Lead Teacher - Two Year Old Classroom

Position: Early Education Center Lead Teacher

Qualifications:  

1. Education Level: Earned a high school diploma or higher.
2. Certification: Child Development Associate (CDA) OR one year of Proficiency in Child Development or Childcare (PCD) OR Two-year Associate Degree in Childcare/Education (ACC), OR 60 college credit hours and experience working in a program with young children and their families preferred.
3. Experience Desired: Minimum of 2 years of classroom instructing experience desired. Experience in a school district or educational institution is preferred.
4. Other Requirements: Possesses a good work attitude with a positive and pleasant disposition in relating to staff, students, and parents. Must successfully pass a background check that is satisfactory to the Board of Education.

General Summary:  The Early Education Center Lead Teacher is responsible for designing and implementing a comprehensive, developmentally appropriate curriculum for young children. This role involves creating a safe, nurturing, and stimulating learning environment that fosters children's cognitive, social, and emotional growth. The Lead Teacher will oversee classroom activities, manage daily routines, and guide a team of assistant teachers and volunteers. Strong communication and interpersonal skills are essential for building positive relationships with children, families, and staff. The Lead Teacher will also assess student progress, collaborate with parents, and engage in ongoing professional development to enhance teaching practices. This position plays a crucial role in shaping the educational experiences of young learners and promoting their overall development.

Performance Responsibilities:

1. Become informed concerning rules, policies, and regulations of the center and school district and follow them. Be responsible for the supervision of children at all times throughout the school day.
2. Understand and apply approved curriculum, instructional process, teaching and learning styles. Instructors must be willing to provide leadership, motivation, instruction, assessment and instructional strategies to the learning of all children. Daily lesson plans, curriculum objections, and emergency plans must be maintained and kept easily accessible. Student academic, behavioral, and social-emotional expectations are to be communicated to parents throughout the year.
3. Attend school sponsored and other professional meetings, read professional journals, and discuss areas of opportunities with other professionals in the field. Obtain all required continuing education training as required by Missouri Department of Health, Bureau  of Child Care licensing and/or Missouri Accreditation.
4. Continually seek to improve interpersonal relationships among staff members, children, parents, and members of the community. Supervise and provide relevant work assignments to assistant instructors, GTC Early Childhood Careers students, and A+ volunteers as appropriate. Demonstrate conduct representative of the center to establish and maintain a good relationship with the community.
5. Maintain all child files, inventory records, and child assessments data in accordance with the regulations of the district, state, and the Missouri Department of Health, Bureau of Child Care licensing. Handle all confidential information and material according to professional procedures.
6. Prepare any necessary reports or documents as required by the district, state, Department of Health, Bureau of Child Care licensing, and/or Missouri Accreditation.
7. Be responsible for the health and safety of all children under your care. Provide all safety procedures and ensure that all accident reports are properly complete as required by Missouri Department of Health, Bureau of Child Care licensing and/or Missouri Accreditation.
8. Maintain equipment, classroom, and playground in good condition checking regularly for any defects. Report all needed repairs to the center director.
9. Be punctual and responsible in attendance. Absences must be cleared through the center director and entered into Frontline within five business days.
10. Perform any other duties as assigned by the Principal/Assistant Principal.
11. At the request of the Superintendent or designee, shall assist in other duties as assigned

The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so employed. Responsibilities and duties assigned are at the discretion of the superintendent and direct supervisors.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS 

The physical requirements 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 of the position.

• The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, sit; use hands to handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• The employee may frequently lift and/or move materials and/or students which can weigh as much as 50 pounds. On occasions when lifting loads heavier than 50 pounds is required, it is expected that two or more people would be utilized to lift the load.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk, hear, and see.
• Specific vision requirements include the ability to see at close and far range with or without vision correction.
• Specific hearing requirements include the ability to hear within normal limits with or without the use of hearing aids.
• Fine hand manipulation (keyboarding, fine motor tasks).
• Capable of physical exertion to push, pull, bend, be on feet for long periods, walk short distances, and lift babies/young children.
• The employee may be required to travel to and work at multiple agency locations if necessary. Transportation time may be spent commuting between sites and assisting with student supervision and participation in school events and activities.
• The employee may have to work with some students who may display physically aggressive behavior, including but not limited to biting, kicking, punching and/or throwing objects.

Type of Position: Classified  (non-exempt)

Reports to:  Building Principal

Evaluated by:   Building Principal

Term of Service: 164 Days

The District is committed to providing equal opportunity in all areas of recruiting, hiring, employment, retention, and promotion. The District strictly prohibits any unlawful discrimination or harassment against any person because of race, color, religion, disability, age, sex, gender, national origin, or any other characteristic protected by law.  The District is an equal opportunity employer.