Educare Lead Teacher - Preschool

Primary Role: The Lead Teacher is responsible for the implementation and coordination of the comprehensive education program in the classroom. The Lead Teacher ensures that the classroom activities and environment are developmentally appropriate and reflect the philosophy and curriculum of Head Start, the Educare Learning Network and Clover. The Lead Teacher ensures that the individual needs of the children are met as mandated by federal, state and local standards. 

Duties and Responsibilities:

Supervision

• Supervise the Assistant Teacher and Classroom Aide in the classroom.
• Supervisory responsibilities including:
• Complete and execute performance appraisals with the Education Supervisors 
• Conduct team and individual reflective supervision meetings.

Administration

• Develop and maintain confidential educational information for each child.
• Facilitate and document team meetings.
• Ensure all required program documentation is completed accurately and submitted in a timely manner.
• Monitor and ensure that daily attendance and meal participation reports are completed.
• Ensure all confidential information is protected.

Child Development

• Observe, assess and document each child’s health, skills, behavior, growth and development.
• Provide opportunities for the children to develop positive self-images and experience success.
• Ensure the development of individualized educational strength plan for each child.
• Actively participate in Family/Child Reviews.
• Identify any developmental concerns regarding the children and follow agency protocol.
• In conjunction with the Education Supervisors, the Lead Teacher will coordinate team participation in family staffings and other meetings as required.

Curriculum

• Plan and implement developmentally appropriate classroom activities to promote the social, emotional, physical and cognitive development of each child. Use of Educare’s Focus Teaching Cycle Planning tool and data protocols. 
• Develop lesson plans with goals, objectives, activities and outcomes for children that integrate health, nutrition, mental health, disabilities and parent involvement into the plans.
• In collaboration with the Education Supervisors implement and help assess the program’s educational plan. 
• Work with evaluation team to integrate assessment results into curriculum and lesson planning.

Classroom Environment

• Establish and maintain a classroom environment which includes positive guidance techniques that meets state and local licensing regulations, Head Start Program Performance Standards and the Educare Learning Network’s philosophy and curriculum. 
• Ensure that all children are under appropriate supervision at all times.
• Develop and maintain an attractive, clean, safe, engaging and learning-rich classroom environment that encourages children’s independence and self-selection of activities.

Parent Involvement

• Schedule and ensure completion of at least two Parent/Staff conferences for each child.
• Schedule, conduct and ensure the completion of two home visits per program year for each child.
• Encourage and provide opportunities for parent participation in the program.
• Provide examples and ideas for educational activities for parent/child participation at home.
• Develop effective partnerships with families.

Other

• Attend all required meetings and trainings, including supervisory trainings. 
• Performs other duties as assigned within the scope of the job description.
• Follow all mandates of Head Start regulations, state and local licensing and the Educare Learning Network’s philosophy and curriculum.
• Input classroom data into appropriate information systems.

Required Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of and ability to implement early childhood curriculum and developmentally appropriate practice for the specific age group (0-3 or 3-5) and be able to remain abreast if early childhood development and pedagogy. 
• Knowledge of and ability to implement Head Start Performance Standards and state and local licensing requirements.
• Demonstrated leadership abilities and ability to implement reflective supervision.
• Ability to work as a cooperative and supportive team member.
• Ability to communicate and work with diverse families and professionals.
• Ability and willingness to work in a program located in a high-risk, low-income community.
• Ability to exercise discretion in handling confidential information and materials.
• Intermediate knowledge of computer applications, word-processing software in a Windows environment and ability to learn and master other computer technology /software as needed. 
• Ability to communicate and respond in a manner that consistently demonstrates respect and concern. 

Essential Job Functions:

• Must be able to physically interact with children, including talk, hear, sit, stand, walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and lift and or move items of up to 40 pounds.
• Must have excellent command of the English language and grammar, both verbal and written.
• Must be able to manually operate and use a computer and other office equipment.

Educational Requirement and Experience:

Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education (ECE), Child Development (CD), or related field with a minimum of 24 credits in ECE or CD, and two years’ experience in relevant early childhood group setting required.

Early Head Start (Infant/Toddler): In addition to the education requirement, a minimum of 2 years’ experience working with preschool children aged 0 to 3.

Head Start (Preschool): In addition to the education requirement, a minimum of 2 years’ experience working with preschool children aged 3 to 5.