Mentor Teacher

Join a mission-driven organization dedicated to providing high-quality early childhood education and family support services in Orange and Sullivan Counties.

The Early Head Start Mentor Teacher supports new staff during their first 18 months in the program to promote retention, professional growth, and success. Reporting to the Early Head Start Education Manager, the Mentor Teacher provides direct classroom support, models best practices in infant and toddler care and education, and offers guidance on curriculum, assessment, and family engagement. This role also provides classroom coverage during staff absences and contributes to building a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

Planning

• Collaborate with the Early Head Start Education Manager to plan individualized mentoring and support plans for new staff.

• Assist in planning classroom environments and daily schedules that align with Creative Curriculum for Infants, Toddlers, and Twos.

• Identify resources, materials, and strategies to support staff in meeting program goals and child outcomes.

Program Implementation

• Model effective teaching strategies, caregiving routines, and positive guidance techniques for new staff.

• Provide hands-on classroom support to ensure fidelity to the Creative Curriculum and alignment with the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework (ELOF).

• Assist with lesson planning, activity setup, and classroom organization.

• Ensure all practices support the inclusion of children with disabilities, dual language learners, and diverse cultural backgrounds.

• Act as a role model when providing classroom coverage.

Family Partnerships

• Support staff in building positive and respectful relationships with families.

• Model effective communication with families during arrival, dismissal, and family engagement events.

• Assist new staff in implementing family engagement tools such as Ready Rosie and Talking Points.

Communication and Service Coordination

• Collaborate with education, health, disabilities, and family services staff to support comprehensive services for children.

• Communicate progress and needs of mentees to the Early Head Start Education Manager.

• Facilitate regular check-ins with new staff to address questions, challenges, and successes.

Record Keeping and Reporting

• Assist staff in using Teaching Strategies GOLD and Go Engage to document child progress and family interactions.

• Maintain documentation of work and progress with staff and submit required documentation to the Education Manager.

On-going Monitoring and Self-Assessment

• Provide feedback to the Education Manager on mentee progress and training needs.

• Participate in classroom observations to assess the environment, teacher-child interactions, health and safety compliance, and curriculum implementation and contribute to self-assessment processes.

Human Resources and Supervision

• Serve as a peer mentor, not a supervisor, providing guidance without engaging in formal evaluations.

• Assist in orienting new staff to program procedures, safety protocols, and curriculum implementation.

Program Governance and Leadership

• Participate in professional development and staff meetings as required.

• Recruit and supervise volunteers in assigned classrooms, ensuring in-kind documentation is accurate and submitted monthly.

Additional Expectations

• Maintain confidentiality of child, family, and staff information at all times in accordance with program policies and regulations.

• Travel between program sites and occasional overnight travel for training and conferences may be required.

• Perform other duties as assigned to support program success and compliance with HSPPS and NYS OCFS regulations.

Head Start Employee Expectations

• Uphold the shared values of the center.

• Cooperate with co-workers, provide assistance, information or other support as it is needed to ensure quality service to children and families and to build and maintain positive staff relationships.

• Actively participate in Head Start community, including staff meetings, mandated trainings, committee meetings, and other program-wide functions as needed, including some evening activities.

• Recognize that your job description is service area specific and that a successful employee upholds the overall employment standards outlined in the Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual and specifically, but not limited to: confidentiality, child abuse reporting, attendance and dependability, appropriate dress, customer service and support to all families, prudent use of program resources, and promoting and maintaining safe work environment.

• Demonstrate integrity and responsibility by always doing one’s personal best, being honest and ethical, following through on commitments.

• Maintain a commitment to professionalism, continue own professional development and manage performance by taking responsibility for one’s own performance, setting goals, eliciting feedback, tracking progress and addressing performance issues promptly. Attend local, state and regional initiatives to represent the center and to develop professionally.

• Exhibit flexibility by showing an openness to different and new ways of doing things, and changing strategy when an initial strategy is unsuccessful.

• Show initiative by identifying what needs to be done and doing it before being asked or before the situation requires it.

• Familiarize self with Head Start Performance Standards and any State regulations pertaining to Head Start.

• Stay up to date on changing community needs, services, and agency resources to support families in attaining self-sufficiency and assuring program resources are up to date and relevant.

Qualifications

• Infant and Toddler CDA and 3 years of early childhood teaching experience required.

• AAS in Early Childhood Education with coursework equivalent to an infant toddler CDA and 3 or more years of infant toddler teaching experience preferred.

• Knowledge of Head Start Program Performance Standards and New York State OCFS childcare regulations.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, data analysis abilities, and cross-functional collaboration.

• Experience with service delivery for diverse populations, including low-income families, children with disabilities, and English-language learners.

• Proficiency in relevant software systems for data management and reporting.

• Ability to work in a professional manner both independently and with others in a team environment.

• Strong organizational skills.

• Ability to perform assigned duties in a safe and efficient manner.

• Able to tolerate repeated lifting of up to 40 pounds, stand, sit, and bend frequently.

• Able to tolerate daily sitting working at computer and standing to operate various office equipment.

• Able to tolerate daily repetitive hand and wrist motions, via production/copying, keyboarding, phone work.

• Able to comprehend assignments, determine and prioritize workload, multi-task, problem solve and meet deadlines.

• Handle frequent in-person, virtual and phone contact with staff and public, often involving confidential information.

• Pass physical examination, background check, and fingerprinting screen.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
Regional Economic Community Action Program, Inc. (RECAP) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and respectful workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.