Date: 11/24/2025
Program: Douglas Cherokee Head Start
Job Title: Teacher
Location: Hamblen County- Ray’s Place Early Learning Center- Infant Classroom
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt, Full-time; 37.5 hours per week; 12 month
Salary Grade: 17.03 per hour- CDA/Associate’s Degree, $20.68 per hour- Bachelor’s Degree
Reports to: Area Coordinator, Curriculum & Assessment Manager, Head Start Director
POSITION SUMMARY:
Under the direction of the Curriculum & Assessment Manager, the teacher will ensure a developmentally appropriate environment for infants/toddlers; provide responsive, respectful, individualized care; perform activities and services to help meet the needs and operation standards for pregnant women, infants/toddlers, and their families in Education, Social Services, Nutrition, Disabilities, and Parent Involvement. May be designated as Site Director for Licensing.
ROLE QUALIFICATIONS:
Education Requirements
- A degree in Early Childhood Education (ECE); or related degree preferred. Minimum Infant / Toddler CDA Credential and have been trained (or have equivalent coursework) in early childhood development with a focus on infant/toddler development.
Experience Requirements
- Minimum of one year’s experience teaching infants / toddlers.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES / ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
- Write and use observational notes. Work with parent(s), Family Advocates, other Teachers, Caregivers, and others (i.e., therapists) to develop a safe, healthy, and developmentally appropriate multi-age learning environment and Individualized Plans (IP) for 4 assigned infants/toddlers each week; use IP to carry out all routines and activities on a daily basis.
- Will work in the lead position in an infant/toddler multi-age classroom. Must be physically, mentally, and emotionally capable of performing his/her duties satisfactorily.
- Maintain an open, friendly, and cooperative relationship with all staff, management, enrollees and their families; encourage positive and active involvement in the program; work to create one seamless program of services from pregnancy to 5 years of age.
- Respect parents as the first and foremost expert and educator of their child; promote parent-child bonding and nurture parent-child relationships.
- Communicate daily and in formal parent-teacher conferences in a respectful manner at all times; assist parents in conducting Parent Committee meetings; maintain positive communication with staff, parents and community participants regarding program activities and objectives; present self and represent program in a positive, professional manner at all times.
- Promote feelings of security and trust in pregnant women, infants/toddlers, and their families by being warm, supportive, and comforting, and by establishing strong/caring relationships.
- In cooperation/partnership with the Family Service Worker, provide home visiting and community-based services to expectant families; teach/follow prenatal and first year of life curriculum in the home and in the classroom to expectant and new infant families.
- Support and continue services as needed for families when miscarriages/deaths occur; seek help/support for yourself and other staff as needed.
- Schedule home-visit appointments with parents at times that are convenient for them and are the least intrusive on your time in the classroom; be on time for scheduled appointments and assist both parents and staff to do so as well. Always confirm appointments at least 24 hours and no more than 48 hours in advance.
- Conduct or obtain documentation of recent developmental screening of each infants’/toddlers’ motor, language, social, cognitive, perceptual, and emotional skills.
- Engage in ongoing assessment using EHS chosen assessment tools.
- Create and maintain an organized, up-to-date, complete, and confidential file for each assigned pregnant woman, infant, and toddler.
- Promote social/emotional development of children; maintain classroom discipline using positive guidance techniques; teach and model age-appropriate positive guidance and discipline techniques to parents.
- Advance the physical and intellectual growth of infants/toddlers; teach and model age-appropriate routines and activities for infants/toddlers to parents.
- Supervise and interact with children in all daily activities in the indoor and outdoor learning environment.
- Complete and submit reports on time/as required; attend meetings and required training, disseminate information gained to other staff as needed.
- Promote and practice good health, hygiene, and sanitation practices in the classroom and with infants, toddlers, and their parents; wash hands at all assigned times, encourage others to do so, and assist infants/toddlers in doing so.
- Change diapers and toilet train according to EHS guidelines, following specific steps of process as assigned; teach/guide parents in sanitary and emotionally supportive diapering and toilet training process.
- Promote a teamwork atmosphere by both delegating (to the childcare aide and substitutes) and accepting tasks and providing in-classroom/on-the-job training for center staff/substitutes as needed.
- Responsible for cleaning/maintaining indoor and outdoor premises on a daily basis (i.e. sweep, mop, clean bathroom, empty waste containers, dispose of trash for pick-up); Pick up debris and other trash and keep the area sanitary, neat, and attractive at all time.
- Ensure that a staff to child ratio of 1:4 is maintained at all times.
- Work with special needs children and their families in a non-discriminatory, supportive manner that includes learning about the specific needs of each child in your care (i.e. learning from the parent how to care for a child with disabilities, going to special trainings, attending therapy sessions, working with TEIS toward the goals outlined in the IFSP/IEP, etc.).
- Following Individualized Plans, will help prepare food and feed each child when the child is hungry (on demand), giving the appropriate food(s) in the appropriate portion sizes and specific styles (i.e. food cut into bite sized pieces) for each child.
- Responsible for making bottles for your infants as needed, which includes safe/sanitary handling of breast milk and mixing of formula.
- Conduct self at all times as if a parent or administrator is watching; surveillance cameras are located in each classroom, on playground, and front and rear entrance to center.
- Promote continuity of care, to include focused care during transitions and looping (moving to classroom with children) with a positive attitude.
- Must document and keep current training hours in both a personal file (ex: at home) and a personnel file (by giving proper documentation of training such as copies of certificates, agendas, signed training log, etc. to the Administrative Assistant at central office).
- Will assist as needed in other classrooms (within the 30 to 40 hour work week).
- Demonstrate work habits that comply with Agency Personnel Policies and Procedures; complete special assignments and assume other duties as assigned from the Education Coordinator, EHS Manager, and HS/ EHS Director.
- Welcome families to participate in their child’s learning activities in the classroom, at home, and in the community. Encourage parents to volunteer in the classroom to support their child and the program.
Encourage parents, families, and community members to support our children and the program through gifts of time, goods, and/or monetary donations to ensure program local match (in-kind) as required to continue receiving federal funding.
WORK SITE: Hamblen County- Initial worksite Ray’s Place
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: None
OTHER JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:
- This job can change at any time for any reason.
- Comply with all rules, policies and procedures of the Agency.
- Maintain confidentiality of family, child, and Agency information.
- Must maintain documentation per licensing requirements.
- Must perform specific related activities necessary to meet Social Services, Nutrition, Disabilities, and Parent Involvement component operation standards.
- Does not discriminate in the provision of services and makes sure that no person is excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program, activity, or benefit because of race, color, religion, gender (including sexual orientation and gender identity), age, citizenship, ethnicity, national origin, disability, marital status, genetic information, or veteran status unless those exclusions are based upon bona fide qualifications mandated by program service eligibility criteria.
Other Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Must obtain a pre-employment physical and screen for communicable diseases.
- Must obtain First Aid and CPR and keep updated.
- Must agree to pre-employment background check.
- Must have a valid Tennessee driver’s license and available transportation for work-related duties with mileage reimbursed.
- Must show proof (as necessary) of auto liability insurance.
- Demonstrate a willingness to continue professional development.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions:
- Must have the ability to lift children and to physically assist them as needed.
- Will frequently lift or move weight as in lifting, carrying, and holding children (20-60#).
- Required to stand up to 95% of the workday.
- Must be able to interact with children on the playground or in the classroom. Ex: run, jump, dance, physical exercise.
- Must be able to stoop and bend to interact with children on their level.
- Able to physically and mentally react immediately to unexpected circumstances.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Application Deadline: Applications accepted until position is filled.
To Apply: Send application and/or resume to: Human Resources Manager DCEA Head Start/Early Head Start, 127 Cedar Street, Morristown, TN 37814. Email applications to jobs@dceaheadstart.org.