Head Teacher

Position Summary:

The Head Teacher I will provide a supportive, respectful, safe, and healthy environment for children enrolled in the YWCA Hartford Region Early Learning Center and plan and manage the delivery of age-appropriate programs and activities that foster the physical, emotional, intellectual, and interpersonal development of the children enrolled in the program. The Head Teacher will assist the Site Manager with supervision, training, and evaluation of assistant teachers and volunteers. 

Essential Functions of the Job:

Curriculum Delivery

• Plans and manages the delivery of age-appropriate programs and activities that foster the physical, emotional, and intellectual development of the children enrolled in the program;
• Implements all Support Plans and coaches and mentors support staff in implementing plans;
• Communicates curriculum objectives, models, and coaches support staff in the delivery of goals, and respectfully provides immediate feedback;
• Identifies children needing additional support and implements differentiated instruction;
• Ensures that the Site Manager is aware of program-related issues that may impact service quality, accreditation, licensing, child safety, health, and parent satisfaction;

Classroom Management

• Monitors all aspects of the program and service delivery to ensure staffing levels, facility equipment, and material used are fully compliant with the Office of Early Childhood (OEC), National Association for the Education of Youth and Children (NAEYC) accreditation criteria and requirements, health and safety standards, and Child Development Center (CDC) or School Readiness requirements where applicable;
• Utilizes the appropriate steps within the YWCA Hartford Region’s Positive Guidance Policy and works collaboratively with the support staff, Instructional Leader, and family to work through the appropriate process to support children with additional needs;
• Observes, assesses, and documents each child’s developmental progress in all core areas of learning in collaboration with support staff;
• Reports all child-related incidents and completes Incident Reports within 1 hour;

Coaching and Mentoring

• Identifies issues among staff in the classroom and implements appropriate interventions to maintain a safe and orderly environment; 
• Models a degree of professional decorum and dress appropriate to the program's mission and values to ensure achievement of the same by staff members; 
• Provides support staff with mentoring and coaching to implement developmentally appropriate lessons, activities, and environments;
• Facilitates effective ongoing communication between staff and parents in the resolution of issues or concerns;
• Provides performance feedback to staff within 48 hours, documenting and escalating ongoing concerns to the Site Manager immediately;
• Develops and maintains positive relationships with parents, students, staff, and the local community;

Compliance and Reporting

• Complies with and ensures that support staff is following all Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) procedures and documentation requirements;
• Follows OEC and YWCA Hartford Region’s protocols for reporting suspected child abuse and neglect;
• Responds to all medical situations and initiates appropriate intervention to ensure the health and safety of all children;
• Receives, secures, and dispenses prescription medication per defined procedures and physician directives;
• Oversees the daily utilization of the YWCA Hartford Region’s Name-to-Face Accountability and Ratio sheets to ensure proper accountability and safety of children; 
• Tracks, monitors, and maintains program and participant records per OEC and YWCA Hartford Region’s procedures, ensuring accurate completion, timely revision, and secure retention of program records;
• Reports and documents all work-related injuries to the Site Manager immediately;
• Remains current with trends, development, and best practices in the field of child care, early childhood education, and the Sanctuary Training Model; and
• Other duties as assigned.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYMENT STATEMENT

YWCA Hartford Region (YWCA Hartford Region), in recognition of its values and responsibility to its employees and the communities in which it operates, is committed to equality of opportunity. To this end, YWCA Hartford Region’s policy is to comply with the laws, regulations, and orders that provide for and impose obligations on employers with respect to the management of their equal employment opportunity programs. 

Accordingly, YWCA Hartford Region does not discriminate or permit discrimination against any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. YWCA Hartford Region Hartford Region, Inc. takes affirmative action to ensure that applicants with job-related qualifications are employed and that employees are treated when employed without regard to their race, color, religious creed, age, marital status, national origin, military status, veteran status, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, intellectual disability, mental disability or physical disability, including, but not limited to blindness, unless such disability prevents performance of the work involved. 

Education:

• Must meet the degree requirements as outlined by the OEC, or
• CDA certification and 12 credits in Early Learning, or has a plan in place to meet OEC requirements for Head Teacher; 

License or Certifications:

• Connecticut State Office of Early Childhood Head Teacher Certificate, and
• CPR/First Aid Certified or the ability to obtain certification within the first two months of employment;

Experience:

• Minimum one (1) year of work experience in an educational setting with children required;
• Demonstrated knowledge of curriculum planning;
• Strong knowledge of child development and psychology;
• Must be able to successfully pass both OEC and criminal background checks; 
• Physical required upon hire;
• Must have own transportation, valid driver's license, and proof of insurance;

Travel:

• Depending on enrollment, employees may be asked to provide support to other Early Learning Centers occasionally. 

Schedule:

• This is a full-time exempt position. Standard hours of operation are Monday–Friday, 6:45 am – 6:15 pm. The work schedule and hours will be defined by the Department Head or direct supervisor. Due to the nature of the work, some evening hours may be required.

Key Competencies:

• Seeks to cultivate and develop professional working relationships with key stakeholders, i.e., staff, volunteers, interns, board members, etc.;
• Demonstrated skill in understanding others;
• Engages in (or commits to) personal and professional development;
• Demonstrates a willingness to examine one’s assumptions and attitudes;
• Maintains productive work relationships while considering multiple perspectives;
• Demonstrates awareness of one’s and others’ life experiences and their relevance in the workplace;
• Experience resolving conflicts effectively; and
• Promotes a respectful work environment in which concerns are addressed effectively. 

Skills:

• Approachability: Listens; allows adequate time for interactions, creates a supportive communication environment;
• Assertiveness: Communicates directly and honestly, while demonstrating respect for others;
• Collaboration and Delegation: Enlists active participation from others. Matches assignments to skills and ability of the individual or to develop individual skill sets. Enlists the help of others to balance the workload and manage time;
• Composure: Responds to information in a self-controlled manner;
• Conflict Management: Identifies sources of conflict and methods of management, and chooses appropriate techniques to resolve issues; 
• Customer Focus: Builds effective relationships with customers, identifies customer expectations, tries to see issues from their point of view; and offers practical solutions to concerns;
• Emotional Intelligence: Recognizes and values the differences and uniqueness of others. Empathetically and respectfully accepts these differences and works cooperatively and sincerely to optimize the contributions of all individuals;
• Ethics and Integrity: Makes decisions and conducts oneself in a manner consistent with the organization's mission. Respects all individuals in the work environment and treats them as such. Demonstrates high personal standards of acceptance and openness to others; 
• Influencing: Presents information, ideas, and suggestions in a way that causes others to feel included and involved;
• Leading: Takes charge of a situation and inspires others to take action toward the accomplishment of a goal;
• Motivating Others: Recognizes others’ internal motivators and adapts approach to best connect with each individual; 
• Mission Focused: Must be a strong supporter of the organization’s mission and services offered;
• Organizing: Puts issues, work tasks, and paperwork in a logical order;
• Patience: Behaves in a manner that encourages and allows for interactive behavior from those less skilled, knowledgeable, or experienced;
• Performance Management: Appropriately uses the concepts of both positive motivation and consequences to improve performance to a preferred level;
• Personal Accountability: Accepts responsibility for own actions and embraces experiences as learning opportunities;
• Results-oriented: Directs behavior to emphasize the achievement of organizational goals and core values. Ability to meet multiple deadlines;
• Self-Development: Accepts responsibility for own continued education, learning, and growth;
• Team Building: Recognizes and builds on the strengths of others. Looks for ways to build positive relationships within the work team; 
• Trust and Respect: Offers respect to all in the work environment, adheres to high personal standards of acceptance, reliability, openness, and consistency of action with words; and
• Technical Skills: Possesses the knowledge and abilities necessary to perform the required job elements to establish standards.