception.
• The worker is frequently subject to classroom noise.
• Occasionally requires lifting of up to 40 pounds.
• This position is frequently subject to inside environmental conditions which provide protection from weather conditions, but not necessarily from temperature changes, and is occasionally subject to outside environmental conditions.
• Supports a safe work environment by performing all duties in accordance with Tribal safety policies and procedures, and Emergency Management Plan. 
• Due to the nature of the interactions with other employees and the public we serve, employees may be required to provide documentation of, or receive, certain health vaccinations.
• May be called upon to serve as a Disaster Reservist during Emergencies, or when the Tribal Emergency Operations Center is opened.
• Local travel is occasionally required.  Travel outside of the state is infrequently required.

Background Check:

• Candidates for this position will be subject to criminal and character background checks and may be subject to fingerprinting.
• Must maintain registration in the State of Oregon Central Background Registry.

Disclaimer:

The individual must perform the essential duties and responsibilities with or without reasonable accommodation efficiently and accurately without causing a significant safety threat to self or others.  The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification.  They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and/or skills required of all personnel so classified.