Preschool Teacher - Apply Now!

The Migrant Head Start program is a dedicated initiative focused on providing full-day, full-year educational and developmental services to children aged 0-5 years from migrant and seasonal farm and agriculture working families. These families often engage in hand-picked and row crop labor, representing some of the most vital yet underserved communities in the agricultural landscape. The program recognizes the unique challenges faced by these families—such as mobility, access to consistent childcare, and ensuring educational readiness—and addresses these needs through comprehensive early childhood development services. Operating within a supportive and culturally attuned framework, the Migrant Head Start program fosters school readiness by promoting cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development for young children. This position pertains to the role of Preschool Teacher within the CPLC Early Childhood Development (ECD) Program, a center-based environment where high-quality, developmentally appropriate care and education is at the forefront. The Preschool Teacher plays a crucial role in preparing children ages 3 to 5 for both school and life success, embodying a holistic educational philosophy that encompasses family involvement, health, disabilities support, and social service coordination. Working as part of an interdisciplinary team, the Preschool Teacher contributes to a well-rounded developmental approach tailored to each child's needs, supporting their growth in multiple domains. This role demands adherence to rigorous standards, including compliance with federal and state regulations like the Head Start Program Performance Standards (HSPPS), the Head Start Act, and guidelines set forth by the Arizona Department of Health Services and other relevant bodies. The Preschool Teacher's responsibilities are multifaceted, including vigilant supervision of children to ensure their safety at all times and in all environments, maintaining health and safety standards, and facilitating practices that keep children safe during transportation and outdoor activities. Given the nature of the served community, skills in bilingual communication, particularly Spanish and English, are preferred to foster effective engagement with families. This role also values educators who bring culturally responsive teaching methods, and experience working with low-income and diverse family backgrounds is advantageous. In terms of qualifications, candidates typically hold at least an Associate's degree in Early Childhood Education or related fields, with preferred qualifications including a Bachelor's degree in Child Development or Early Childhood Education. Relevant experience teaching preschool-aged children is essential, along with competencies in screening and assessment tools such as the Ages & Stages Questionnaire (ASQ), Program for Infant Toddler Caregivers (PITC), and others aimed at enhancing developmental monitoring and educational quality. The Migrant Head Start Preschool Teacher position is a full-time commitment that offers a competitive benefits package designed to support the professionals who make this program impactful. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and their families, paid holidays and sick leave, wellness and preventive care programs, retirement planning options, and additional incentives like tuition reimbursement and mileage allowances to support those in qualifying roles. The program values their staff's dedication and endeavors to create a supportive work environment that fosters professional growth and personal well-being. Overall, this role represents an opportunity for educators passionate about making a tangible difference in the lives of young children from marginalized agricultural communities. By fostering early learning and providing strong professional support for families, the Preschool Teacher helps lay the foundation for lifelong educational success and societal contribution, aligning deeply with the core values of service, inclusion, and community empowerment central to the Migrant Head Start program.

• Associate's degree in Early Childhood Education
• Six months experience teaching preschool aged children
• Compliance with state and federal early childhood education regulations
• Basic keyboard skills and computer literacy
• Ability to actively supervise children at all times
• Preferred bilingual Spanish/English
• Preferred experience with early childhood screening and assessment tools
• Preferred experience working with culturally diverse and low-income families