Job Title: Early Head Start Caregiver
| Reports to: | Site Administrator |
| Job Group: | School-Related Personnel |
| FLSA: | Non-Exempt |
| Job Code: | 5037, 5038, 5201 |
| Salary Schedule: | PG02 |
JOB GOAL
Responsible for leading children toward the fulfillment of their potential for intellectual, social, emotional, physiological growth, and maturation and for assisting families in receiving comprehensive services.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
- Prepare, implement, and assist in choosing educational materials, lesson plans, technology, books, and equipment based on requirements and individual needs to support the development of school readiness skills.
- Assist with the delivery of comprehensive services to children and families in accordance with state and federal guidelines, conduct parent/guardian conferences, and conduct home visits to each child’s home during the program year.
- Assist, support, and monitor individual and/or small groups of children as directed.
- Employ a variety of developmentally appropriate instructional techniques in accordance with the Prekindergarten Services curriculum and Early Head Start Performance Standards to meet the needs and capabilities of the individual or groups involved.
- Establish and maintain positive behavior supports consistent with District and program policies.
- Evaluate child progress on a regular basis and utilize appropriate screening and assessment instruments to provide appropriate feedback to families and staff.
- Maintain a safe and developmentally appropriate classroom environment that is conducive to effective learning and care.
- Provide support in developing/maintaining students’ daily living needs and medical needs, such as toilet needs, lifting, diapering, feeding and personal hygiene, transferring, positioning, and ambulation as necessary.
- Support children's play and modeling skills to promote developmentally appropriate practices.
- Aid with supervision, escorting, and movement of students in specific school settings or specialized functions during the school day, before and after school, during emergency drills, and between class times (e.g., playground, etc.).
- Make provision for being available to children and parents for program-related purposes outside the instructional day when required or requested.
- Assist with communication between home and school to promote the importance of a team approach in meeting the educational needs of families.
- Support parent(s)/guardian(s) to be the first educators of their child and developing educational goals with parent(s)/guardian(s).
- Intervene with District-Approved Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), first aid, medication, and child-specific procedures when indicated and appropriately trained.
- Coordinate with staff to support families by connecting them to community services, obtaining resources, assisting with the completion of the Orientation and Transition process, and assisting with the Family Partnership Agreement process.
- Participate in the School-based Intervention Team and/or Case Management services to ensure involvement of professionals needed.
- Maintain required federal and state certifications by participating in workshops, meetings, and in-service training sessions as required, including topics related to curriculum, childhood health and safety, and child supervision.
- Assist in upholding and enforcing school rules, administrative regulations, and Board policy.
- Ensure program attendance procedures are followed.
- Maintain and promptly submit accurate, complete, and correct records as required by federal/state guidelines, District policy, and administrative regulations.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES
- Knowledge of infant and toddler development and care
- Ability to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences, orally and in writing, including electronic media
- Excellent time management skills and ability to organize, prioritize, and manage work assignments in an efficient manner and within established timeframes
- Operating knowledge of computer programs, including email, word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and web-based technologies and platforms
- Ability to establish and maintain collaborative working relationships with all stakeholders
- Ability to work collaboratively with others and facilitate groups to consensus
- Ability to effectively engage in the problem-solving process
- All hires must meet physical requirements of Post Offer Employment Testing (POET)
EDUCATION, TRAINING & EXPERIENCE
- Associate degree from an accredited institution in the field of Early Childhood Education, or related field
- Two years’ experience working with schools, agencies, and childcare for preschool-aged children
- OR
- Any equivalent combination of education and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential duties and responsibilities of the position
CERTIFICATES, LICENSES & REGISTRATIONS
- Satisfactory completion of American Red Cross First Aid course, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) course, and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) course, or complete within three months of hire
- Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential, or complete within two years of hire
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Four years’ experience working with schools, agencies, and childcare for preschool-aged children
- Bilingual in Spanish, written and oral fluency
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 them 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.
