Join the City of Chattanooga Team
Chattanooga, a vibrant and growing community of over 190,000 residents within a metropolitan area of nearly 600,000 is known as the "Scenic City" for a reason. Nestled along the Tennessee River and surrounded by the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, we are a hub of outdoor adventure and innovation. Home to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) and Chattanooga State Community College, our city blends a rich industrial history with a tech-forward future—famously powered by the nation’s first community-wide "Gig" fiber-optic network. The City of Chattanooga was also recently designated as a "National Park City,” the first of its kind in the United States.
Our OrganizationAs a City, we are powered by a dedicated workforce of approximately 2,600 employees committed to excellence in public service and making Chattanooga the best community in the country. Our team ensures our city thrives through a wide range of municipal services, including:
The City of Chattanooga’s workforce is the heartbeat of our community. We don't just offer jobs; we offer careers with purpose: making Chattanooga the best city in America. We are committed to being the premier employer of choice in Southeast Tennessee by providing:
In Chattanooga, "work-life balance" means you can finish your shift and be at a trailhead or on the water before the sun sets.
Our mission is to work together to build a safe, vibrant, and sustainable city for all Chattanoogans. To do that, it takes a team of skilled and passionate individuals. So, if you’d like to call Chattanooga home – or maybe you already do! – and want to further your career through meaningful work that makes a true impact where you live, we’d love to talk to you.
Chattanooga Head Start classifies this a hard-to-fill position; thus, a hiring incentive of $500 will be issued to the hired candidate after they have completed their probationary period.
Salary:
With Infant/Toddler CDA – $20.00 / hour
With Technical Certificate – $21.00 / hour
With AA in ECE - $23.00 / hour
With BS in ECE - $25.00/ hour
With MA -$27.00/hour
FLSA Status: This is a non-exempt position.
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30 am-3:30 pm
This position works 240 days per year, 7.5 hours per day.
Department: Early Learning
Location: This position will be assigned to one of the City's Head Start centers: Avondale (Chattanooga), Cedar Hill (Chattanooga), James A Henry (Chattanooga), or Daisy Head Start (Soddy Daisy), but may be required to work another location depending upon program needs.
SUMMARY:
Chattanooga Head Start is a grant-funded program, and is subject to reapplication every 5 years.
The Early Head Start Teacher will provide effective and nurturing teacher-child interactions, plan and implement learning experiences that ensure effective curriculum implementation and use of assessments, and promote children’s progress across the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework: Ages Birth to Five and applicable state early learning and development standards, including for children with disabilities and dual language learners, as appropriate.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
The following duties are NOT intended to serve as a comprehensive list of all duties performed by all employees in this classification, only a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Participate in Agency training events, center staff meetings, and other training events as required;
Implement curricula in the classroom with fidelity.
Perform the functions of this position with a working knowledge of Head Start Performance Standards, State of Tennessee Child Care Licensing Rules and Regulations, and Agency policies and procedures.
Plan and implement learning experiences that promote all developmental areas, including improving the readiness of children for school by developing their literacy and phonemic, print, numeric awareness, and language-including English as a second language if applicable, with a thorough knowledge and application of SVHS School Readiness Goals.
Guide and facilitate activities of the children, including; daily activities and selecting and arranging equipment and materials in the classroom.
Eat with and assist children in development of social and self-help skills, and sound nutritional practices.
Guide children’s acquisition of social skills.
Work with the co-Teacher and/or Aides to use and develop their skills and abilities in planning and carrying out classroom activities.
Cooperate with other staff and classroom groups to maintain the smooth functioning of the center, which at times may require changes to meet the needs of the children.
Maintain a safe and healthy classroom environment, following all Head Start and TN State Standards. Assure that classroom equipment, furniture, materials, and supplies are properly maintained, cleaned, and stored.
Use the playground as an extension of the classroom; ensure that the playground is safe.
Ensure that the daily health and environment checklist is complete.
Assist in implementing, individualizing, and monitoring children’s IEP (Individualized Education Plan) or IFSP (Individualized Family Service Plan), if applicable, documenting progress and seeking clarification for any aspects that are not well understood.
Provide clear behavioral expectations and use effective methods to prevent and redirect misbehavior.
Complete and submit required forms and records in a timely and accurate fashion;
Actively assist in transition activities.
Effectively communicate with families concerning classroom calendar, parent meetings, and special events; Encourage parent participation within the program.
Actively participate in the development and implementation of the Professional Development Plan and performance review.
Ensure that documentation and files are complete, accurate, and confidentiality maintained.
Must meet regular attendance requirements.
Must be able to maintain good interpersonal relationships with staff, co-workers, managers, and citizens.
Must accomplish the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodations, in a timely manner.
Performs other duties as assigned.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
High School diploma or GED required
Any combination of equivalent experience and education to perform the essential functions of the position will be considered.
Infant Toddler CDA required or comparable credential required
Technical Certificate, AA-ECE, or BS-ECE from regionally accredited institution preferred
Spanish bilingual preferred
Experience working with young children in a group setting
LICENSING AND CERTIFICATIONS: None.
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:
Knowledge of:
Preschool child growth and development
ECE best practices
Classroom management
Importance of relationships and responsive caregiving
Child safety and supervision
Experience working with young children in a group setting
Experience working with culturally diverse staff and clients
Confidentiality and respecting the rights of children, families, and staff
Skills in:
Successful experience working in a team setting
Ability to work respectfully and cooperatively with a Teacher Assistant and Aide, assisting him/her in increasing knowledge and skills
Ability to present a positive image of the organization to members of the community
Ability to plan, organize, and implement position requirements
Experience successfully working with a culturally diverse staff and clients
Effective interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills
Proficient use of computer applications, including word processing, data-entry into web-based software applications, and email communication
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
Positions in this class are very active and typically require: walking, bending, kneeling, stooping, crouching, crawling, and climbing all day. This position is regularly required to talk and hear, and requires close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Smoking and tobacco use, including smokeless products and e-cigarettes, is prohibited on all Agency premises, vehicles, meeting places, and during home visits. Early Head Start staff are required to keep a change of clothing at the center if they smoke at home.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
MEDIUM WORK - Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
This position is classified as Medium Work in compliance with Head Start Program Performance Standards, which require staff to ensure the health and safety of children. This may include the direct supervision of children and/or the ability to respond promptly and effectively in the event of an emergency at a Head Start center.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:
This position is subject to pre-employment screenings, which include a background check, drug screening, lift test, TB screening questionnaire and/or TB skin test (as determined by initial results), complete physical examination, Hepatitis B titer, and fingerprinting. Ongoing requirements include a physical reexamination on an annual or bi-annual basis and fingerprint clearance every five years.
The City of Chattanooga, Tennessee is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.
JES 7/18/25