Head Start Teacher Jobs for OPT Students
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 JobsINTRODUCTION
MAKE AN IMPACT. CHANGE LIVES. END POVERTY.
JOIN ARKANSAS EARLY LEARNING: BUILDING A STRONGER COMMUNITY BY EMPOWERING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WITH SKILLS ESSENTIAL TO THEIR SUCCESS.
At Arkansas Early Learning (AEL), we believe every child deserves an opportunity to succeed, no matter their circumstances. AEL was established to serve the most vulnerable children ages birth to five and their families throughout the State of Arkansas through Early Head Start and Head Start. We provide transformational learning programs to vulnerable children within a childcare setting. We offer FREE Infant, Toddler, and Pre-K educational childcare/daycare programs serving 21 counties with numerous centers across the state of Arkansas. AEL is more than just daycare! We are educators, even as early as 6 weeks old we are implementing an education curriculum. We also offer a variety of child and family support services in a loving, caring, and safe environment.
Being on our team as a Center Director, Teacher, Assistant Teacher or office personnel at Arkansas Early Learning means you are passionate about a career helping children and your community. You can make a difference every day in a child's life here. We are looking for people who share our purpose and mission, which is to build a stronger community by empowering children and families with skills essential to their success and to provide transformational learning programs to help children and families develop the skills essential to their social competency. Do you have the right purpose to help them unleash their full potential while unleashing your own?
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
NOW HIRING an Early Head Start Teacher:
The Early Head Start (EHS) Teacher will utilize the indoor and outdoor environments of the center to create rich learning opportunities that build on daily routines and support each child's individual development. Realizing that every word and action matters in early development, the EHS Teacher skillfully and intentionally creates a bond of care and attention, enabling infants and toddlers to learn and develop appropriately.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
Education and/or Experience:
- Infant/Toddler CDA or
- Bachelor's or Associates in Early Childhood Education
- Bachelor's or Associates in any field and willing to obtain Emphasis in Infant and Toddler Development certificate. This is a 1-2 week training course we provide.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
WHY JOIN OUR TEAM?
Arkansas Early Learning offers a set full-time schedule with weekends off, 33 PAID days off the first year, competitive pay with paid training and a benefits package that includes health, vision, dental, life and more. Are you interested in making a difference in the development and growth of the youth in your community? APPLY NOW!!
ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION
Arkansas Early Learning, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established to serve the needs of children and families throughout the State of Arkansas.
EOE STATEMENT
Arkansas Early Learning is an equal employment opportunity employer and selects the best-matched individual for the job, based upon job-related qualifications, regardless of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under state, federal or local law.
INTRODUCTION
MAKE AN IMPACT. CHANGE LIVES. END POVERTY.
JOIN ARKANSAS EARLY LEARNING: BUILDING A STRONGER COMMUNITY BY EMPOWERING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WITH SKILLS ESSENTIAL TO THEIR SUCCESS.
At Arkansas Early Learning (AEL), we believe every child deserves an opportunity to succeed, no matter their circumstances. AEL was established to serve the most vulnerable children ages birth to five and their families throughout the State of Arkansas through Early Head Start and Head Start. We provide transformational learning programs to vulnerable children within a childcare setting. We offer FREE Infant, Toddler, and Pre-K educational childcare/daycare programs serving 21 counties with numerous centers across the state of Arkansas. AEL is more than just daycare! We are educators, even as early as 6 weeks old we are implementing an education curriculum. We also offer a variety of child and family support services in a loving, caring, and safe environment.
Being on our team as a Center Director, Teacher, Assistant Teacher or office personnel at Arkansas Early Learning means you are passionate about a career helping children and your community. You can make a difference every day in a child's life here. We are looking for people who share our purpose and mission, which is to build a stronger community by empowering children and families with skills essential to their success and to provide transformational learning programs to help children and families develop the skills essential to their social competency. Do you have the right purpose to help them unleash their full potential while unleashing your own?
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
NOW HIRING an Early Head Start Teacher:
The Early Head Start (EHS) Teacher will utilize the indoor and outdoor environments of the center to create rich learning opportunities that build on daily routines and support each child's individual development. Realizing that every word and action matters in early development, the EHS Teacher skillfully and intentionally creates a bond of care and attention, enabling infants and toddlers to learn and develop appropriately.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
Education and/or Experience:
- Infant/Toddler CDA or
- Bachelor's or Associates in Early Childhood Education
- Bachelor's or Associates in any field and willing to obtain Emphasis in Infant and Toddler Development certificate. This is a 1-2 week training course we provide.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
WHY JOIN OUR TEAM?
Arkansas Early Learning offers a set full-time schedule with weekends off, 33 PAID days off the first year, competitive pay with paid training and a benefits package that includes health, vision, dental, life and more. Are you interested in making a difference in the development and growth of the youth in your community? APPLY NOW!!
ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION
Arkansas Early Learning, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established to serve the needs of children and families throughout the State of Arkansas.
EOE STATEMENT
Arkansas Early Learning is an equal employment opportunity employer and selects the best-matched individual for the job, based upon job-related qualifications, regardless of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under state, federal or local law.
How to Get Visa 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.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently 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 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.
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