How to Become a Head Start Teacher

If you're looking for a career in early childhood education, one job you may come across is a Head Start teacher. Head Start teachers work in classrooms, caring for and educating children. Although many aspects of a Head Start teacher's job are similar to other early childhood jobs, there are some key differences. We're breaking down what it means to be a Head Start Teacher, and what the qualifications are.

What is Head Start?

Head Start and Early Head Start are federally funded childcare and preschool programs that serve low-income children and their families. A pregnant person can enroll in Early Head Start and get connected with community resources, healthcare, and the support of a Family Support Coordinator.

Once their baby is born, a family can choose from home-based services from a home visitor or center-based services. A child remains in Early Head Start through infancy and toddlerhood and transitions to Head Start once they turn three. 

Head Start provides early education, health services, and support for low-income preschoolers and their families. In addition, head Start can help connect families with housing, employment, and other needed resources.

What does a Head Start Teacher do?

Head Start teachers work in early childhood classrooms, similar to other childcare or preschool jobs, but there are some things that make the program unique. Since Head Start is a federally funded program, there are a lot of requirements when it comes to curriculum and documentation. 

Head Start has its own learning standards that teachers use to guide their planning. Teachers must also keep detailed observations and anecdotal records about each child's development and progress. 

Teachers in Head Start programs receive regular professional development to keep them up to date on all the latest updates from the Office of Head Start and topics relevant to their work with children and families.

Head Start teachers work closely with families, even conducting home visits, to ensure the children in their care have what they need to be successful. Other aspects of a Head Start teacher's day include:

• Creating and implementing lesson plans
• Keeping the classroom clean and organized
• Communicating with families and conducting home visits and parent-teacher conferences
• Supervising and guiding assistant teachers, teacher aides, and parent volunteers
• Communicating with each family's Family Support Coordinator if issues arise 
• Documenting each child's progress and updating lesson plans to meet the needs of children who need more support. 

Head Start teacher skills and qualifications

Since children in Head Start may be experiencing food insecurity, housing issues, or other stressors— teachers need to be compassionate and supportive while constantly checking in with themselves about their biases or opinions. As a Head Start teacher, you may not always agree with a parent's choices or approve of a family's living situation, but you are there to support, not judge. 

According to the Head Start standards, teachers must "emphasize nurturing and responsive practices, interactions, and environments that foster trust and emotional security; are communication and language rich; promote critical thinking and problem-solving; social, emotional, behavioral, and language development; provide supportive feedback for learning; motivate continued effort; and support all children's engagement in learning experiences and activities."

All early childhood jobs require a lot of energy and a big heart, but Head Start takes it to another level. Teachers need to see the child as a whole and individualize their approach to meet each child where they are. Qualities of a good Head Start teacher include:

• Empathetic
• Energetic
• Organized & detail-oriented
• Flexible
• Creative
• Warm and nurturing
• Reflective

How can you become a Head Start teacher?

Depending on where you live, more experience and education may be required to become a Head Start or Early Head Start teacher than other childcare and preschool programs. Most teachers have at least an associate's degree, but a bachelor's or Master's degree may be required for specific age groups. In addition, if you're applying for a UPK position within a Head Start program, you may be required to be a licensed teacher in your state. 

You can search on Winnie for Head Start programs hiring near you or contact local programs directly. Often, even if a program isn't hiring, they may be looking for volunteers, which is a great way to gain experience and get your foot in the door. 

Working with children and families as a Head Start teacher is a gratifying career with a lot of opportunity for growth. There are Manager positions and coaching opportunities built into the Head Start model that teachers can move into with time and experience.