OPT Head Start Teacher Jobs
Head Start Teacher jobs are available to F-1 OPT students with degrees in early childhood education, child development, or a related field. Most positions qualify as STEM-adjacent through Child Development Associate credentials, and many federal Head Start grantees have experience hiring international candidates on work authorization.
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Get Access To All JobsPOSITION DESCRIPTION
Position Title: Head Start Assistant Teacher
Program: Head Start /Early Head Start
General Purpose:
This position will assist in planning and implementing age-appropriate curriculum. Encourage self-esteem and independence for the social, emotional, cognitive, and physical needs of each child. Ensure that health, safety, and nutritional education is integrated into the overall curriculum planning. Responsible for the care, supervision, and safety of the center children, keeping classroom and equipment clean, neat, and orderly. The Assistant Teacher will serve as a team member.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Plan and completes assignments in support of daily classroom program and activities under the guidance of the Teacher.
- Provide instruction and care for children.
- Assist Teacher in writing the daily and weekly lesson plans.
- Ensure a proper level of available, safe classroom equipment and supplies.
- Participate in recruiting parent volunteers and provide support to volunteers working in the classroom.
- Provide assistance in writing required reports and completing various forms.
- Assist with arranging field trips, home visits and ordering supplies and materials.
- Attend and participate in staff and parent meetings and in training and professional development sessions.
- Responsible for the program operations in the absence of the teacher.
- Implement program consistent with Head Start Performance Standards and NAEYC criteria.
- Implements program in a manner consistent with CREC's mission, vision, code of ethical conduct, policies and procedures.
- Creates, fosters and maintains a positive culture and climate across the program and supports the mission and vision of CREC.
- Perform other related duties as required.
Qualifications
- Associate's degree in Early Childhood, CT Early Childhood Certificate, current CDA (Child Development Associate), and/or 12 credits in Early Childhood. Equivalent work experience and/or training may be considered at CREC's discretion.
- Experience working with Head Start or similar early childhood program preferred.
- Working knowledge of Creative Curriculum, CT Early Learning and Development Standards, CT Preschool Assessment Framework, LEP, NAEYC Portfolio, Head Start, and OEC Regulations a plus.
- Knowledgeable in the appropriate application of behavior management techniques for children.
- Ability to perform rigorous physical tasks and to care for very active young children. Ability to stand for most of the day, bend, stand up, run, jump suddenly to respond to children needs or during activities.
- Ability to lift/carry children up to 50 pounds.
Statute 19a-79-4a of the CT licensing standards states "A designated head teacher shall submit to the department written verification of being twenty (20) years of age or older", and "A second program staff person who works under the supervision of the head teacher shall be eighteen (18) years of age or older".
Position Type:
CREC Early Childhood Education
Date Posted:
9/22/2026
Location:
Various
Closing Date:
10/16/2026
To access the job description and salary range please click https://www.crec.org/careers/jobs.php.
POSITION DESCRIPTION
Position Title: Head Start Assistant Teacher
Program: Head Start /Early Head Start
General Purpose:
This position will assist in planning and implementing age-appropriate curriculum. Encourage self-esteem and independence for the social, emotional, cognitive, and physical needs of each child. Ensure that health, safety, and nutritional education is integrated into the overall curriculum planning. Responsible for the care, supervision, and safety of the center children, keeping classroom and equipment clean, neat, and orderly. The Assistant Teacher will serve as a team member.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Plan and completes assignments in support of daily classroom program and activities under the guidance of the Teacher.
- Provide instruction and care for children.
- Assist Teacher in writing the daily and weekly lesson plans.
- Ensure a proper level of available, safe classroom equipment and supplies.
- Participate in recruiting parent volunteers and provide support to volunteers working in the classroom.
- Provide assistance in writing required reports and completing various forms.
- Assist with arranging field trips, home visits and ordering supplies and materials.
- Attend and participate in staff and parent meetings and in training and professional development sessions.
- Responsible for the program operations in the absence of the teacher.
- Implement program consistent with Head Start Performance Standards and NAEYC criteria.
- Implements program in a manner consistent with CREC's mission, vision, code of ethical conduct, policies and procedures.
- Creates, fosters and maintains a positive culture and climate across the program and supports the mission and vision of CREC.
- Perform other related duties as required.
Qualifications
- Associate's degree in Early Childhood, CT Early Childhood Certificate, current CDA (Child Development Associate), and/or 12 credits in Early Childhood. Equivalent work experience and/or training may be considered at CREC's discretion.
- Experience working with Head Start or similar early childhood program preferred.
- Working knowledge of Creative Curriculum, CT Early Learning and Development Standards, CT Preschool Assessment Framework, LEP, NAEYC Portfolio, Head Start, and OEC Regulations a plus.
- Knowledgeable in the appropriate application of behavior management techniques for children.
- Ability to perform rigorous physical tasks and to care for very active young children. Ability to stand for most of the day, bend, stand up, run, jump suddenly to respond to children needs or during activities.
- Ability to lift/carry children up to 50 pounds.
Statute 19a-79-4a of the CT licensing standards states "A designated head teacher shall submit to the department written verification of being twenty (20) years of age or older", and "A second program staff person who works under the supervision of the head teacher shall be eighteen (18) years of age or older".
Position Type:
CREC Early Childhood Education
Date Posted:
9/22/2026
Location:
Various
Closing Date:
10/16/2026
To access the job description and salary range please click https://www.crec.org/careers/jobs.php.
See all 43+ OPT Head Start Teacher Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Head Start Teacher
Target federal Head Start grantees directly
Federal Head Start grantees receive public funding and often have HR infrastructure familiar with work authorization. Search for programs administered by community action agencies or school districts, which are more likely to have processed OPT paperwork before.
Clarify your OPT timeline upfront
Head Start hiring cycles run on school-year timelines, typically spring for fall starts. Make sure your OPT authorization covers the start date and, if applicable, explain your STEM OPT extension eligibility to give employers confidence in your availability.
Highlight your Child Development Associate credential
A CDA credential signals competency to Head Start employers and satisfies federal staffing requirements. If you hold one, lead with it in applications. If not, enrolling before or during your OPT period demonstrates initiative and strengthens your candidacy.
Emphasize bilingual skills as a hiring advantage
Head Start programs serve diverse, often low-income communities where bilingual teachers are in high demand. If you speak Spanish, French, Haitian Creole, or another language common in the program's service area, feature that skill prominently in your application.
Address OPT proactively in your cover letter
Many Head Start hiring managers are unfamiliar with OPT. A brief, confident sentence explaining your authorization period and renewal eligibility removes uncertainty. Framing it as a solved problem rather than a question reduces friction in the hiring process.
Focus on programs with 50 or more staff
Larger Head Start programs are more likely to have dedicated HR departments familiar with employment verification requirements. Smaller single-site programs may be less equipped to process work authorization paperwork, making larger grantees a more practical starting point.
Head Start Teacher OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can F-1 OPT students work as Head Start Teachers?
Yes. Head Start Teacher roles qualify under OPT as long as your degree is directly related to the position, typically in early childhood education, child development, or a related field. Your EAD card is the only work authorization document the employer needs to verify. You can browse open roles on Migrate Mate.
Do Head Start programs sponsor H-1B visas after OPT?
Some do, but it depends on the grantee. Larger Head Start programs operated by school districts or community action agencies are more likely to have experience with H-1B visa sponsorship than small nonprofit operators. It's worth asking about long-term sponsorship intentions during the interview process, before accepting an offer.
Does a Head Start Teacher role qualify for STEM OPT extension?
Not on its own. Head Start Teacher is not a STEM-designated role under the standard STEM OPT CIP code list. However, if your degree was in a STEM-classified field such as cognitive science, psychology with a quantitative focus, or child development with a STEM designation, your degree field determines eligibility, not the job title itself.
What documentation does a Head Start employer need to hire me on OPT?
Your employer needs your Employment Authorization Document (EAD card) showing your OPT authorization period, your passport, and your F-1 visa documents including your I-20. Head Start programs are federally funded and subject to strict I-9 verification, so having these documents organized and ready to present on your first day avoids delays.
How early should I start applying for Head Start Teacher jobs on OPT?
Head Start programs typically hire two to four months before a program year begins, usually in late summer for fall starts. You should begin applying at least 90 days before your intended start date. Because OPT applications take up to 90 days to process, plan your USCIS filing timeline before you even start the job search.