Preschool Lead Teacher

Position Summary:

The Lead Teacher is directly responsible for the overall care and planning for the classroom and individual children, including the learning environment and other staff and volunteers. The Lead Teacher provides and implements a developmentally and culturally appropriate early childhood education experience for children. The Lead Teacher must demonstrate competency to observe and assess children's developmental needs and interests, and build positive relationships with children, families, and staff. The Lead Teacher position will supervise the assigned classroom Teacher Assistants.

Responsibilities:

Through the use of Creative Curriculum and Teaching Strategies plan and provide activities and experiences supporting children's health, education and social emotional development

• Establish a learning environment according to the Creative Curriculum and Early Achievers quality standards, and ECEAP if applicable.
• Implement the Second Steps Personal Safety Curriculum in preschool classrooms
• Provide activities and opportunities that encourage an individualized approach the developmental level and learning style of each child.
• Prepare daily activity plans and insure progress towards individual child goals
• Submit weekly lesson plans to the Early Learning Content Specialist
• Support ongoing assessment by observing, and documenting daily individual and group needs, interests, and skills based on Teaching Strategies assessment process.

Foster a positive emotional climate in the classroom based on licensing standards

• Provide guidance and support through positive interactions between children and adults
• Maintain an atmosphere that encourages open communication with children and adults through back and forth conversations, warm, nurturing tones, and being down at the child's level.
• Provide opportunities and support for children to understand, acquire and use verbal and non-verbal means of communicating thoughts and feelings

Create a partnership with families that encourages engagement according to ECEAP and/or Early Achiever quality standards

• Complete quarterly parent/teacher conferences according to program timelines and content required by ECEAP and/or licensing regulations
• Document parent/teacher conferences according to program policy and procedure
• Communicate with parents through various platforms and methods (in person, phone calls, emails, class dojo, Teaching Strategies, parent newsletters)
• Communicate with parents regarding classroom to classroom transitions, as applicable

Record Keeping

• Complete and submit accurate Counts and Attendance reports
• Appropriately supervise and delegate duties to classroom staff, initiate training and encouraging teamwork among adults in the room and center
• Approve timesheets and time off requests for assigned classroom teacher assistants.
• Complete 6-month and annual performance evaluation for assigned classroom teacher assistants
• Meet regularly for supervision check-ins with assigned employees

Create and maintain a safe and healthy environment

• Maintain inventory and upkeep of classroom supplies and materials
• Report needed repairs and maintenance to the Early Learning Site Supervisor and Facilities Manager
• Provide a safe, developmentally appropriate indoors and outdoor learning environment through the use of the Safety and Sanitation Checklist
• Apply health standards and care for the children and classroom according to licensing and ECEAP standards

Professional Development

• Participate in required training according to ECEAP and/or licensing regulations
• Participate in scheduled supervision meetings, lead teacher meetings, teacher learning groups and other assigned meetings as required.
• Assist in orientating and training new employees
• Participate in Center activities and other duties as requested

Perform other duties as assigned

Job Requirements:

The following requirements are those that are normally required for performance of this position. Any disabled applicant or incumbent who does not meet one or more of the requirements, but who can perform the essential function of the job (with or without reasonable accommodations) shall be deemed to meet these requirements.

Physical Requirements:

This position normally requires the physical demands of standing, walking, bending, lifting or performing other work requiring medium physical exertion, talking and hearing and adequate vision on a regular basis to perform the job requirements. These physical demands are required up to 95% of the time.

Non-Physical Requirements:

Education

• Bachelor's degree in early childhood development or early Childhood Education, preferred.
• Associate degree in early childhood education or related field, required or on a DCYF approved professional development plan

Experience

• 3 or more years' experience in teaching in Early Childhood program

Special Skills

• Demonstrate professional and effective verbal and written communication
• Use of good judgment
• Basic computer skills
• Supervision of adults, classroom planning and management skills
• Maintain confidentiality of children, families, and staff
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred, but not required

Licensure, Registration, Certification

• Valid First Aid and CPR
• Valid Food Handlers Card
• Valid Washington State driver's license and agency required liability insurance

Employment is conditional upon:

• Being cleared by criminal background check and fingerprinting when required

Schedule: Monday - Friday 7 am to 4 pm

Wage: $19.75 to $23.00 hourly

Benefits:

• 7 paid holidays, 1 paid Personal Day, 15days of Paid Time Off (PTO)per year
• Health insurance including medical & prescription coverage, with optional dental and vision insurance plans. Majority of premiums paid by Catholic Charities
• Retirement 403(b) Plan: employee contributions commence upon employment; Catholic Charities contributes 2% of monthly income and matches up to 4% of employee contributions following 6 months of employment
• Basic Life Insurance paid 100% by Catholic Charities
• Flexible Spending Account eligibility following 6 months of employment
• Education Assistance Program reimbursing up to $5,250 per year for approved continuing education after 6 months of employment
• Additional voluntary insurances including supplemental life, accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D), critical illness, long term disability, accident, and ID theft
• Employee Assistance Program includes 3 counseling sessions per year, legal consultations, financial coaching, and other wellbeing tools
• Annual longevity awards begin at 5 years of employment

It is the practice of Catholic Charities to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, citizenship status, marital status, creed, genetic predisposition or carrier status, sexual orientation, gender expression, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Applicants from underrepresented backgrounds are encouraged to apply. We gladly offer reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities to support participation in the hiring process and employment.