Home Based Teacher

Drew Hamilton Early Childhood Center (2672 Fred Douglass Boulevard)

$37,000- $43,450

Position Summary:

Early Childhood (EC) Division at Children's Aid (CA) is founded on the belief that strong communities are built by children and families who have the access and skills and choice to create pathways to their success. The Early Childhood Department serves over 700 low-income children ages 0-5 and their families in schools and community centers throughout Manhattan, Staten Island and the Bronx through a combination of Federal, State, and City funding. We believe that strong communities are built by children and families who have access, skills and choice to create pathways to their success.

Each Home Based Educator will ensure that all children reach developmentally appropriate milestones through the implementation of evidence-based curricula, individualized support and high-quality learning environments. Home Based Educators will focus on making sure that all the children and families will be ready to be successful in Kindergarten and in life, while ensuring that all Head Start Performance Standards and site-specific funding regulations are met or exceeded.

Essential Duties: Under the direct supervision of the site's Education Director, the Early Head Start (EHS) Home Based Educator's responsibilities include the following:

Curriculum and Instruction

• Plan and establish a relationship with children and parents that fosters acceptance, trust, and a space that promotes interaction for growth and development.
• Conduct three or four home visits a month for the duration of an hour and half for each family on caseload.
• Write Lesson Plans for socialization classes and conduct weekly two-hour socialization classes with parent and child
• Collaborate in the designing of a developmentally sound home-based and center-based curriculum to enhance the social, emotional, intellectual, language /communication and physical well-being of the children in the Early Head Start.
• Implement learning experiences to achieve curriculum goals through individual child planning.
• With assistance from the Education Director, design and arrange space allowing for a variety of learning opportunities and engagement.
• Observe, collect data, access and give feedback on the caregiver's parenting interactions to support positive parenting interactions that lead to optimal development and school readiness.
• Educator caregivers on positive parenting interactions as a way to promote children's early development through the use of curriculum implementation to fidelity and parent coaching tools during home visits and socialization groups.

Screening and Assessment

• Deliver ongoing administration of the program's established screening tools.
• Maintain up-to-date The Ounce Observation Record Assessment tool for each child and distribute family album to families and provide ongoing assessment of children enrolled in the EHS program.
• Observe and document students' development daily to request additional support from Education Director through internal referral process.

Family Engagement

• Facilitate parent involvement and communication throughout home visits, socialization classes, program events, and "open-door" policy.
• Facilitate meetings with families when there are outstanding developmental or behavioral issues with children.
• Prepare, coordinate and implement additional home visits, parent/Educator conferences, open houses, and/or family days.
• Works with parents to develop weekly home visits and weekly educational activities based on each child's assessment and family needs.
• Connect with community partners from which families can benefit. Loop in the Communication & Partnership Mgr. for documentation purposes.
• Share highlights of families, kids, staff, and community partners; Educate and engage our online social media community with the EC Instagram committee.

Professional Development

• Participate in all agency offered trainings, workshops, In-Service days, and/or All-Staff conferences.
• Engage in self-assessment and reflection coaching experiences such as through completion of self-assessment surveys, video recording, coaching and collaborating sessions.
  • Actively participate in monthly team meetings. Educator planning, Case Conferences, individual supervision.

Maintain certification requirements.

• Complete all Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) Required Trainings within the specified time frame.
• Maintain Active Membership with Aspire and/or "Registered" TEACH Account linked to CA.

Health and Safety

• Adhere to all state and city safety requirements and CPR/first aid certification , Child Abuse Mandate, Foundations for Health and Safety and Mental Health First Aid.
• Maintain a safe and healthy environment for children aligned to CDC, DOHMH and ECERS guidance.

And other related duties as assigned, at the discretion of the Educational Director and/or Children's Aid.

Minimum Qualifications: An EHS Home Based Educator must have qualifications that satisfy the Federal Head Start requirements.

Depending on one's education and certification, a Home Based Educator may fall into one of the following categories:

Home Based Educator I: Must possess a High School Diploma/GED and must hold a Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential in early childhood development at time of hire.

Home Based Educator II: Must possess an Associate's Degree or equivalent credits (in any area). Depending on the nature of the degree and relevant years of experience, it may be required to have a child development associate (CDA) credential or be enrolled in a CDA credential program that will be completed within 2 years, which is a condition of employment that cannot be extended..

Home Based Educator III: Must possess a Bachelor's Degree (in any area). Depending on the nature of the degree and relevant years of experience, it may be required to have a child development associate (CDA) credential or be enrolled in a CDA credential program that will be completed within 2 years, which is a condition of employment that cannot be extended.

Home Based Educator IV: Must possess a Master's Degree (in any area). Depending on the nature of the degree and relevant years of experience, it may be required to have a child development associate (CDA) credential or be enrolled in a CDA credential program that will be completed within 2 years, which is a condition of employment that cannot be extended.

Key Competencies:

• Bilingual preferred
• Experience working with infants and toddlers, and children with Special Needs
• Dedicated, excited and passionate about teaching and learning with young children
• Reflective on own teaching practice and willing to develop and increase capacity
• Professional approach with effective communication skills.
• Hold Mental Health First Aid Certificates

A review and final determination of credentials and qualifications are reserved for the site's Education Director and the Children's Aid Director of Early Childhood Programs.