Head Start Floater Teacher

Posting Date

Application Deadline

Pay Range

Job Type

Department

About the Position

The Head Start Floater Teacher is a collaborative Maricopa County Early Education Division (EED) member. The Head Start Floater Teacher promotes active learning in the preschool classroom by implementing developmentally appropriate, individualized experiences. They will assist in creating a safe and nurturing environment in which 3-year-old to 5-year-old children can enhance their skills in language and literacy, cognitive development, approaches to learning, physical development, social-emotional development, and development of age-appropriate social and self-help skills. This position will support any Head Start classroom as needed and report to various worksites throughout their assigned area as requested by the supervisor.

About the Early Education Division
The Early Education Division is federally funded to administer center-based Head Start and Early Head Start early care and education along with community resources and referrals to support economically disadvantaged children to be ready for school and families to achieve self-sufficiency. Currently, classrooms are operated through a mixed service delivery model of full-year, part-year, community and school-based sites; operated directly by Maricopa County and through contracted Child Care Partnerships.

About the Department
The Maricopa County Human Services Department (HSD) builds resiliency in the community and promotes the well-being of County residents experiencing adversity through a variety of programs and services to help people and families thrive. These opportunities include early childhood education, housing, homeownership, independent living services for seniors and adults with disabilities, career development for job seekers with barriers to employment, crisis rental and utility assistance, and support for people experiencing homelessness. HSD is committed to delivering innovative and comprehensive services in a collaborative approach that preserves dignity, promotes respect, and facilitates social and economic mobility.

In 2025, the Human Services Department was the proud recipient of 23 Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo), highlighting the Department's commitment to providing support for low-income and at-risk communities. Maricopa County Human Services was honored for a wide variety of programs showcasing their valuable work, including Regional Solutions to Homelessness in Rural and Underserved Communities, Pathway to Rapid Reemployment, Tonopah Fire Station Improvements, Refugee Relocation Assistance Program, Early Education Division's EVIT Expanded Partnership, and several other initiatives.

Join our team and unlock your potential!

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
• Child care benefits, including access to our on-site center Maricopa County Kids Club, dedicated to serving Maricopa County families exclusively
• Paid vacation, sick time, and parental leave
• Extensive wellness program, including healthcare premium discounts
• Maricopa County participates in the Arizona State Retirement System. This defined retirement benefit requires a 12% monthly contribution rate and includes a 100% employer match on Day 1
• Learn more at Work With Us | Maricopa County, AZ

We Require

• Two years of experience teaching in a licensed childcare or pre-k setting
• High School Diploma/GED
• An Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Education or a closely related field may substitute for up to 1 year of professional experience

We Also Value

• Bachelor's degree in early childhood education, Child Development or equivalent college degree which includes 18 credits in early childhood education and/or child development
• One year of experience teaching in a licensed childcare or pre-k setting
• Bilingual in English/Spanish
• Preference is given to current or former Early Head Start and Head Start parents
• Completion of supervised student teaching in an early childhood setting may substitute for the teaching experience requirement

Job Contributions

• Assists in implementing a responsive and evidence-based curriculum, classroom environment
• Utilizes developmentally appropriate practices that meet the needs and interests of children and Head Start Program Performance Standards
• Ensures compliance with all Federal, State, and Head Start regulations and licensing requirements and program policies and procedures
• Respects and supports the diverse cultural and family backgrounds, treating each child and parent as an individual. Respects, values 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
• Assists with recruitment and enrollment of children and families into the Maricopa County EED Program
• Assumes responsibility for the care and welfare of the classroom children and is responsible for supervising all children at all times to ensure their safety and well-being
• Ensures the classroom environment is safe, clean, orderly, and facilitates growth, development, and learning
• Assists in the preparation and maintenance of accurate records that evaluate ongoing observations of each child's growth and development while maintaining the confidentiality of child, family and program information
• Supports and promotes each child's physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and language development
• Assists in the completion of weekly observations on children to monitor and document children's developmental progress
• Assists in the completion of formal developmental assessments on children at least three times per year
• Supports the implementation of Individual Education Plans (IEP's) for children with disabilities & plans classroom experiences to support the IEP plan
• Assists with maintaining daily communication with parents and assists in conducting a minimum of two educational home visits and two parent/teacher conferences per family each program year
• Understands Early Education Division and Maricopa County policies and supports the philosophy of Maricopa County Human Services Department and the EED in the implementation of performance standards, as identified in division goals, program policies and procedures
• Assists with and/or completes family service follow-up, documentation, reports and evaluations as required by State or Federal regulations, State childcare licensing requirements and supervisors
• Assists in the planning of and participates in monthly parent committee meetings and promotes parent volunteer experiences in the classroom
• Assists in the planning of child transitions into Head Start and out of Head Start to kindergarten
• Complies with all Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) guidelines and CACFP record-keeping
• Administers First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), as required

Working Conditions

• Must possess or have the ability to obtain a valid Arizona driver's license by the time of hire
• Must secure a Level 1 Fingerprint Clearance Card through the Arizona Department of Public Safety
• Must complete a medical exam that includes screening for tuberculosis (TB)
• Must obtain a CPR, first aid, and food handler's certification within six weeks of hire
• Ability to read, write, and speak Spanish may be required for some positions
• Work is performed in various classroom, playground and office environments
• Requires travel to and from job-related locations during the course of a scheduled workday, subject to County policies regarding use of County vehicles and/or private vehicles used on County business.
• Requires the use of a personal vehicle to travel to and from children's homes, classrooms and other job-related locations
• Will be required to fill in as a substitute staff member at various program sites. Must be able to lift up to 40 pounds
• Must be able to stand, sit on the floor, and be indoors or outdoors for extended periods of time
• Possible exposure to bodily fluids and infectious disease. Head Start Floater Teacher positions follow a full-year schedule
• Positions that follow a full-year schedule are typically comprised of 2088 hours annually. Birth to Five site classrooms operate Monday through Friday

Selection Procedure

• Only the most qualified candidates will be considered

• Consideration will only be given to candidates who submit online applications

• Candidates will be contacted primarily through email and their Workday online application profile

• Must pass a pre-employment background and/or fingerprint investigation as required by statute or policy, including drug and alcohol testing requirements for positions designated as safety-sensitive

Maricopa County is an equal opportunity employer.

Apply Now!