Lead Primary Caregiver

Lead Primary CaregiverExempt: No Salary Level: $24.50-$26.25 per hour Department: Early Childhood Education Location: Sonoma County Early Head Start Centers Reports To: Area Supervisor Hours: FT M-F 40 hours per week Working at Sonoma Community Action Network (SonomaCAN), we believe that a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives strengthen our team and help us better serve our community. We are committed to fair hiring practices and a workplace where employees are treated with respect and have the opportunity to grow professionally. We make employment decisions based on qualifications, merit, and organizational needs. Our hiring process complies with all federal, state, and local laws related to equal employment opportunity and nondiscrimination. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and encourage individuals who meet the qualifications to apply. The pay for this position ranges from $24.50 to $26.25 per hour, depending on experience. Sonoma CAN offers a generous benefits package available on the first day of the month after your date of hire that includes: Medical insurance through Kaiser or Sutter is 80-95% paid by the employer for employee premiums, plus 50% paid by the employer for dependent coverage Elective dental, vision insurance, FSA, and Accident insurance Employer-paid $10k of life insurance with expandable options Employer-paid Long-term Disability Insurance 401(K) plan with a 2% contribution and an additional 1% matched contribution after one year of service Employee assistance program, CalPerks 3 weeks vacation (paid during Spring and Winter school breaks) increases at 6 years of service 96 hours of sick time per year (4 hours accrued per pay period) based on full-time work 1 floating personal day 16 paid holidays Under the direction of the Area Supervisor, the Lead Primary Caregiver administers Early Head Start center operations, coordinates activities for infants and toddlers as guided by Head Start Performance Standards, adheres to procedures and policies, and follows California State Community Care Licensing regulations. This position is responsible for the daily operations and oversight of the assigned center. This position will carry out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the Agency's policies and applicable federal and state laws. Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Coordinate and monitor the work of center staff, volunteers, and parents Supervise and support all children in the classroom Supervise: Primary Caregiver, Classroom Assistant, and any other assigned staff Adhere to the Child Assessment/Observation System & Family Partnership System Timeline Ensure and participate in a minimum of 2 parent home visits and two conferences per child. The first home visit is done in partnership with the Family Outreach Worker Solve practical problems and deal with a variety of situations with good judgment Assess children, develop individualized routines, and develop developmentally appropriate plans and curriculum Have meaningful, respectful conversations with children throughout each day Plan and facilitate daily learning activities for children based on children's interests in alignment with the Creative Curriculum to support School Readiness in all learning domains Reinforce the role of the parent as primary caregiver and educator of the child Work in partnership with service area managers and center staff to better assess the needs of the children and families to ensure quality services to children and families Support and serve as a resource to the families and work with them in assessing their strengths, interests, and needs, and make referrals as appropriate Build a close, personal relationship with each child, while creating a warm, accepting, and developmentally appropriate environment which encourages the cognitive, physical, emotional, and social development of the infant/toddler and family Maintain warm, friendly, and professional working relationships with children, parents, and coworkers Plan, assign, and direct work which includes: yearly performance appraisals, monthly one-on-one meetings, and helping to address complaints and resolve problems Approve staff time cards and time off requests Communicate with the supervisor and other classroom staff to develop a plan for coverage when other staff are not present Provide on-the-job training and support, assessing the skill level of the employee and developing a plan for individual growth and professional development Ensure and share in the daily cleaning and sanitization procedures of the classroom, classroom equipment, and outside play yard; maintain health and safety standards for children, classroom volunteers, and staff; Promote good health and nutrition and provide an environment that contributes to the prevention of illness Maintain classroom files on children and ensure confidentiality of client records and information Coordinate and cooperate with consultants and specialists on items relevant to the center and children, ensuring maximum use of services and resources May include collaboration/coordination of program services with other community entities: i.e., early intervention, those serving children with diagnosed disabilities, State Child Care programs Actively participate in the distance learning model of instruction when required Participate in staff meetings, consultant meetings, trainings, and appropriate special events, as scheduled Participate in the team-building process within the program by using established communication channels constructively and productively, which enhances the team effort while maintaining confidentiality The health, safety, and supervision of all children in the program are of the utmost importance. Therefore, every employee is responsible for the care and supervision of children while they are present at the center Understands and implements Head Start Procedures and Head Start Performance Standards Other relevant duties, as assigned Requirements Knowledge and Skills: Working knowledge of the principles and practices of child development and adult learning styles Understanding of the principles of bilingual and multicultural education Basic personal computer skills with word processing and email experience Establish and maintain a healthy learning environment Support children's social and emotional development Basic oral and written communication skills Bilingual, Spanish/English preferred. Knowledge of and sensitivity to culturally diverse groups and persons from low-income families. Basic skills in reading, analyzing, and interpreting procedures and governmental regulations. Basic ability to write reports and correspondence. Basic ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of parents, children, and staff. Basic ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Basic ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form. Education/Certificates and/or Experience: BA in Early Childhood Education/Child Development or related field; OR AA with 24 ECE/CD units (incl. core units) and the willingness to complete a BA and be enrolled within 6 months of the start of employment 3 units of Adult Supervision Teacher Permit within 6 months of hire 3 units or 16 hours of Health and Safety Training A minimum of 12 months of teaching experience with 6 months of supervision experience In Addition to the above: Six months of teaching experience in a preschool/infant-toddler classroom High School diploma or GED or equivalent Before beginning work, one must be able to pass the Community Care Licensing criminal record clearance, must be up to date on immunizations, and have a current (within one year) TB clearance and Health Screening Report. Current Pediatric First Aid, CPR, and Health and Safety Course. Bilingual in Spanish & English preferred. If the bilingual assessment is passed, you would qualify for additional bilingual pay. Personal Characteristics: Highly dependable, takes