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Michigan, United States
Onsite
Not Available
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Early Childhood Education and Center Support Opportunities
About Innovative Network of Knowledge
Innovative Network of Knowledge is focused on advancing school readiness and helping families obtain the tools needed to give their children a strong start toward lifelong learning. Our educators and organizational leaders recognize the individual potential of every child and work to create safe, supportive, inclusive, and developmentally appropriate learning environments.
Position Summary
Innovative Network of Knowledge is currently seeking motivated, qualified individuals for early childhood education and center support opportunities within its Head Start, Early Head Start, and Child Care Partnership programs.
Depending on qualifications, experience, program needs, and availability, selected candidates may be considered for one or more of the following positions:
• Floater (full-time)
• Long-Term Substitute Teacher (full-time)
• Support Services Specialist (full-time)
• Substitute Teacher (part-time, as needed)
Individuals in these positions contribute to the health, safety, education, care, supervision, and overall well-being of children. Responsibilities may include supporting or leading classroom activities, implementing developmentally appropriate learning experiences, maintaining required child-to-staff ratios, assisting with meals and sanitation, supporting assessments and documentation, communicating with families and program staff, and helping maintain clean and hazard-free classrooms and center facilities.
Placement into a specific position will be based on qualifications and the needs of the assigned program or center.
Essential Responsibilities
Depending on the position assigned, responsibilities may include:
Child Health, Safety, and Supervision
• Maintain active and appropriate supervision of children and ensure that no child is left alone or unsupervised while in the program’s care.
• Help maintain safe classroom, playground, restroom, meal service, and other indoor or outdoor environments.
• Follow applicable health, hygiene, sanitation, toileting, handwashing, diapering, food-service, and exposure-control procedures.
• Identify and promptly report illnesses, accidents, injuries, incidents, safety hazards, and other concerns in accordance with program procedures.
• Report suspected or known child abuse or neglect as required by law and organizational policy.
• Maintain confidentiality regarding children, families, employees, and program operations.
• Support compliance with applicable Head Start Program Performance Standards, child-care licensing requirements, program policies, and standards of conduct.
Classroom and Educational Support
• Assist with or provide developmentally and linguistically appropriate classroom experiences for infants, toddlers, and/or preschool-age children.
• Support implementation of approved curricula, lesson plans, individualized learning activities, and daily classroom routines.
• Promote children’s language, literacy, cognitive, physical, social, and emotional development.
• Help create an organized and inclusive learning environment that responds to children’s individual needs, cultures, languages, interests, and abilities.
• Assist children during classroom transitions, outdoor activities, field trips, meals, rest periods, and other program activities.
• Support positive adult-child interactions, appropriate guidance, and developmentally appropriate behavior-management practices.
• Assist with classroom preparation, organization, cleaning, and periodic rotation of learning materials and equipment.
• Communicate observations about children’s behavior, development, progress, or potential needs to appropriate teaching or program staff.
Assessments, Documentation, and Family Engagement
• Assist with child screenings, assessments, observations, evaluations, and progress documentation as assigned.
• Maintain accurate and timely records in accordance with program requirements.
• Support parent conferences, home visits, family activities, Parent Committee meetings, and other family-engagement opportunities when applicable.
• Establish professional and respectful relationships with children, parents, families, coworkers, volunteers, and community partners.
• Collaborate with education, family engagement, mental health, disability, and child-development staff to address identified needs.
• Refer questions or concerns requiring specialized intervention to the appropriate supervisor or program professional.
Nutrition, Sanitation, and Center Support
Depending on assignment, an employee may also:
• Prepare, portion, or serve classroom meals and snacks.
• Assist children during family-style meal activities and model appropriate nutrition and social behaviors.
• Wash and sanitize dishes, cookware, utensils, food-service areas, and related equipment.
• Clean classrooms, offices, bathrooms, common areas, playgrounds, and other interior or exterior spaces.
• Maintain cleaning-supply inventories and assist with ordering or receiving supplies.
• Follow enhanced sanitation or deep-cleaning protocols when directed.
• Inspect facilities and grounds for hazards, trash, weeds, unsafe conditions, or needed repairs.
• Assist with laundry, furniture movement, room setup and teardown, storage, minor upkeep, and center events.
• Notify the appropriate supervisor of facility, equipment, health, or safety concerns.
Teamwork and Professional Development
• Work collaboratively with teachers, center leadership, program employees, families, volunteers, and community partners.
• Attend and complete assigned orientation, staff meetings, workshops, online training, in-service training, and professional-development activities.
• Maintain required training hours, certifications, and documentation.
• Demonstrate professionalism, sound judgment, patience, tact, emotional control, and appropriate communication.
• Organize and prioritize responsibilities in a fast-paced environment.
• Follow all organizational policies, program procedures, and supervisor instructions.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.
Position-Specific Placement Criteria
Floater
Candidates considered for a full-time Floater position will generally provide coverage and operational assistance across classrooms based on daily program needs. Responsibilities may include responding to classroom support requests, assisting teachers with classroom activities and transitions, maintaining supervision, supporting safe learning environments, and communicating relevant observations to teaching staff.
Minimum or developmental credential pathway:
• High school diploma or GED.
• Child Development Associate credential, or ability to obtain the applicable CDA within the period established by the program after employment.
• If assigned across mixed Early Head Start and Head Start classrooms, more than one age-specific CDA credential may be required.
Long-Term Substitute Teacher
Candidates considered for a full-time Long-Term Substitute Teacher position must be prepared to provide sustained classroom coverage and perform broader instructional, assessment, documentation, family-engagement, and classroom-management responsibilities.
The position may plan and implement developmentally and linguistically appropriate curriculum, maintain classroom records, conduct or assist with screenings and assessments, support children with identified needs, communicate with families, and supervise classroom activities and volunteers.
Minimum or developmental credential pathway:
• High school diploma or GED.
• Infant/Toddler Child Development Associate credential, or ability to complete the credential within the period required by the program after employment.
• Ability to obtain and maintain First Aid and CPR certifications.
Support Services Specialist
Candidates considered for a full-time Support Services Specialist position will primarily support center cleanliness, sanitation, food service, grounds, supplies, facility upkeep, classroom operations, and event setup. The position may also assist with classroom supervision when needed.
Minimum or developmental credential pathway:
• High school diploma or GED.
• At least one year of related work experience.
• Food Handler Certificate, or ability to obtain it within 30 days of employment.
• Child Development Associate credential, a state-awarded certificate meeting or exceeding CDA requirements, or enrollment at onboarding in an approved CDA credential program to be completed within 18 months of hire.
Substitute Teacher
Candidates considered for a part-time, as-needed Substitute Teacher position will provide classroom coverage when scheduled or contacted based on program staffing requirements. The position assists with the daily educational program, supervision, safety, assessments, meal service, classroom cleanliness, field trips, and other assigned classroom functions.
Minimum qualifications:
• High school diploma or GED.
• Ability to obtain and maintain CPR and First Aid training or certification as required.
• Reliable transportation and availability to accept intermittent assignments.
• Ability to work effectively with children and families, including individuals with limited English proficiency.
Employment Requirements
Depending on the position and assignment, candidates may be required to:
• Successfully complete a criminal background check.
• Complete and pass a health examination.
• Provide documentation confirming employment eligibility.
• Possess a valid driver’s license.
• Successfully complete a driving-history review.
• Maintain reliable transportation.
• Obtain and maintain CPR and First Aid certifications.
• Obtain and maintain a Food Handler Certificate.
• Obtain or complete an applicable Child Development Associate credential.
• Complete all required pre-service, orientation, licensing, Head Start, safety, and annual training requirements.
Physical and Environmental Requirements
Depending on the assigned position, the employee must be able to:
• Frequently stand, walk, bend, stoop, squat, kneel, and sit on the floor.
• Lift and carry children, supplies, equipment, furniture, or other materials weighing up to 60 pounds.
• Participate in indoor and outdoor classroom activities and physical play.
• Work in environments with moderate to loud noise.
• Perform cleaning, meal-service, sanitation, classroom-support, and light facility-support activities.
• Work around cleaning products, food products, outdoor conditions, and common workplace or child-care hazards.
• Work in environments where exposure to communicable illnesses may occur.
• Travel between assigned centers or other work locations when required.
• Work occasional evenings or weekends for meetings, family activities, conferences, special events, home visits, or field trips when applicable to the assigned position.
Scheduling and Placement Notice
Submission of an application does not represent an application for one guaranteed or immediately available vacancy. Applications may be reviewed for current or anticipated openings across multiple program locations.
Candidates may be contacted when an opportunity becomes available that aligns with their:
• Education and credentials
• Early-childhood or related experience
• Preferred employment classification
• Schedule and assignment availability
• Ability to meet position-specific physical requirements
• Interest in classroom, food-service, sanitation, facilities, or general center-support work
If you like to work with people that believe they can make a difference in the world, this is the company for you!
EEO Statement
In accordance with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other applicable federal and state laws (e.g., the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), it is our policy to provide equal employment opportunity and treat all employees equally regardless of race, religion, national origin, color, sex, or any other classification made unlawful or prohibited by federal, state and/or local laws, such as age, citizenship status, veteran or military status, or disability. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including hiring, promotion, demotion, compensation, training, working conditions, transfer, job assignments, benefits, layoff, and termination.
Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.
