Lead Preschool Teacher (PEL)

Position SummaryLead Teachers plan and implement learning experiences that advance children's intellectual, emotional, social, and physical development within a safe, healthy learning environment. They encourage the involvement of the families of the children in the program and support the development of relationships between children and their families.

Duties & Responsibilities:Interact With ChildrenUtilize appropriate language, interactions, and positive discipline.Model positive behavior.Instruct and supervise children in classroom activities.Implement age-appropriate activities that support the Head Start standards, the NAEYC standards, and the Creative Curriculum.Implement and model family-style eating during meal times.Continuously monitor children to ensure safety at all times and report child abuse and neglect when necessary.

Assess Children:Assess children on a regular basis.Take pictures and maintain anecdotal notes, written observations, and other approved forms of documentation for each child.Administer ESI-R screening, NRS, Creative Curriculum, Ages and Stages Questionnaire, Ages and Stages SE Questionnaire.

Curriculum Preparation:Utilize the research library, research, plan, and develop age-appropriate activities for lesson plans.Incorporate required activities into the lesson plan that supports children's development.Prepare activities that enhance the lesson plans.Coordinate field trips with the Education Coordinator.

Communicate With Parents:Maintain open communication with parents by scheduling and conducting parent/teacher conferences and home visits.Help resolve issues or concerns raised by parents as a parent advocate.Inform parents about the daily classroom routine, expectations, policies, field trips, and volunteer opportunities.Communicate with parents about incidents observed and/or recorded on-site regarding their child.Obtain all required classroom parental signatures, such as on all incident reports and field trip permission slips.

Documentation:Design and complete documentation panels for the classrooms and hallways.Complete all necessary paperwork for classroom activities, including meal count sheets, attendance, screenings, parent/teacher conferences, and home visits in a timely manner.Maintain up-to-date and accurate education folders, including complete incident reports and permission slips.Maintain accurate and up-to-date portfolios.Maintain classroom supply lists and inventory.Complete all assessment paperwork, such as Creative Curriculum checklist, and ESIR screenings, according to specified timelines.Family reviews and transition documentation.

Supervision:Supervise assistant teachers, teacher aides, and/or volunteers.Delegate duties as necessary and provide constant feedback to facilitate professional growth.Process timesheets and vacation requests.Contribute to the assistant teacher's evaluation.

Administration:Work closely with the Site Director, Head Start Manager, and other content area specialists.Conduct and participate in team meetings. Communicate and share ideas and concerns with the team, Site Director, Education Coordinator, and other management team members.Actively participate in agency committee meetings (e.g., health advisory committee, advocacy, etc.) as an advocate for children, parents, and staff.Participate in various meetings, including management, teaching team, center, committee, parent, parent policy, family reviews, city/state, agency, and board meetings.Participate in staff In-Services.Engage in continuing education and professional development activities, such as trainings, workshops, and classes, to meet required qualifications.

Classroom Maintenance:Maintain a clean and organized learning environment.Sanitize all surfaces, including classroom toys and equipment.Maintain a quality room arrangement in compliance with curriculum standards.Routinely check classroom equipment and materials to ensure they are in good repair.

Other Duties As Assigned

Job Requirements:Education and/or Experience: Must have a Type 04 Certification, Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education or Elementary Education from an accredited college or university, including required field service, and a Registered Professional Educator License (PEL) with early childhood endorsement. Alternatively, a Bachelor's Degree with an alternative certification program.

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to satisfactorily perform each essential duty. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.Ability to maintain confidentiality.Excellent oral and written communication and presentational skills.Demonstrated capability to interface and maintain effective relationships with administration, staff, consultants, regulators, and founders in a team-oriented environment.Capacity to assume responsibility for own professional development.Detail-oriented, logical, and methodological approach to problem-solving.Ability to plan and schedule the work of others.Flexible, with the ability to work in a highly demanding, stressful environment.Proficiency using word-processing systems.Ability to cooperate successfully as a member of a team.Ability to communicate effectively with others, including giving and receiving feedback on the quality of services.Meet any specific content area requirements.

Language Skills:Ability to read and speak English proficiently.Bilingual-Spanish preferred.