Teacher

The Lead Teacher is responsible for the implementation and coordination of the comprehensive education program in the classroom.  The Lead Teacher ensures that the classroom activities and environment are developmentally appropriate and reflect the agency’s philosophy and curriculum. The Lead Teacher ensures that the individual needs of the children are met as mandated by federal, state and local standards.

Reflective Supervision

·         Supervise, coach and mentor the Teacher Assistant and Teacher Aide in the classroom in formal, and informal interactions with parents and family members.

·         Conduct weekly team meetings and monthly individual reflective supervision meetings.

Administrative Responsibilities

·         Complete and execute performance appraisals, goals and corrective actions with the Master Teacher, and Assistant Director of Program and Curricula.

·         First level of approval for time off requests and time sheet review.

·         Monitor quantity and quality of child documentation required of classroom staff and work with teaching staff on continuous improvement in this area of their work.

·         Create child education binders and develop monitoring system to ensure information is accurate and up to date.

·         Ensure all required program documentation and reports are completed accurately and submitted in a timely manner.

·         Participates in recruitment efforts of program participants to help maintain full program enrollment.

·         Monitor and ensure that daily attendance, health checks, parent sign/scan in, and meal participation reports are completed daily.

·         Ensure all confidential information is protected.

·         Read and respond to Outlook e-mail daily.

Child Development

·         Observe, assess and document each child’s health, skills, behavior, growth and development.

·         Provide opportunities for the children to develop positive self-images and experience success.

·         Ensure goals are made with parents and are reflected in children’s individual plans

·         Participate in Family/Child Reviews.

·         Identify any developmental concerns regarding the children and follow agency protocol.

·         In conjunction with the Master Teacher, the Lead Teacher will coordinate team participation in family staffings and other meetings as required.

·         Ensure all classroom staff adhere to all IEP, IFSP, IHP, Implementation Plans and/or strategies provided by Education Managers and/or Consultants.

Curriculum and Assessment

·         Facilitate curriculum planning sessions to develop clear learning objectives that effectively incorporates documentation collected on each child for optimal developmental and learning outcomes.

·         Develop lesson plans with goals, objectives, experiences and outcomes for children that integrate health, nutrition, mental health, disabilities and parent involvement into the plans.

·         Incorporate children’s interests, culture, school readiness goals, State and Head Start guidelines, program curriculum (Creative Curriculum) and approach (New Beginnings & Erikson Early Math Lessons) into individualized and group learning opportunities. Work with assessment team, and Education Managers to utilize standardized and authentic assessment data to create learning opportunities to advance children’s development and learning, providing follow-up with parents, partners and staff as appropriate.

·         For Pre-K only – Research, plan and schedule meaningful field trips that enhance the current study in your classroom

·         Establish and maintain a classroom environment that ensures appropriate child guidance and discipline techniques are implemented in accordance with Educare’s philosophy, curriculum, policies and procedures, Head Start standards, Ounce standards of conduct and state regulations.

·         Ensure that all children are under appropriate supervision at all times.

·         Develop and maintain an attractive, clean, safe and engaging environment that encourages children’s independence and self-selection of activities.

·         Maintain a classroom environment that reflects the use of “New Beginnings” and follows the guidelines of ITERS or ECERS.

Parent Involvement

In coordination with Family Support Staff:

·         Schedule, conduct and ensure completion of at least two Parent/Staff conferences for each child.  Conferences need to adhere to the parent/staff conference guidance policy.

·         Schedule, conduct and ensure the completion of two home visits per program year for each child.  Home visits need to adhere to the home visit guidance policy.

·         Conduct the Initial Quick review and complete FCR’s on each child and family twice a year

·         Encourage and provide opportunities for parent participation in the program, including participation in parent events, home visits, conferences and volunteering in the classroom.

·         Provide examples and ideas for educational activities for parent/child participation at home.

·         Develop positive and effective partnerships with families using the Touchpoints Approach (once trained).

·         Hold friendly daily conversations with families

·         Maintain professional boundaries

Other

·         Attend and actively participate in all required meetings and trainings, including supervisory trainings.

·         Performs other duties as assigned within the scope of the job description.

·         Follow all mandates of Head Start regulations, state and local licensing and the Ounce’s philosophy and curriculum.

·         Input classroom data into appropriate information systems.

·         Administer medication when necessary (ex. nebulizer treatments, epipen).