Lead Teacher - Early Childhood

POSITION SUMMARY: The Lead Teacher for the Toddler Program is responsible for all aspects of the care and education for the children enrolled in his/her class. Responsibilities may include but are not limited to the following: physical caregiving, developmental assessments, following an age appropriate curricular plan, and facilitation of supportive relationships with director, co-workers, parents, and students. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• Must have a minimum of an Infant-Toddler Child Development Associate (CDA) credential or an equivalent credential that addresses comparable competencies; Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• One year of experience in an early childhood program serving infants and toddlers in a developmentally appropriate environment.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS/RESPONSIBILITIES: Responsibilities of this position will include but are not necessarily limited to the following: Early Childhood Programming:

• Ensure the safety of each child enrolled in the class whether in the classroom, on the playground, or in common areas.
• Accept and maintain responsibility on a daily basis for the ordered arrangement, appearance, décor, and cleanliness of the learning environment of the classroom.
• Develop and implement lesson activities that will support children in knowing, accepting and appreciating themselves as individuals, based on the Creative Curriculum model and Second Step.
• Make appropriate referrals based upon assessments, team planning sessions, and ongoing observations.
• Maintain accurate and efficient records pertaining to meal count, attendance, Online Work Sampling observations, Online ASQ screens and classroom volunteer hours.
• Coordinate and complete a minimum of 2 parent conferences per child and/or home visits.

Interaction with Children:

• Serve as a role model for the children in the areas of attitude, speech and actions on a daily basis;
• Treat each child with dignity and respect for his/her cultural background
• Encourage children’s development in the areas of building self-confidence, problem solving, and taking responsibility for their actions
• Interact with each child on a daily basis through circle time, centers, snacks, lunchtime, playground, free play, etc.

Relationships with Parents:

• Respect the cultural differences and socioeconomic diversity of all parents
• Communicate with parents daily through the reports and weekly newsletters
• Greet parents daily as they drop off and pick up with a warm smile and positive comment about their child

Other Responsibilities:

• Be familiar with and adhere to the State of Michigan Licensing Rules for Child Care Centers
• Be flexible, as scheduling often changes due to ratio needs
• Attend monthly staff meetings

Physical Requirements: 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. Must be able to communicate with others and clearly understand normal conversations in person and on the telephone. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to have ordinary ambulatory skills sufficient to visit other locations; and the ability to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, and manipulate (lift, carry, move) light to medium weights of 10-50 pounds. Requires good hand-eye coordination, arm, hand and finger dexterity, including ability to grasp, and visual acuity to use a keyboard. The employee frequently is required to sit, reach with hands and arms, talk and hear. Requires regular attendance and/or physical presence at the job.