Lead Teacher

VACANCY ANN #:  STOI-25-012

TITLE:                       LEAD TEACHER

DEPARTMENT:      HEAD START

LOCATION:              WELLPINIT, WA

STATUS:                  REGULAR, FULL-TIME

SALARY LEVEL:    $19.81 - $24.85 / PER HOUR

OPENING DATE:    FEBRUARY 21, 2025

CLOSING DATE:    MARCH 7, 2025

SUMMARY:
The Spokane Tribe of Indians Head Start Program is designed to promote the school readiness of low-income children by enhancing their cognitive, social and emotional development—in a learning environment that supports children’s growth in language, literacy, mathematics, science, social and emotional functioning, creative arts, physical skills, and approaches to learning; and through the provision to low-income children and their families of health, educational, nutritional, social, and other services that are determined, based on family needs assessments, to be necessary.

The Head Start Lead Teacher reports to and receives direction from the Head Start Director.  The Lead Teacher is responsible for leading the classroom team by developing and maintaining an atmosphere of collaboration and trauma informed support, striving for continual improvement, following “The Creative Curriculum” and applying Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework (ELOF) to classroom practices. All active investigations resulting in removal of any minor child under custody/guardianship of employee will result in immediate suspension.  Following completion of active investigation, any findings of child abuse or neglect will result in immediate termination of employment.

KNOWLEDGE SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Perform the functions of this position with a strong understanding of the Head Start Performance Standards and the component plans; and thorough knowledge and application of Developmentally Appropriate Practices.
• Build a strong classroom team by developing an atmosphere of collaboration with the Teacher Assistants.
• Apply Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework (ELOF) to classroom practices.
• Model trauma informed teaching methods and responses in the classroom.
• Follow guidelines and implement “The Creative Curriculum” to set up the classroom; create a daily, weekly, and monthly schedule; and partner with families.
• Organize and lead activities designed to promote physical, mental, and social development following “The Creative Curriculum” Strategies.
• Strive for continual improvement as promoted by Head Start.
• Plan and conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate.
• Observe and evaluate children’s performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.  Enter observations into Teaching Strategies Gold and make adjustments to goals as needed.
• Teach basic skills to children—to include proper eating habits and personal hygiene.
• Enhance, promote, create a literacy environment including but not limited to reading books to entire class or to small groups.  
• Attend to children’s basic needs—to include serving meals, potty training/diapering and clean up.
• Provide a variety of materials and resourced for children to explore, manipulate, and use, both in learning activities and in imaginative play.
• Assimilate children to the school environment by greeting them, promoting self-sufficiency, and selecting activities of interest to them.
• Guide and facilitate activities of the children, including:  Daily activities, field trips, selecting and arranging equipment and materials in the classroom.
• Enforce all administration policies and rules governing students and the program.
• Maintain a comprehensive and ongoing portfolio assessment for each child, including weekly observations in each area, examples of the child’s work, and a developmental assessment.
• Utilize home visits and parent conferences to discuss the child’s individual development and progress, assist the parents in developing observational skills and solicit parent observations.
• Have meals with and assist children in development of social and self-help skills, and sound nutritional practices.
• Maintain a safe and healthy classroom environment.  Assure that classroom equipment, furniture, materials, and supplies are properly maintained and stored.
• Identify children showing signs of emotional, developmental, or health-related problems and discuss them with supervisors, parents or guardians, and child development specialists.
• Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects and communicate those objectives to children.
• Meet with parents and guardians to discuss their children’s progress and needs, determine their priorities for their children, and suggest ways that they can promote learning and development.
• Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students’ varying needs and interests.
• Arrange indoor and outdoor space to facilitate creative play, motor-skill activities, and safety.
• Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by laws, policies, and regulations. 
• Demonstrate activities to children—actively participate in classroom activities.
• Confer with other staff members to plan and schedule lessons promoting learning by following approved curricula.
• Contribute to the effort of recruiting and enrolling children and families.
• Prepare reports on students and activities as required by administration.
• Report cases of child abuse and neglect by serving as a mandated reporter. 
• Administer tests to help determine children’s developmental levels, needs, and potential.
• Promote Family engagement by building strong relationships with families, strengthening communication, develop/reinforce engagement activities, support individual family goals.
• Take pride in the appearance of the Head Start facility and help to maintain the necessary daily upkeep—to include assisting with the daily sanitizing/cleaning of the Head Start building.

CERTIFICATION(S) REQUIRED:

• Associate Degree or Baccalaureate Degree in Child Development or Early Childhood Education (ECE); or an associate degree, baccalaureate or advanced degree and coursework equivalent to a major relating to early childhood education with experience teaching preschool-age children; or meets the conditions specified in The Head Start Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center Policy section 648A (a)(4)(B) to qualify for a Waiver.
• Successful clearance of Criminal History and Background inquiry with no findings of child abuse and neglect.
• TB Test and Immunization Record.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be able to plan and implement learning experiences that advance the intellectual and physical development of children, including improving the readiness of children for school by developing their literacy, phonemic, and print awareness, their understanding and use of language, their understanding and use of increasingly complex and varied vocabulary, their appreciation of books, their understanding of early math and early science, their problem-solving abilities and their approaches to learning.
• Familiarity and proficiency with The Creative Curriculum, Teaching Strategies Gold (TSG), Early Learning Outcomes Framework (ELOF), Second Steps, Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS), Dial 4 Screening and Scoring, Devereux Ealy Childhood Assessment (DECA) and Child Plus systems.
• Ability to establish and maintain a safe, healthy learning environment in accordance with “The Creative Curriculum.”
• Ability to support the social and emotional development of children utilizing trauma informed teaching.
• Willingness to encourage the involvement of the families of the children at Head Start while supporting the development of relationships between children and their families.
• Must be able to maintain strict confidentiality.
• Must be able to contribute to the Head Start team in a positive and productive manner with reliability, patience and consistency.
• Demonstrated ability to work well with others in a professional manner.
• Ability to lift and maneuver small children on an ongoing basis and the necessary physical dexterity to work with small children 30-50 pounds on average (bending, stooping, kneeling, crawling, lifting, etc.)
• Must be physically present to work a regular, reliable, and predictable work schedule in accordance with program demands, and maintain a consistent and regular attendance record.
• Employ positive communication skills and exercise professional interpersonal abilities (tact, diplomacy, and respect) with others at all times.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Possess a basic understanding of the scope of the Head Start effort—to include familiarity with Head Start Performance Standards.
• Understanding of Early childhood Developmental Stages and appropriate preschool practices
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to relate well to, and coordinate with the population served, especially low-income Spokane Indian Reservation population.
• Possess skills adequate to serve children with disabilities.
• Maintain a high degree of professionalism in the workplace, including appearance, communication, attendance, reliability and teamwork.
• Work well with others.
• Ability to demonstrate kindness, patience and understanding even in stressful situations

MUST APPLY ON-LINE: https://spokanetribe.bamboohr.com/careers/399?source=aWQ9MjE= 

*Indian Preference Applies – Indian Preference grants preference to any enrolled member of a federally recognized tribe.

*FBI Background – Positions involving regular contact with, or control over, Indian Children in accordance with the Federal Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Act, Public Law 101-630

Confirmation receipt of on-line submission and interview status will be sent to the applicants e-mail address used when applying. Applicants are responsible to regularly monitor their e-mails.

Contact: Empero Corral HR Generalist, or Kammi Rosenbaum

                                  509-458-6576 or 458-6527

E-mail: hrfrontdesk@spokanetribe.com

Applications must be received in the Human Resource Department no later than 4:30 p.m. on the closing date.

The Spokane Tribe reserves the right to hire according to its Indian Preference Policy

All Applicants are subject to a Pre-Employment Drug Test

All Positions with the Spokane tribe of Indians are subject to a 90-day orientation period

Salary : $20 - $26