Teacher, Early Head Start

Direct Reports: 

None 

USC’s School for Early Childhood Education is dedicated to providing comprehensive, high-quality early childhood education services to children and their families in the South Los Angeles area. Founded in 1970 as a teaching school for future early-childhood professionals, the USC School for Early Childhood Education (USC SECE) seeks to promote school readiness, health/nutrition, mental wellness, and family engagement. Today, our licensed Head Start and Early Head Start centers serve more than 500 infants and pre-school children and their parents each year. We are seeking enthusiastic, creative, dynamic, and team-oriented individuals who enjoy working with children while fostering a supportive learning environment. 

Job Overview: 

The Teacher, Early Head Start (EHS) is responsible for initiating, planning, and implementing education program within the classroom in accordance with the policies procedures and philosophy of Head Start Federal and State regulations. With the assistance of assigned program staff, this role facilitates the personal care, learning, and development of a group of infants or toddlers under the age of three years old. 

Responsibilities and Duties: 

• Leads the planning and implementation of personal care, as well as daily educational and recreational activities.  

• Prepares learning environment in conjunction with teachers. Sets up materials for individual/group instruction. 

• Maintains the ongoing health, safety, and upkeep of the learning environment. 

• Provide relationship-based care in daily routines such as mealtime, toileting, hand washing, and napping for preschool-age children. 

• Diaper-changing duties are required for Early Head Start (EHS).  

• Plan and implement a developmentally appropriate curriculum. 

• Collaborate with the team on developing and implementing daily lesson plans. 

• Conduct assessments, develop individual development plans, and record ongoing observations of children in assigned groups.  

• Prepare and conduct parent-teacher conferences and home visits for each child in the assigned classroom environment/setting according to the schedule of requirements.  

• Utilize classroom materials and routines to promote an environment conducive to appropriate levels of development, interests, and specific needs of the children.  

• Maintain effective and professional relationships with enrolled families. 

• Maintain a safe and healthy classroom environment following Head Start Program Performance Standards, Title 5, and Title 22 Regulations. 

• Attend regular staff meetings as scheduled by the Site Supervisor and Administration. 

• Awareness of safe lifting techniques for lifting children, supplies, and furnishings and commitment to using preventive health measures in the classroom to prevent the spread of disease. 

• Perform additional duties as assigned by the Site Supervisor, Associate Director, Assistant Director, and Administration. 

• Encourages a workplace culture where all employees are valued and have the opportunity to contribute through their ideas, words, and actions, in accordance with the USC Code of Ethics. 

Minimum Qualifications: 

• AA Degree in Child Development or related field. 

• 1 year of experience in classroom. 

• Demonstrated written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills. 

• Proficiency with the internet and computer applications/software (e.g., Microsoft Office Suite, Windows). 

• Teacher Permit or permit eligible (24 ECE units, including at least 6 units in infant/toddler care). 

• BLS/CPR Infant and Child First Aid/CPR certification. 

•  Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) Certification must be obtained within the first year. 

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Child Development or related field. 

• 2 years of experience in classroom. 

• Ability to create and implement daily curriculum plans.  

• Ability to work well harmoniously in a multi-cultural team.  

• Ability to promote a feeling of security and trust in infants and toddlers, and preschool age children by being warm, supportive, and comforting.  

• A caring, compassionate approach to working with children and families as well as maintaining an open, friendly, and cooperative relationship with each child’s family.  

• Awareness of safe lifting techniques for lifting children, supplies and furnishings and commitment to using preventive health measures in the classroom to prevent the spread of disease. 

Physical Requirements: 

• Must be able to climb stairs, reach, bend, lift 20-30 pounds, crawl, kneel, stoop, twist, grasp with hands and fingers, use arms and legs, walk, and climb ladders if applicable. The usual and customary methods of performing the job’s functions require the following physical demands: lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling; significant stooping, kneeling, crouching, and/or crawling. 

Pre-Employment Requirements: 

• Physical exam 

• TB test 

• LiveScan/fingerprint clearance 

• MMR and Tdap vaccinations 

• CPR 

• Child Abuse Mandated Reporter Training 

The hourly rate range for this position is $25.00 - $27.00. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.