Early Childhood Lead Teacher

TITLE: EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION LEAD TEACHER

BASIC FUNCTIONS: Responsible for all aspects of classroom management ensuring appropriate education, safety, hygiene and communication.

REPORTS TO: Director of Early Childhood Education

FLSA: Hourly

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

Early Childhood Education teachers enhance children’s physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development for children.  Teaching staff support parents in their role as primary caretakers and educators of their children and encourage their involvement in all aspects of the program.  *While supervised by the Program Manager, teachers are accountable to the Education Coordinator for programming aspects.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES:

General Expectations

• Maintain reliable attendance, arriving for work on time and requesting time off with ample notice.
• Be responsible in job duties.
• Be alert and calm in health and safety matters or tense situations.
• Maintain a positive attitude.
• Display flexibility with assignments and schedule.

Interaction with Children

• Display interactions that are warm and nurturing.
• Respect the dignity and basic rights of children.
• Interact at a developmentally appropriate level for the child.
• Use positive discipline techniques and reinforces positive behavior.
• Communicate with children at their eye level to the maximum extent possible.
• Use appropriate tone of voice and display warmth and affection for children.
• Maintain appropriate expectations and boundaries within the classroom.
• Encourage independence, self-help and decision-making.

Education & Classroom Management

• Provide care, supervision and protection for assigned children. 
• Maintain a safe environment conducive to children’s independence, growth and development.
• Plan, schedule and implement developmentally appropriate curriculum and daily program activities, in all developmental domains, appropriate for the level of assigned children.
• In collaboration with parents, complete developmental assessments and screening for all assigned children and develop individual goals.
• Maintain a portfolio for each child.
• Document children’s level of progress and complete all required forms and reports.
• Facilitate transitions in a manner that encourages learning opportunities and minimizes stress or waiting.
• Display flexibility and responsiveness to children.

Working with Parents and Families

• Develop and maintain relationships with family members.
• Be available and approachable for parents.
• Show respect for parents from diverse backgrounds.
• Communicate with parents through parent conferences, written correspondence, telephone and home visits to apprise them of their child’s progress, upcoming events, classroom activities, individual education plan changes, or other relevant information.
• Complete planning of curriculum, encouraging input from parents.
• Facilitate Parent/Teacher conferences with each parent/family a minimum of two times per year.

Working with Colleagues

• Strive to assume a fair share of work.
• Communicate directly and avoid gossip.
• Approach criticism with a learning attitude.
• Solve conflict independently.
• Share ideas and materials.
• Be friendly and respectful.

Professionalism and Growth

• Attend and participate in workshops and other meetings to acquire and disseminate information.
• Seek skill improvement and sets goals for personal and professional growth.
• Behave in a professional and ethical manner.

Other

• Maintain confidentiality at all times.
• Maintain attendance and meal records.
• Assure that health and safety policies are implemented with consistency.
• Complete and maintain all necessary documentation to demonstrate compliance with State licensing and other regulatory bodies.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education or closely related degree.
2. Shall be at least 18 years of age.
3. Ability to work effectively with diverse families.
4. Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
5. Must possess a desire to learn new skills.
6. Shall be physically able to work with young children including lifting, as needed.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and use hands to finger, handle, or feel.  The employee is required to stand and reach with hands and arms.  The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: 

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.

La Casa de Esperanza is an equal opportunities employer.