Head Start Lead Teacher

Position Purpose

Maintain a high quality early childhood classroom environment with attention to health and safety prevention measures; curriculum and assessment strategies focused on school readiness; and strength-based family engagement that promotes parents as the child’s first teacher. Work collaboratively with other classroom staff to develop and implement daily plans for children’s school readiness that involves culturally responsive, integrated service delivery of child development, disabilities, and mental health that supports learning environments to: a) enhance children’s cognitive, social, and emotional development and b) promote children’s growth in language, literacy, mathematics, science, social and emotional development, creative arts, physical development, and approaches to learning.

Essential Job Responsibilities: Performance Indicators

The Learning Environment & School Readiness

1. Design daily lessons and individualized activities that connect to early learning
standards, reinforce developmentally appropriate practices, and promote
learning across all domains of development.

2. Work collaboratively with coworkers in the classroom’s day-to-day operations to
plan and implement developmentally appropriate practices, activities, and
lessons that meet children’s needs, interests, and stage of development.

3. Maintain individual child portfolios that contain ongoing work samples that
documents each child’s progress and skill development.

4. Conduct developmental screenings and daily ongoing assessment to determine
each child’s needs and utilize results to create differentiated learning plans to
support each child’s individual school readiness skill attainment.

5. Model and plan for experiences that reinforce positive discipline practices in the
classroom setting.

6. Implement curriculum to fidelity and conduct objective ongoing observations of
children’s development.

7. Create an organized, safe, classroom environment that assures the health and
safety of all students.

8. Be knowledgeable of and consistently demonstrate understanding of the
program’s policies & procedures.

Family Engagement

1. Establish a positive relationship with each child’s family.

2. Work collaboratively with families to develop an ongoing system of
communication through home visits, conferences, and daily interactions to share
information about each child’s progress and development.

3. Include families in planning and implementing family engagement activities and
volunteer opportunities.

4. Encourage families to be advocates through their participation in parent
committee meetings, providing curriculum input, and by becoming members of
the program’s governing councils.

5. Recognize and promote the importance of parents as a child’s first teacher.

Community Networking

1. Coordinate with local agencies, community service organizations, and
educational providers and partners.

2. Provide information on the First Start Partnerships for Children and Families
program to the community.

3. Be a representative of First Start Partnerships for Children and Families’ vision
and mission while working in the communities.

4. Be a representative of NAEYC’s code of ethical conduct.

Staff Supervision and Development

1. Monitor the performance, attendance, certifications, required documents and
timesheets of support teaching staff. As applicable, provide direct supervision to
Assistant Teachers, CSS, and Itinerant Teachers.

2. Provide skill development and mentoring to staff progressing in their position by
performing on-the-job technical assistance and mentoring of specific skills.

3. Communicate areas of performance improvement to staff and promote training
that reflects the individual needs of staff members and/or the team as a whole.

4. Document and review areas of strength and areas of growth with other classroom
staff on a consistent basis, and work collaboratively with Program Coordinator to
utilize Performance Improvement Plans when warranted. Ensure documentation
is forwarded to Human Resources.

5. Conduct probationary and annual performance evaluations based on quantifiable
and objective criteria, utilizing agency forms and checklists designed for
evaluations.

6. Ensure support teaching staff progress towards and maintain educational goals and requirements for their position.

7. Provide training and in-classroom mentoring of classroom volunteers.

Communication & Professional Development

1. Participate in staff meetings, center activities, staff development and in-service as
scheduled.

2. Keep informed of current knowledge in the field of Early Childhood Education.

3. Demonstrate integrity, professionalism and confidentiality on a daily basis.

4. Maintain professional development requirements and credentials required for
the position.

Minimum Requirements

• HEAD START LEAD TEACHERS: Associate’s Degree or higher in Early

Childhood Education, Child Development or a closely related field is required.

• One year teaching experience in an early childhood setting, with some

supervisory experience preferred.

• Strong knowledge of theories and practices of Early Childhood Education/Development typically gained via experience and or education.
• Experience in implementing curriculum, performing assessments, and developing differentiated learning plans.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Valid driver’s license/proof of auto insurance/required.
• Within 30 days of employment must be Pediatric CPR & First Aid certified.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to build positive, professional relationships with diverse populations.
• Sustained concentration and ability to handle multiple tasks often

simultaneously.

• Significant diagnostic and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to handle stressful and sensitive situations in a professional manner.
• Ability to interpret and implement complex policies and regulations.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a classroom team.
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries and confidentiality.
• Ability to exercise tact and discretion in all employee interactions.
• Strong organization and time management skills, ability to meet deadlines.

WHY JOIN FIRST START PARTNERSHIPS?

• Uplifting mission-driven work culture
• Growth and professional development opportunities
• Great benefits package: health, dental, and vision insurance, company-paid life insurance and short-term disability, retirement benefits, Personal Time Off (PTO), and paid holidays
• Opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of children and families within your own community!

First Start Partnerships for Children and Families is an EEO Employer.

The job description is intended to provide an overview of the requirements of the position. As such, it is not necessarily all?inclusive, and the job may require other essential and/or non?essential functions, duties or responsibilities not listed herein. Management, at its sole discretion, reserves the right to change, alter, and/or
otherwise modify this job description at anytime. Nothing in this job description is intended to create a contract of employment of any type or kind. Employment at First Start Partnerships for Children and Families strictly on an at-will basis.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $18.75 - $22.51 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Education:

• Associate (Preferred)

Experience:

• classroom/teaching: 2 years (Preferred)

Work Location: One location