JOB SUMMARY
A Head Start lead teacher plans and delivers curriculum to foster preschool children's social, emotional, and intellectual development, ensuring a safe and healthy classroom environment in compliance with Head Start standards. Key responsibilities include creating lesson plans, assessing child progress, maintaining records, engaging with parents and the community, and helping to supervise classroom assistants. The lead teacher serves as a mentor for the assistant teacher and acts as a crucial link between the program and the children's families.
ACCOUNTABILITIES
CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION
- Leads the teaching team through a collaborative process to develop and implement weekly lesson plans that promote growth in all developmental domains. While utilizing the approved curriculum, assessment and daily routine. Reviews lesson plans with the team during planning time and provides them to parents. Engages in individualized planning based upon children’s goals, needs as well as children’s interests.
- Promotes and supports children’s social, emotional and physical development consistent with the philosophy of Head Start, Conscious Discipline and other classroom management techniques. Establishes and maintains respectful and responsive interactions, even when challenging behaviors are present. Supports the development of adaptive skills and behavior management.
- Establishes a learning environment that values diversity and provides a variety of multi-cultural experiences. Demonstrates cultural competency and respect for each child’s background by incorporating the cultural and family backgrounds into the curriculum. Maintains a safe, healthy and positive learning environment for children.
ONGOING ASSESSMENT, REPORTING AND DOCUMENTATION
- Completes the DRDP (Desired Results Developmental Profile) three times per year on each child by collecting daily notes and observations as well as data that align with early learning outcomes including the Head Start Outcomes Framework. Develops a strategy and team approach to ensure the data collected is ongoing, objective and consistent. This requires the use of an iPad and other technology methods.
- Creates a classroom environment that aligns with CLASS (Classroom Assessment Scoring System). This includes creating a positive climate, engaging in meaningful interactions and promoting language and critical thinking skills.
- Maintains a safe and healthy classroom environment as required by Head Start Performance Standards. This includes effective supervision of children, utilizing C.A.S.E. when transitioning children from one location to another and maintaining the required classroom ratio. Monitors the arrival and departure of children and records attendance accurately and consistently. Communicates with teaching team regarding roles and responsibilities of the daily routine.
- Actively recruits families and community patrons for volunteer participation (In-kind). Develops and maintains supportive and professional relationships with families to enhance parent education, communication, involvement and advocacy. Provides educational guidance to families through two home visits and two parent teacher conferences per year, working with them to set individual goals for their child. Collaborate with parents and families to support their role as the child's primary teacher and foster positive parent-child interactions.
HEALTH, SAFETY AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOMENT
- Completes assigned trainings (minimum of 15 hours annually), participate in professional learning communities, completes paperwork and reporting requirements and meet deadlines set forth by leadership, education coordinator and MARC.
- Leads and models professionalism and teamwork within the teaching team, family advocates, leadership and management.
- Treats children, families and colleagues with professionalism and supports a positive work environment that aligns with the philosophy of Head Start and Conscious Discipline.
- Provide the Education Coordinator and Director with requests for appropriate materials, supplies and equipment as needed. Maintain inventory for classroom use.
- Utilize relevant software, programs and technology effectively in the performance of duties. Complete paperwork according to assigned timelines and follow code of conduct and confidentiality policies.
- Follow guidelines for reporting incidents of suspected abuse, neglect or contagious disease.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
- Degree in Early Childhood Education (Bachelor’s or Associate) or degree in related field with thirty (30) hours that qualify as early childhood.
- Experience working with young children and families
- Successful completion of required background check and submission of an initial physical and TB screening
- Excellent verbal, written and communication skills
- Good analytical skills, negotiation skills and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to always conduct oneself in a professional manner and to communicate effectively and appropriately with a variety of people from many cultures and diverse backgrounds
- Ability to keep accurate records and prepare reports
- Computer and other standard office/computer skills
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree in early childhood education
- Three (3) years successful experience working with pre-k children and their families
- Experience working in culturally diverse communities
- Experience working with Head Start programs
- Bilingual
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
This job requires that the employee be able to sit, stand, walk, speak, hear, use hands and fingers, bend, stoop, lift objects/children of at least 40 pounds. Use stairs, move quickly from one space to another; spend time outdoors in a variety of weather conditions according to licensing requirements.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $22.50 - $30.35 per hour
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
