****Head Start Teacher – Full-Day, Full-Year | Johnson City, TN
Position Summary
Ready to spark curiosity and change lives? As a Head Start Teacher, you’ll do more than teach—you’ll help prepare children ages 3–5 for success in school and beyond. Unlike a traditional preschool, Head Start provides a comprehensive approach to early childhood education by integrating learning with health, nutrition, and family engagement. You’ll create a classroom where discovery thrives, while partnering with families to support each child’s emotional, physical, cognitive, and social development.
If you’re passionate about early childhood education and want to make a lasting impact, apply today and join a team that’s changing lives every day!
Essential Functions :
- Foster social and emotional development using positive guidance techniques
- Create and deliver age-appropriate daily lesson plans and schedules
- Maintain a safe, healthy classroom following Active Supervision, safety curriculums and accurately track student headcounts and transition protocols
- Supervise and mentor classroom staff and volunteers with constructive feedback and modeling
- Implement proactive classroom management strategies for smooth daily operations
- Support each child’s emotional growth with a warm, culturally sensitive environment
- Observe, assess, and tailor activities to promote children’s physical and intellectual growth
- Maintain positive, respectful communication with families, staff, community members, and conduct home visits
- Adhere to agency policies, complete assigned tasks, and uphold professionalism
- Support children's social and emotional development using positive guidance
- Creative thinker and effective problem solver with strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Perform other duties as assigned
Benefits:
- 17 paid break-days and holidays
- Healthcare coverage is provided through the State of Tennessee, with UETHDA covering 100% of the monthly premium for employee-only plans (valued at approximately $600 per month or $7,200 annually). Additional coverage options are available, with any cost difference paid by the employee
- Retirement Plan: Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS). Eligible employees contribute 5% of annual wages on a pre-tax basis to the defined TCRS plan. UETHDA contributes an amortized amount as determined by TCRS. Employees become fully vested after five years of eligible service
- Group Term Life Insurance (coverage equal to 1.5 times annual wages) and Voluntary Life Insurance are offered, with Group Term Life fully paid by UETHDA
- Dental, Vision, Short-Term Disability, and Long-Term Disability options are available at 100% cost to the employee
- 1 day of healthcare/personal accrued per month (12 days per year)
- Additional 401(K) and 457 Savings Plan also available without employer match
Minimum Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree preferred; minimum requirement is an Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education or Child Development
- 2+ years of experience with preschool children (preferred)
- Meets Tennessee DHS standards for preschool day care centers
- Must pass background check and physical exam with the ability to lift a child weighing up to 50 pounds
- Must have valid TN driver's license
Position Type/Expected Hours of Work
This is a full-time, non-exempt position paid hourly. The role typically requires 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday during daytime hours, with no summer layoff. Work is based at the Children’s First Center, 837 Pardee Street, Johnson City, TN.
Equal Opportunity Employer Statement
UETHDA is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to hiring passionate, diverse professionals who want to make a difference.
Salary based 100% on Education/Degree.
$17.75 hourly for AS in Early Childhood Education/Child Development
$20.50 hourly for BS in Early Childhood Education/Child Development