This position is eligible for the Sunbeam Teacher Investment Program
POSITION OVERVIEW
The Lead Teacher provides daily care to children in a Head Start / Early Head Start (HS/EHS) classroom using appropriate child guidance techniques and building responsive relationships with classroom teachers, staff, children and families. The Lead Teacher ensures that all regulations and mandates for federal, state, and local licensing are met and works with a team of classroom teachers and family members to achieve positive outcomes for children of all abilities.
All employees and volunteers are expected to be sensitive to our clients’ cultural and socioeconomic characteristics, reflect Sunbeam Family Services core values and to perform at Sunbeam’s standards of excellence at all times.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Promote, encourage and display examples of leadership for the agency in accordance with the agency mission.
- Support and individualize the physical, social-emotional, and cognitive development of each child in the classroom.
- Demonstrate capacity for providing developmentally sensitive, evidence based, hope centered and trauma informed services and leadership.
- Serve as a leader of the Early Childhood Services (ECS) program and effective role model for developmentally-appropriate practice, for the values expected within the program, and for the mission of the organization.
- Perform the functions of this position with a strong understanding of the Head Start Performance Standards.
- Ensure compliance with Head Start Program Performance Standards, federal and state regulation, and DHS Child Care Licensing requirements.
- Plan and provide a comprehensive program, including implementation of EHS/HS curriculum and Head Start /Early Head Start Program Performance Standards
- Maintain record keeping and reporting systems to ensure accurate information, with timely completion and follow-up
- Plan and implement ECS developmentally-appropriate curriculum and assessment for the classroom. Order supplies and materials as needed for effective service delivery.
- Oversee supervision and management of children in the classroom in order to ensure a safe, clean, and healthy learning environment.
- Conduct home visits and parent-teacher conferences in accordance with Head Start Program Performance standards to share each child’s progress with parents.
- Work cooperatively with other staff assigned to classroom as a team to involve all parents with the children and to encourage the active participation of all parents in the program.
- Observe children to detect signs of illness, injury, emotional disturbances, learning disorders, speech problems, or other special needs and reports those signs immediately to supervisor for required or necessary follow-up.
- Work with supervisor to ensure child-staff ratio is maintained at all times.
- Encourage and model language expansion, extended learning, and problem solving strategies throughout the day.
- Participate in and attend all staff meetings, trainings, and certification courses as required.
- Travel locally as required in the performance of responsibilities.
- Perform other appropriate and related responsibilities as assigned by supervisor or member of Executive Team.
Qualifications & Environment
JOB QUALIFICATIONS
Minimally Required
Preferred
Education/ Certification (REQUIRED)
Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education (ECE), Child Development (CD), or Early Childhood Special Education (EC SE) (transcripts required)
- OR -
Bachelor’s degree or higher in any discipline with at least 36 college credit hours in ECE, CD, or EC SE (transcripts required)
- OR -
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in elementary education, family studies, human development, nursing, psychology, social work, nursing, or psychology (transcripts required) AND at least 12 college credit hours in ECE, CD, EC SE or current certification as CDA® (Infant/Toddler) ANDone (1) year experience teaching children
Master’s Degree in ECE or a related field
Experience
Preferred Experience-Three (3) years of prerequisite related work experience
Effective experience in child care as well as training and supervising teacher assistants
Skills
Knowledge
Abilities
Caring and compassionate attitude when interacting with and caring for children and families.
Knowledge and understanding of state and local childcare licensing requirements.
Excellent command of English language and grammar, both verbal and written
Intermediate knowledge of Microsoft applications and the ability to master other software as needed
Good organizational and time management skills.
Must work independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
Exercise independent judgment.
Communicate in a professional manner, demonstrating dignity, respect for our internal, external, and community members.
Process, protect and exercise discretion in handling confidential information and materials.
Sustained concentration to detail and accuracy, along with the ability to prioritize workload.
Willingness to work with high-risk, low-income communities.
Must be able to travel and work some evenings and weekends as required by the job.
Local travel required and must have valid Oklahoma driver’s license and insurance as required by the position.
Knowledge and understanding of Head Start/Early Head Start
Knowledge and understanding of Child Plus
Knowledge and understanding of NAEYC
Advanced computer database and Microsoft Office software skills
Bilingual Spanish/English speaking – ability to interact with children and families from multilingual homes.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Physical Demands
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to frequently communicate with staff and others, and must be able to exchange accurate information when doing so. The employee must be able to interact closely and safely with small children in various positions. Must be able to communicate verbally with children, able to perform tasks such as feeding children, changing diapers, lifting children from floor or other surfaces. Must be able to endure remaining in stationary position for extended periods of time (up to 50% of workday). Occasionally must be able to move or lift up to 50 pounds at a time. Must be able to detect, discern, distinguish, observe, inspect and compare.
Work Environment
The employee will work in a classroom environment, may work in close quarters with other staff and small children. The noise level in the work environment varies from moderate to loud; frequent chaotic, characteristic to working with children ages 0-5 years. Employee must expect exposure to strong odors such as soiled diapers and clothing, and poor hygiene. Employee may come into contact with childhood diseases and blood on occasion.
Other
The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, or abilities. The qualifications, physical demands, and work environment described herein are representative of those an employee will encounter and must meet to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. These statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this position. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel or candidate and may be subject to change at any time. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions.
Sunbeam Family Services is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We are committed to fair and equal in all its employment practices for persons without regard to race, ethnicity, color, creed, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, religion, disability or degree thereof, national origin, domestic/marital status, political affiliation or opinion, veteran status, HIV status, AIDS status, genetic information, and any characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: From $21.50 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Ability to Commute:
- Oklahoma City, OK 73106 (Required)
Ability to Relocate:
- Oklahoma City, OK 73106: Relocate before starting work (Required)
Work Location: In person
