Head Start Teacher

Head Start Teacher  |  Hawkins County, Tennessee 

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

• Paid Fall Break, Winter Break, Spring Break 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 

• 1 day of healthcare/personal accrued per month (12 days per year) 

• 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 

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements 

• Minimum requirement is an Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education or Child Development; Bachelors degree preferred 

• 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 and is paid hourly. Typically, this position will work 40 hours per week, approximately 43-46 weeks per school year with a summer lay off of approximately 6 to 9 weeks.  Employees are eligible to apply for unemployment during the 6-9 weeks of temporary summer lay-off.  Working days are Monday through Friday with varying day shift hours depending on location.  Elected benefits continue during temporary summer lay-off. Work is based in Hawkins County, Tennessee.  

 
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.