Lead Teacher

Description

Who We Are

At the Community Action Council of Howard County (CAC), our mission is to diminish poverty and enable self-sufficiency for all Howard County individuals, families, and children in need. We act towards this mission by focusing on four critical services: housing assistance, food assistance, energy and weatherization assistance, and early childhood education. CAC impacts our local society by changing lives and helping create a pathway through and out of poverty or just providing a hand up when one is needed.

Who You Are

As an Lead Teacher at CAC, you are a dedicated education professional committed to fostering the development and growth of preschool-age children. Your role is crucial in providing a supportive learning environment that adheres to health, safety, and nutritional procedures while encouraging active caregiver involvement in a child's education.

What You'll Do

• Individualized Learning: Support the individual learning and development of each child by providing a developmentally appropriate environment that encourages self-expression.
• Cultural Sensitivity: Support the home language, culture, and family composition of each child through the creation of a culturally and linguistically appropriate classroom.
• Curriculum Implementation: Develop and implement lesson plans based on CAC's provided curriculum, emphasizing the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework and Maryland Early Learning Standards.
• Progress Assessment: Collect observation data on each child to measure developmental progress.
• Balanced Program: Provide a daily program that balances adult and child-initiated activities, both indoors and outdoors, with timely and predictable transitions.
• Parental Engagement: Invite parents to become an integral part of the program, providing opportunities for participation in classroom and agency activities. Conduct two home visits and two parent-teacher conferences annually.
• Transition Assistance: Assist parents with transitioning from CAC's Early Childhood Education Program to kindergarten.
• Compliance: Practice and model CAC's sanitation, hygiene, and medical procedures. Ensure compliance with the Agency's approved Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting and nutrition policies.
• Documentation: Maintain current emergency information for each child and regularly update files. Participate in the creation of newsletters and parent communications.
• Safety: Create a Substitute Guide that includes class lists, supplemental activity guides, outlines of daily schedules and transitions, and the location of all emergency evacuation and contact information.
• Supervision: Work collaboratively with assigned assistant teachers and supervise any volunteers in the classroom.
• Other duties as assigned

What You Bring

• Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education or related field.
• Demonstrated knowledge of classroom management, lesson planning, and age-appropriate instructional strategies targeted for preschool-age children.
• 2 years of experience in an educational program with 3 to 5-year-old children.
• Valid Maryland driver's license and access to a reliable vehicle during work hours.
• Able to read, write, comprehend, and speak English.
• Able to maintain a safe environment for up to 22 people, including the ability to evacuate students and clients during disaster drills and emergency situations.
• MSDE Teacher Certification PK-3 (Preferred)

What We Offer

• Medical Insurance - 3 plan type 
  • 2 HMO plans- fully paid for employee
  • 1 POS plan- 85% covered for employee 
• Dental Insurance- fully paid for employee
• Vision Insurance- fully paid for employee
• Life Insurance
• HRA Account - For eligible plans
• FSA Account
• HSA Account
• 15 days of vacation leave, planned in the school calendar
• 12 days of sick leave
• 5 days for personal leave
• 13 days of paid federal holidays
• Educational Assistance programs
• Participation in state-supported Credit Union
• Participation in Maryland State Retirement System
• Work-life Balance Employee Assistance Programs

AAP/EEO Statement:

Community Action Council of Howard County is an equal opportunity employer.

***Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. ***

Qualifications

Salary : $23 - $36