Lead Teacher (Children's Center)

Our Why: To Support Everyone’s Right to Thrive

Job Title: Lead Teacher (Children’s Center)

Salary: $25.00 per hour

Status: Non-Exempt, Hourly, Full-Time

Reports to: Director of Community Initiatives  

Supervises: Assistant Teacher and Substitute Teachers  

Schedule: Monday – Friday 31.5 hours, Tuesdays are half days working 9am-12:30pm (This October hours will increase to Monday – Friday 9am-5pm, 35 hours per week)

Function: The Children’s Center Lead Teacher manages the Children’s Center at the Orange County Family Court in compliance with all NYS Office of Court Administration Children’s Center Program agreements and requirements. The Lead Teacher provides a safe and creative curriculum for children while their families attend court business and offers consultation to families for resources within the community. The Lead Teacher is responsible for supervising the Assistant and Substitute Teachers. The position enthusiastically supports, practices, and communicates the agency’s Mission and Statement of Values.

Position Requirements:

• Bachelor’s in early childcare, education, or social work with coursework in child development and a minimum of 1 year of experience working with children OR
• Associate’s in early childcare/education and a minimum of 3 years of experience working with children OR
• NYS Certificate in childcare and a minimum of 4 years of experience working with children.
• The successful candidate ideally will have experience in children’s programming for mixed ages, crisis management, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and community resources.
• Commitment to cultural responsiveness and trauma-informed practices.
• An equivalent combination of training and experience may be considered. 

Benefits:

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer match up to 5%.
• Generous paid vacation, holiday, sick and personal time package (2 weeks’ vacation in first year, 13 paid holidays per year, 12 sick days per year and 4 personal days per year).
• Access to Family Services’ Compassionate Leave Program where employees can donate/receive unused time off.
• Group term life and long-term disability insurance.
• Supplemental life insurance & accidental death and dismemberment coverage (AD&D).
• Supplemental insurance through Aflac.
• Employee assistance program (EAP).
• Pet insurance.

Our Mission:

Family Services brings people together to find the support they need, improving their lives and communities, and building a stronger safer Hudson Valley.

Our Values:

Compassion – Extending empathy and understanding to others.

Integrity – Being honest and dependable.

Hope – Believing in the strength of the human spirit and heart, to emerge and thrive when faced with a challenge.

Diversity – Promoting a vision of community comprised of wide-ranging assets.

Respect – Treating all individuals with dignity and without judgement.

Community – Recognizing and reinforcing the importance of our world as being comprised of people of differing strengths and perspectives.

Justice – Promoting social and economic equity and fairness.

Quality – Aspiring for excellence in every aspect of our work.

Position Responsibilities:

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Assistant Teacher and Substitute Teachers.
• Volunteers and interns, as applicable.  
• Provide supervision, direction, and guidance to staff working in the Children’s Center so that children and families receive timely, appropriate services.

Program Administration

• Responsible for the direct care and safety of the children left in the Children’s Center.
• Implements and maintains the health and safety protocol/procedures and maintains visible instructive printouts of these procedures.
• Trains, supervises, and evaluates Assistant Teacher, volunteers, and interns and Substitute Teachers.
• Will assure the Center is in compliance with all program safety and confidentiality guidelines.
• Create and maintain staffing schedules and arrange staffing overage (as needed and with support of Coordinator).
• Preparing required intakes and reports.
• Prepares and submits monthly reports to appropriate entities.
• Secures the intake paperwork in proper location.
• Maintains statistical records necessary for reports and research.
• Planning, development and evaluation of program activities.
• Designs and carries out curriculum and activities based on the needs and development of children in Center at any given time.
• Develops and implements monthly/seasonal themes and constructive activities in a long-range plan.
• Distributing referral and resource information to caregivers based on their and their children’s needs.
• Remains informed on current local resources and services.
• Assesses the needs of the caregiver and will respond to them through referrals to an appropriate agency/program.
• Document service connections and referrals for reporting purposes.
• Providing appropriate, creative, supportive interactions with the children in the center in group and individual activities.
• Develop creative “in-class” programs based on age and present teachable moments.
• Mentoring and coaching volunteers and interns on agency paperwork protocols.

Community/Partner Liaison

• As a representative of the Agency, share our values, knowledge, and skills with other organizations, community groups, regulatory bodies, and key stakeholders. Maintain good relationships with stakeholders and partners to advocate for clients and those working in the field of human services.
• Participate in program outreach to the community and expand service reach by researching community organizations and providing community outreach through presentations.

General Responsibilities

• Participate in agency-wide and agency-appointed committees to facilitate agency program initiatives and services to the community.
• Provide leadership to program staff by example, by knowledge and practice of professional skills, relationships, and standards.
• Completes all work and reporting functions in a timely fashion.
• Communicates regularly and effectively with Family Services staff and Courthouse personnel.
• Successfully moves into problem-solving mode when challenges or concerns arise and translates strategic thinking into action.
• Demonstrates solid interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships, motivate and manage a team, and gain the confidence and credibility of key internal and external stakeholders.
• Responds supportively to changes in programs and policies and taking a broad view of one’s position by assuming additional responsibilities when the need arises.
• Other Duties as assigned.

Skills and Abilities:

• Skillset in working with children: Creativity, Behavioral Management, Patience, Empathy, Enthusiasm, Adaptability.
• Computer literacy.  
• Organizational skills and time management.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and problem-solving skills.
• Sound judgement.
• A demonstrated ability to build and maintain positive relationships with all levels of program and administrative staff.

#INDCP

Work Environment:

Majority of time will be spent at the Children’s Center at the Ulster County Family Court, working with children and families who are under stress and dealing with difficult situations, and occasionally on program sites, in the community, and travel to offsite meetings and events.

Family Services, Inc. complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact [email protected].

Family Services is an equal opportunity employer. We follow federal, state, and local laws prohibiting discrimination in hiring and employment.

Must be authorized to work in the United States without work sponsorship.