Lead Teacher

***Odyssey House, Inc is seeking a Lead Teacher for age ranges 0-3 years of age AND 3-5 years of age. 

For specific requirements for each, please review the requirements section carefully.***

Our Mission:

Since 1967, Odyssey House has gone beyond helping individuals beat drugs and alcohol. We help rebuild lives. There’s more to recovery than just getting clean. We help individuals get healthy again, too, with medical and dental care, fitness programs, support for your mental health and more. Individuals can stay with their children while in treatment, while learning new life skills, so they can stay together and repair other broken relationships in their lives. We provide educational and work skill trainings, outpatient services and available housing assistance, so individuals can step back into real life with a real future.

If that sounds different than other treatment programs, you’re right. Because Odyssey is where recovery gets real.

In addition to competitive salaries, Odyssey House offers:

• A 35-hour work week (as opposed to a 40-hour work week)
• Vacation Plan and Holiday Schedule
• Life Insurance
• Medical Insurance (Two Plans)
• Dental and Vision Insurance
• Additional Insurance Coverages (hospitalization, accidental, critical illness coverage)
• Long-Term & Short-Term Disability
• Flexible Spending Account/Health Reimbursement Account
• 403(b) Plan
• Corporate Counseling Associates (CCA) EAP benefit
• Ability Assist Counseling Services (through The Hartford)
• Commuter Benefits
• Educational Assistance Programs
• Special shopping discounts through ADP Marketplace and PlumBenefits
• RUFit?! Fitness Program
• Pet Insurance
• Legal Assistance 
• Optum Financial Service through ConnectYourCare
• Benefit Advocacy Center through Gallagher

Salary Compensation Range: $45,000-50,000

MAJOR FUNCTIONS:

The Group/LeadTeacher is responsible for providing direct early childhood educational services to children between:

• the ages of two (2) months and two (2) years of age 
• the ages of three (3) years and five (5) years of age.

Odyssey House, Inc is seeking one Group/Lead Teacher per age group to join our Daycare Team!

The Group/Lead Teacher is responsible for the day-to-day operation of his/her classroom, including the supervision and management of all assigned children.   The Group/Lead Teacher interacts directly with the children and models appropriate adult-child interactions for parents.

SPECIFIC DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Responsible for the creation and maintenance of an appropriate learning environment which fosters physical, social-emotional, and intellectual growth of assigned children.
• Develop and implement weekly lesson plans based on the Creative Curriculum for Preschoolers or other curriculum approved by the Deputy Director of Early Educational Services.
• Provide an individualized and culturally diverse learning experience for all assigned children through active involvement in classroom activities.
• Ensure a safe environment by providing close child supervision, addressing potentially unsafe areas and maintaining a clean and sanitary classroom environment.
• Address developmental, physical, behavioral and/or mental health issues in a timely fashion through internal or external referrals.
• Emphasize and model positive parent-child relationships through supervision of all scheduled parent-child interactions.
• Plan and execute developmentally appropriate classroom outings. 
• Regularly communicate children’s progress with parents and participate in all scheduled parent-teacher conferences.
• Responsible for the daily set up, breakdown and cleaning of the classroom. 
• Maintain proper inventory with the support of the Supervisor of all classroom materials and children supplies.
• Attend all required in-service training seminars, staff meetings and on and off-site case conferences.
• Participate in quality improvement activities and staff development.  
• Follow and implement licensing requirements per DOHMH and Odyssey House policies.
• Other relevant duties as assigned.

0-3 YEARS OF AGE REQUIREMENTS: EDUCATION/TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

1. Must be 21 years old or older.
2. Minimum Educational Requirements:
   • Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education OR 
   • Child Development Associates (CDA) (infants/toddlers) with study plan leading to Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education within 7 years OR
   • High School Diploma or GED AND, 9 credits in Early Childhood Education or Child Development AND   2 years’ experience with working with children under 2 years AND study plan leading to Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education within 7 years OR
   • High School Diploma or GED AND 5 years’ experience with working with children under 2 years within a permitted center OR
   • High School Diploma or GED AND a study plan leading to 9 credits in Early Childhood Education or Child Development within 2 years AND a study plan leading to Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education within 7 years if currently employed at a permitted center

1. Experience working, supporting and teaching children is recommended.
2. CPR/First Aid Certification required, candidates who do not yet have these certifications will have the ability to obtain it within 3 months of hire for continued consideration.
3. NYS Central Registry Check and fingerprint clearance required upon hire.
4. Knowledge of NYC Department of Health regulations and codes recommended.
5. Proficiency with computer operations (Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook programs) required.
6. Must be able to lift small children.
7. Must be able to work a flexible schedule.

3-5 YEARS OF AGE REQUIREMENTS: EDUCATION/TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

1. Minimum Educational Requirements:
   • Bachelor's degree in early childhood education and State Certifications (BA in related field must be approved) OR
   • Bachelor's degree in early childhood education and 2 years' experience in a permitted center OR
   • study plan for either 1 or 2 above within 7 years; documentation providing proof of study plan required.  

1. Preferred Educational Requirements:
   1. Master's degree in early childhood education and New York State Professional Certification in Early Childhood Education and one (1) year teaching experience
2. Experience working, supporting and teaching children is recommended.
3. CPR/First Aid Certification required, candidates who do not yet have these certifications will have the ability to obtain it within 3 months of hire for continued consideration.
4. NYS Central Registry Check and fingerprint clearance required upon hire.
5. Knowledge of NYC Department of Health regulations and codes recommended.
6. Proficiency with computer operations (Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook programs) required.
7. Must be able to lift small children.
8. Must be able to work a flexible schedule.

Odyssey House is an equal opportunity employer maintaining a non-discriminatory policy on hiring of its personnel. Odyssey House, and its operational divisions, will not discriminate against any employee or applicant because of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, disability, marital status, sexual orientation or citizen status in all employment decisions including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, upgrading, demotion, downgrading, transfer, training, rate of pay or other forms of compensation, layoff, termination and all other terms and conditions of employment.