Do you want to make a difference in a child's life? As a Head Start Teacher, you will promote active learning in a preschool classroom by planning and implementing developmentally appropriate, individualized experiences and creating a safe and nurturing environment for children. We will count on you to use cognitive-developmental approaches to enhance the student's language and literacy skills. As a Head Start Teacher, you will also have the opportunity to plan and participate in parent education, parent engagement, and family support activities.

Our classrooms are welcoming and designed for interactive learning by children and their families. We offer a low teacher-to-student ratio of 1:10 with 20 students per classroom, to provide the greatest opportunity for a healthy and effective learning environment. Did we mention the County provides the supplies needed to support our teaching staff? We also offer being part of a compassionate team of early education professionals who believe in the mission of preparing these children for future school success.

As a teacher, you will be excited to learn about other added benefits, including:

• Paid continuing education, professional development, and tuition reimbursement

• Paid Child Development Association Certification (CDA) that you can earn on the job! With this certification you can grow in your Head Start career by advancing into teaching positions.

• Candidates without required credentials are encouraged to apply for the Teaching Assistant while they earn their CDA.

• Amazing health and wellness programs including Pet Insurance! Our health insurance plans are more than competitive, with the option to earn a wellness incentive payback of $60 per month.

• Free Office of Head Start https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ohs membership

About Us

Together, we can thrive.

In Human Services, we focus on maximizing potential and providing support and resources for all stages of life. We partner with families and communities to encourage children to learn, invite youth and adults to cultivate professional skills, guide families to achieve financial success, and enable seniors to live independently.

Be the spark that lights our children's future, become a Head Start Teacher!

Proud to Offer

• Work with a greater purpose

• Tuition reimbursement

• Exceptional work-life balance

• Opportunities for growth and development within Maricopa County

• Low-cost, high-value healthcare for you and your qualifying dependents

• Paid vacation, sick time, and parental leave

• Extensive wellness program, including healthcare premium discounts

• Employee discounts for goods and services

• Maricopa County participates in the Arizona State Retirement System. This defined retirement benefit requires a 12.29% monthly contribution rate and includes a 100% employer match on Day 1

• Learn more atWork With Us | Maricopa County, AZ

We Require

• One year of experience teaching in a licensed childcare or public pre-kindergarten setting

• Bachelor's degree in early childhood education, child development, or an equivalent college degree with 18 credits in early childhood education, child development, or infant/toddler development

We Also Value

• Two or more years of experience teaching in a licensed childcare or pre-kindergarten setting

• Bilingual in English and Spanish

• Former or current Head Start parents

Job Contributions

• Assumes responsibility for the supervision, care, and welfare of the classroom children, to ensure their safety and wellbeing at all times

• Develops, organizes, and implements age-appropriate child education curriculum

• Plans classroom experiences that meet different developmental stages, interests, temperaments, learning styles, languages, and cultural backgrounds

• Develops and implements a multicultural curriculum that utilizes developmentally appropriate practices which meet the needs and interests of students

• Ensures compliance with all federal, state, and Office of Head Start Performance Standards regulations, Arizona licensing requirements, and program policies and procedures

• Respects, values, and supports each child and family backgrounds and facilitates parent participation as equal partners in all aspects of Educational Plans

• Develops and maintains positive relationships with each family, site team members, community agencies, community partners, and grantee staff members

• Carries out authorized emergency and safety procedures and administers first aid and/or CPR in the classroom as needed

Working Conditions

• Must complete a background check and fingerprint identification upon hire to secure and maintain an Arizona Department of Public Safety Level 1 Fingerprint Clearance Card

• Must obtain a CPR, first aid, and food handler's certification within six weeks of hire

• Must be able to pass a medical exam that includes screening for TB, as required by Federal and State regulations, to be free of communicable disease, and must have received the following vaccinations: (MMR) Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Tetanus if not current, to assure no significant risk exists to the health or safety of others

• Must possess or have the ability to obtain a valid Arizona driver's license by the time of hire

• Follows a full year schedule that is typically comprised of 2,088 hours annually

• Work is performed in a classroom, playground, and office environment as assigned and is subject to change based on the program need

• May require travel to and from job-related locations during a scheduled workday, subject to County policies regarding the use of County vehicles or private vehicles used on County business

• Must be able to lift up to 40 pounds

• Must be able to stand, sit on the floor, and be indoors and outdoors for extended periods

• Possible exposure to bodily fluids and infectious disease

• May be required to fill in as a substitute staff member at another program site

• Birth to Five site classrooms operate Monday through Friday

• Locations: Mesa, Chandler, Tempe, Guadalupe, Gilbert & Scottsdale