Home Based Teacher

Salary: $21.04-$24.71/hr. 35-hour work week

Position Summary:

Each Home-Based Educator will support children in reaching developmentally appropriate milestones through the implementation of evidence-based curricula, individualized support for families, and high-quality learning environments. Home-Based Educators will prepare children to be school-ready and increase caregiver knowledge of development and parenting skills, 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, with support from the Home Base Education Coordinator, the Home-Based Educator's responsibilities include the following:

Strategic Oversight

• Understand and promote the organization's Mission, Vision, and Core Values to ensure alignment with organizational policies and procedures.
• Support the family in implementing strategies that align with educational goals and organizational standards.

Curriculum Implementation

• Promote high-quality teaching and learning in the home setting that leads to optimal development and children's school readiness
• Implement individualized learning experiences for children and families utilizing evidence-based curricula and the Early Learning Outcomes Framework.
• Design and arrange group socialization space, allowing for various learning opportunities and engagement, with assistance from the Education Director.
• Observe, collect data, assess, and provide strengths-based feedback on the caregiver's parental interactions and child's developmental skills to support positive parenting practices that support their child's learning and development.
• Educate caregivers on positive parenting interactions through curriculum implementation to fidelity and parent coaching tools during home visits and socialization groups.

Home Visiting

• 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 a half for each family on the caseload.
• Collaborate with families to design a developmentally sound and individualized (tailored to the specific needs and interests of their child) plan to enhance the social-emotional, cognitive, mathematics, language/literacy, and physical development of their child.
• Conduct home visits with expectant parents, utilizing a maternal health curriculum to support prenatal and postpartum health, mental health, family engagement, newborn development, and caregiving practices.
• Write lesson plans for group socialization classes and conduct bi-weekly group socializations with parents and children.

Record Maintenance, Screening and Assessment

• Maintain accurate educational records and portfolios on each child by documenting home visits, child observations, screenings, and assessments.
• Ensure children receive a developmental and behavioral screen according to program timelines and assess child development at three different points over the course of the year (November, February, and May).
• Conduct internal referral process in collaboration with the Education Director by observing and documenting students' development for children who need additional support.

Family Engagement

• Facilitate parent involvement and communication through home visits, group socializations, program events, and an "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/teacher conferences, open houses, and/or family events.
• Collaborate with parents to develop weekly home visit and educational activities based on each child's assessment and family needs.
• Connect with community partners from which families can benefit, looping 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.
• Recruit new families for our program through tabling, advertising in the school community, and hosting recruitment events.

Data Analysis

• Collect, analyze, and report on data related to student progress and classroom activities to inform continuous improvement efforts.
• Utilize data to identify trends, gaps, and areas for improvement in instructional practices and student support.

Professional Development

• Participate and attend all agency offered trainings, workshops, in-service days, and/or all-staff conferences.
• Maintain certification requirements and proof of attendance for professional activities.
• Support the growth of the center including participating in program-wide goal setting and individual and program self-assessment.
• Complete all Early Childhood required trainings.
• Maintain active membership with Aspire and or "Registered" TEACH Account linked to CA (upon hire)
• Engage in self-assessment and reflective supervision experiences such as completing self-assessment surveys, video recording, coaching, and collaboration sessions from site supervisor and Home-Based Education Coordinator.
• Actively participate in monthly site meetings, teacher planning, case conferences, individual supervision, and Home-Based Educator Meetings (3x per year).

Minimum Qualifications: The Home-Based Educator must have qualifications that satisfy Federal Head Start requirements, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Article 47 regulations, and Universal Preschool Guidelines.

Federal Head Start Requirement: 45 CFR *1302.91(e)(6)(i) "A program must ensure home visitors providing home-based education services have a minimum of:

• A home-based [home visitor] Child Development Associate (CDA) credential or a comparable credential or
• Equivalent coursework as part of an associate or bachelor's degree"

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

• Home-Based Educator I: High School Diploma or GED and Home Visitor Child Developmental Credential (CDA) (Required upon hire)
• Home-Based Educator II: Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education or equivalent course work (upon hire) and Home Visitor Child Developmental Credential (CDA) obtained within 12 months of hire
• Home-Based Educator III: Bachelor's Degree Early Childhood Education or equivalent course work (upon hire) and Home Visitor Child Developmental Credential (CDA) obtained within 12 months of hire
• Home-Based Educator IV: Master's Degree Early Childhood Education or equivalent course work (upon hire) and Home Visitor Child Developmental Credential (CDA) obtained within 12 months of hire.

Key Competencies:

• Bilingual in English and Spanish or French
• Two years' experience working with infants and toddlers, and children with special needs
• Dedicated, excited, and passionate about teaching and learning with young children and their caregivers
• Effective written and communication skills
• Professional approach with effective communication skills
• Reflective on own teaching practices and willing to develop new skills and increase capacity

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement
It is the policy of Children's Aid to provide equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment and is dedicated to maintaining a work environment that is free from harassment and discrimination. Children's Aid will not to tolerate discrimination, harassment or retaliation on any basis, including race, creed, color, national origin, ethnicity, alienage or citizenship status, gender/sex (including pregnancy), disability, religion, source of income, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, familial status, caregiver status, military status, marital or partnership status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual violence or stalking, predisposing genetic characteristics, arrest or conviction record, credit history, unemployment status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Children's Aid is committed to complying with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Children's Aid will conduct a prompt and thorough investigation of all allegations of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation, or any violation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Policy in a confidential manner and will take appropriate corrective action, if and where warranted. Children's Aid prohibits retaliation against employees who provide information about, complain about, or assist in the investigation of any complaint of discrimination or violation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Policy.

The incumbent is expected to work a schedule, whether in-person or hybrid, as determined by the department's needs to facilitate effective collaboration with the team. This flexibility is essential for maintaining seamless communication, fostering teamwork, and ensuring the smooth operation of the department's processes. The position's requirements are subject to periodic review and adjustment based on organizational needs and changes in work dynamics.