The head start program was started by the United States department of health and human services that help the children of low income families by providing them with health, nutrition, comprehensive education, and parent involvement services. All these services are meant for developing the growth and cognitive abilities of these children. This program focuses on the healthy development of children from 1-3 years of age, as these are the years that really decide the future of the child. The early head start teacher responsibilities include providing relevant education and nutritious food to the children who belong to very low income families. She lays more emphasis on educating them properly and preparing them for schooling in the future.
Key Responsibilities
The early head start teacher designs and enforces the syllabus as per the suitability of the children. This helps them grow into responsible individuals. She is the incharge of a preschool and monitors the daily routine of the same. Her key responsibilities are:
Qualifications and Skills
She must have done atleast 6 units of early childhood education classes. Out of these 6 units, 3 units should belong to child development. She must be 18 years old and may also need multilingual competency english speaking skills. She should have a sound mind and body, so that she can endure stressful conditions. Having the ability to arrange PTA meetings and helping the children in indoor and outdoor activities are required. Clear English speaking and writing skills are needed. She must be able to handle and advise children, as per their requirements. Communicating with the children in an effective and sensitive manner is very important. She should have the ability to take care of them, for which she would need to be empathetic towards the same. She should have the ability to cope with different kinds of children and take care of them. At last, but not the least, she should be patient.
Working Conditions
She has to work inside and outside the environmental conditions. The noise level is high, as she remains surrounded by children all the time. She may have to stand, move quickly, or walk anytime. She needs to sit on the floor for a long time and observe the activities of the tiny tots.
Salary
She gets an average salary of USD 30,000 per annum. But this may vary depending on the location and the nature of the job.
Thus, an early head start teacher responsibilities include taking care of the children and ensure that they grow into healthy human beings in the distant future.