The posting
How This Role Contributes to the Y’s Mission: As an Early Head Start Teacher, you will create a safe, nurturing classroom where infants and toddlers feel secure, build trusting relationships, and reach important developmental milestones. Through responsive caregiving, individualized learning experiences, and meaningful family partnerships, you will help give every child a strong foundation for future success. This Work Is Right for You If You:
Have experience caring for and teaching infants and toddlers.
Understand early childhood development and responsive caregiving.
Create warm, patient, and supportive relationships with young children.
Can plan individualized activities based on each child’s needs and progress.
Communicate effectively with families and classroom team members.
Are organized, dependable, and attentive to health and safety.
Value cultural differences and welcome families as partners.
Can lead a classroom team while remaining open to coaching and professional growth.
Essential Functions:
Manage an Early Head Start classroom in accordance with COMAR regulations, Head Start standards, approved curriculum, and Y policies.
Provide active supervision and maintain required adult-to-child ratios.
Build secure, nurturing relationships with infants and toddlers through responsive and developmentally appropriate care.
Prepare and implement individualized lesson plans that support school-readiness goals.
Observe, assess, and document each child’s development and complete required screenings within established timelines.
Maintain accurate attendance, education files, portfolios, and other required classroom records.
Establish consistent classroom schedules, routines, and transitions.
Partner with families through daily communication, home visits, parent-teacher conferences, meetings, and home-learning activities.
Coordinate classroom activities and share relevant information with associates, caregivers, and volunteers.
Guide classroom staff and model positive, professional interactions with children and families.
Maintain a clean, organized, welcoming, and well-supplied classroom.
Recognize and promptly report signs of illness, injury, abuse, neglect, or developmental concerns in accordance with applicable requirements.
Collaborate with program leaders and specialists to support early intervention, IFSPs, transitions, and other individualized child needs.
Participate in required meetings, training, and professional-development activities.
Qualifications:
Infant/Toddler Child Development Associate credential; or six semester hours/90 clock hours of approved early childhood coursework and three semester hours/45 clock hours of approved infant/toddler coursework.
At least one year of supervised early childhood experience required; two years preferred.
Experience working with infants and toddlers strongly preferred.
Basic computer and data-entry skills preferred.
Ability to obtain and maintain required criminal-background clearances.
Ability to complete a pre-employment physical and tuberculosis screening as required.
Pediatric First Aid and CPR certification, or ability to obtain certification within 90 days of employment.
