Mississippi State University
Job no:
510031
Position type:
Full-Time 12-Month
Department:
012102 - Human Sciences- Early Childhood
Location:
Harrison County
Categories:
Support Staff, Head Start Positions
Position Open Date:
Dec 9 2025
Position Function This position is responsible for a Head Start classroom of 3 to 5 year old children. Position works collaboratively with an assistant teacher, family members and other staff to achieve positive outcomes for children of all abilities.
Throughout its history, Mississippi State University-Extension (MSU-ES) has demonstrated a deep and abiding commitment to programs that directly impact young children and their families. In the past decade, MSU-ES has distinguished itself as Mississippi’s premier infrastructural support of high-quality early childhood education.
Area of Specialization MSU-Extension Head Start Programs - Harrison County
Anticipated Appointment Date January 2026.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Primary teacher for a classroom of 3 to 5 year-old children.
Demonstrates a warm, calm, and unhurried manner.
Serves as a role model for children and families.
Provides for the education, care, safety, and well‑being of all children in the group.
Met the children’s emotional, social, physical, and intellectual needs.
Plans and implements developmentally appropriate learning activities.
Maintains a cooperative relationship with children, co‑workers, and parents.
Demonstrates increasing understanding of child growth and development in working with children, in talking with parents, and in recording activities.
Attends staff meetings, reports problems of child or room management to the Center Director promptly.
Attends in-service training, keeps current on developments in field of child development.
Follows personnel policies of the MSU-ES Head Start Program and the University.
Stays up‑to‑date and adheres to MS Child Care Licensing Standards and Head Start Performance Standards.
Manages a safe, clean, and pleasant environment for young children.
Provides peer coaching to other teachers, assistant teachers, floaters, and substitute teachers.
Models exemplary classroom practices for other teachers especially those detailed in the Teacher Success Rubric and CLASS.
Assists in on‑boarding new staff.
Plans and facilitates PLCs under the guidance of the Center Director.
Provides individualized plans for each child in classroom to promote the development of each individual child.
May serve as bus monitor when needed.
Schedules home visits and parent‑teacher conferences as necessary and properly documents these meetings.
The teacher is responsible for a Head Start classroom of 3-5 years old children. S/he works collaboratively with an assistant teacher, family members and other staff to achieve positive outcomes for children of all abilities. The teacher’s role encompasses effective practice in the following as outlined in our Teacher Success Rubric (TSR):
CLASS teacher‑child interactions
Learning environment
Curriculum
Child assessment
Meeting all children’s needs
Working with families
Professional growth and collaboration
Performs any related duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications Education:
AA/AS in Early Childhood Education or related field.
Substitution:
An equivalent combination of related education and related experience may be considered for this position.
Licensures:
Valid driver’s license
Certification in CPR and First Aid – Will be required to obtain within the first nine (9) months of employment. Certification must be maintained.
Preferred Qualifications
BA/BS in Early Childhood Education, Child Development or related field, or state awarded preschool teacher certification with experience teaching preschool‑aged children, or BA/BS in related field with at least six college courses in Early Childhood Education plus experience teaching young children.
Experience teaching preschool children including group experience with children four years and younger.
Certification in CLASS
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Current understanding of MS Child Care Licensing requirements
Current understanding of Head Start Performance Standards
Able to anticipate the needs of children
Must be able to organize and execute daily activities
Works well with other staff
Intermediate computer literacy skills in email, Microsoft Office
Working Conditions and Physical Effort
Subject to background check and finger printing as required by the State Department of Health/Child Care Licensure Standards for staff.
A physical exam is required for this position.
Travel required locally or long-distance up to 10% of the time for work‑related meetings and other functions.
Able to lift a child weighing 40 pounds, 20 times a day if needed.
This position will be inside and outside supervising children as weather permits as well as monitoring.
Due to the primary work with young children, some exposure to communicable disease is likely.
Moderate to loud noise levels.
All applicants MUST apply online at www.jobs.msstate.edu to be considered for this position.
The following documents and information are required for application:
Cover Letter
Resume
Contact information for at least three professional references
Current unofficial transcript (with social security numbers removed prior to submission)
An official transcript will be required if selected for employment.
Screening Date Position is contingent upon continued availability of funding.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement Mississippi State University is an equal opportunity institution. Discrimination is prohibited in university employment, programs or activities based on race, color, ethnicity, sex, pregnancy, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, or any other status to the extent protected by applicable law. Questions about equal opportunity programs or compliance should be directed to the Office of Civil Rights Compliance, 231 Famous Maroon Band Street, P.O. 6044, Mississippi State, MS 39762, (662) 325-5839.
What do I do if I need an accommodation? In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with Mississippi State University, please contact the Department of Human Resources Management at tel: (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu.
If you have any questions regarding this policy, contact the Department of Human Resources Management at (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu. Upon request, sections of this job listing are available in large print, and readers are available to assist the visually impaired.
Advertised:
Dec 09 2025 Central Standard Time
Applications close:
Mississippi - Not located on main campus
#J-18808-Ljbffr
510031
Position type:
Full-Time 12-Month
Department:
012102 - Human Sciences- Early Childhood
Location:
Harrison County
Categories:
Support Staff, Head Start Positions
Position Open Date:
Dec 9 2025
Position Function This position is responsible for a Head Start classroom of 3 to 5 year old children. Position works collaboratively with an assistant teacher, family members and other staff to achieve positive outcomes for children of all abilities.
Throughout its history, Mississippi State University-Extension (MSU-ES) has demonstrated a deep and abiding commitment to programs that directly impact young children and their families. In the past decade, MSU-ES has distinguished itself as Mississippi’s premier infrastructural support of high-quality early childhood education.
Area of Specialization MSU-Extension Head Start Programs - Harrison County
Anticipated Appointment Date January 2026.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Primary teacher for a classroom of 3 to 5 year-old children.
Demonstrates a warm, calm, and unhurried manner.
Serves as a role model for children and families.
Provides for the education, care, safety, and well‑being of all children in the group.
Met the children’s emotional, social, physical, and intellectual needs.
Plans and implements developmentally appropriate learning activities.
Maintains a cooperative relationship with children, co‑workers, and parents.
Demonstrates increasing understanding of child growth and development in working with children, in talking with parents, and in recording activities.
Attends staff meetings, reports problems of child or room management to the Center Director promptly.
Attends in-service training, keeps current on developments in field of child development.
Follows personnel policies of the MSU-ES Head Start Program and the University.
Stays up‑to‑date and adheres to MS Child Care Licensing Standards and Head Start Performance Standards.
Manages a safe, clean, and pleasant environment for young children.
Provides peer coaching to other teachers, assistant teachers, floaters, and substitute teachers.
Models exemplary classroom practices for other teachers especially those detailed in the Teacher Success Rubric and CLASS.
Assists in on‑boarding new staff.
Plans and facilitates PLCs under the guidance of the Center Director.
Provides individualized plans for each child in classroom to promote the development of each individual child.
May serve as bus monitor when needed.
Schedules home visits and parent‑teacher conferences as necessary and properly documents these meetings.
The teacher is responsible for a Head Start classroom of 3-5 years old children. S/he works collaboratively with an assistant teacher, family members and other staff to achieve positive outcomes for children of all abilities. The teacher’s role encompasses effective practice in the following as outlined in our Teacher Success Rubric (TSR):
CLASS teacher‑child interactions
Learning environment
Curriculum
Child assessment
Meeting all children’s needs
Working with families
Professional growth and collaboration
Performs any related duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications Education:
AA/AS in Early Childhood Education or related field.
Substitution:
An equivalent combination of related education and related experience may be considered for this position.
Licensures:
Valid driver’s license
Certification in CPR and First Aid – Will be required to obtain within the first nine (9) months of employment. Certification must be maintained.
Preferred Qualifications
BA/BS in Early Childhood Education, Child Development or related field, or state awarded preschool teacher certification with experience teaching preschool‑aged children, or BA/BS in related field with at least six college courses in Early Childhood Education plus experience teaching young children.
Experience teaching preschool children including group experience with children four years and younger.
Certification in CLASS
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Current understanding of MS Child Care Licensing requirements
Current understanding of Head Start Performance Standards
Able to anticipate the needs of children
Must be able to organize and execute daily activities
Works well with other staff
Intermediate computer literacy skills in email, Microsoft Office
Working Conditions and Physical Effort
Subject to background check and finger printing as required by the State Department of Health/Child Care Licensure Standards for staff.
A physical exam is required for this position.
Travel required locally or long-distance up to 10% of the time for work‑related meetings and other functions.
Able to lift a child weighing 40 pounds, 20 times a day if needed.
This position will be inside and outside supervising children as weather permits as well as monitoring.
Due to the primary work with young children, some exposure to communicable disease is likely.
Moderate to loud noise levels.
All applicants MUST apply online at www.jobs.msstate.edu to be considered for this position.
The following documents and information are required for application:
Cover Letter
Resume
Contact information for at least three professional references
Current unofficial transcript (with social security numbers removed prior to submission)
An official transcript will be required if selected for employment.
Screening Date Position is contingent upon continued availability of funding.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement Mississippi State University is an equal opportunity institution. Discrimination is prohibited in university employment, programs or activities based on race, color, ethnicity, sex, pregnancy, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, or any other status to the extent protected by applicable law. Questions about equal opportunity programs or compliance should be directed to the Office of Civil Rights Compliance, 231 Famous Maroon Band Street, P.O. 6044, Mississippi State, MS 39762, (662) 325-5839.
What do I do if I need an accommodation? In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with Mississippi State University, please contact the Department of Human Resources Management at tel: (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu.
If you have any questions regarding this policy, contact the Department of Human Resources Management at (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu. Upon request, sections of this job listing are available in large print, and readers are available to assist the visually impaired.
Advertised:
Dec 09 2025 Central Standard Time
Applications close:
Mississippi - Not located on main campus
#J-18808-Ljbffr