Early Childhood Lead Teacher 

Employment Description  

 

	Standard Preschool
Minimal Requirements	Certified Development Associate, and 1 year experience; or 2 years experience  Considered Highly Qualified  High School Diploma or GED	Certified Development Associate  Considered Highly Qualified  High School Diploma or GED
Preferred Requirements	Associates in Early Childhood education; Bachelors in early childhood education; and certification from the Arizona Department of Education in Early Childhood Education.

 

 

Essential Skills 

1. Effective written and oral communication skills. 
2. Ability to interact with a variety of persons in a positive and solution based attitude. 
3. Effective teaching skills to lead a positive learning environment that supports student growth. 
4. Ability to work with a team to develop an overall progressive and positive learning program. 
5. Willingness to personally grow and learn for consistent professional development. 

 

Responsibilities 

1. Develops weekly plans, and implements age appropriate curriculum (lesson plan) to nurture and stimulate all domains of children’s development in their care. 
2. Provides a developmentally appropriate classroom environment that reflects the children’s learning and growth. 
3. Perform on-going developmental evaluations of children as required by funding sources and develop lesson plans and follow curriculum implementation that addresses the individual needs of each child. 
4. On an on-going basis, plan, evaluate and improve the physical environment in the classroom to create opportunities to meet the changing needs of the developing child. 
5. Provide responsive care to all children by adapting daily care giving routines and plans to the interests and needs of the individual child and the group. 
6. Prepare developmental progress reports as needed.
7. Demonstrate cultural competency and respect for the child's background by incorporating the cultural, linguistic and familial values and beliefs into the childcare program and lesson plans. 
8. Exchange information and serve as a member of a multi-disciplinary intervention/prevention team.
9. Completes child transition and orientation of the classroom with parents.
10. Maintain ongoing, open communication with parents/ caregivers.
11. Provide a classroom environment that encourages parent participation.
12. Ensure that each family receives an opportunity to build strong relationships and experience clear communication with teaching staff. 
13. Plan periodical parent conferences to discuss children's developmental progress, needs and interests.
14. Liaison with children's families to ensure smooth transition from home to child care setting and transitions from classroom to classroom when needed. 
15. Assist families with children's transitions from toddler to preschool and from preschool to kindergarten.
16. Maintain accurate, complete and timely client and agency records; Completes daily meal and attendance records. 
17. Maintains up to date emergency forms, curriculum plans, individual child development profile and other records as needed. 
18. Completes and reports any symptoms of child abuse to supervisor and/or child abuse hotline.
19. Completes daily health checks regarding hygiene, safety, and overall well being of the children.Completes DRDP and ITERS/ ECERS with Associate Teacher and prepare developmental progress reports as needed. 
20. Assures a healthy, safe, clean and developmentally appropriate environment for children.
21. Assist with functioning and monitoring of nutrition and food service.
22. Assist with the supervision of staff and volunteers for child care setting.
23. Conducts supervision on a weekly basis with Associate Teachers and Assistant Teachers.
24. Ensures that the Associate Teacher and Assistant Teachers are kept updated in all matters concerning the classroom and program, i.e. Lead Teacher Meetings, lesson plans, policies & procedures, training received. 
25. Completes yearly performance evaluations.
26. Provides functional training and guidance to staff, interns, substitutes and volunteers assigned to the classroom. 
27. Reports all staffing and classroom concerns to supervisor in a timely manner.
28. Reports family changes in schedules and excessive absences to administration in a timely manner.
29. Participate in on-going in-service and educational development opportunities provided by the Agency.
30. Participate in ongoing development and evaluation of center’s goals and objectives.
31. In accordance with our "team" philosophy, the person filling this position may occasionally be required to carry out or assist with other tasks in addition to the duties listed on this job description. 
32. Staff must believe in and act in accordance with both the Agency's and the program's mission statements.

 

Compensation

State certified teachers will be placed on the certified salary schedule. 

Other early childhood teachers will be placed on the Early Childhood Lead Teacher Salary schedule. 

 

Evaluation and Supervision 

Classroom assistants are evaluated by the lead teacher and/or the site director. 

 

Special Work Conditions 

Special hours may be assigned to meet program needs.  Early Head Start Teachers are required to be 12 month employees; standard preschool is ten or twelve month dependent on program needs.