Preschool Lead Teacher - Hilltop YMCA

At the Y, we believe the values and skills learned early on are vital building blocks for quality of life and future success.  That’s why our child care, afterschool and Child Watch programs are staffed with people who understand the cognitive, physical and social development of kids, the need children have to feel connected and supported in trying new things and the caring and reinforcement parents and families need to help each other. At the Y, babies develop trust and security, preschoolers experience early literacy and learn about their world and school-age kids make friends, learn new skills and do their homework.  Most importantly, children learn how to be their best selves.

1. Thinks, communicates and behaves as a cause-driven leader and role model for other staff and members when it comes to desired staff behaviors and healthy living practices.
2. Prepares classroom for children daily by arranging and maintaining a safe and age appropriate learning environment; keeps classroom space clean and organized; maintains classroom supplies; conducts annual classroom environment assessment with designated tools (ECCERS, ITERS, ELLCO, etc.) as required.  
3. Greets each child and parent daily; communicates often and professionally with families, children, and staff. 
4. Conducts informal orientation (including transition meetings) for children new to the classroom.
5. Assesses each child's developmental needs both formally and informally using designated assessment and screening tools. Establishes and monitors individual goals for all children.  Documents evidence to be used for curriculum planning and assessment including ongoing, systematic observations on each child.  
6. Conducts parent/teacher conferences utilizing assessment results.
7. Writes and implements lesson plans and follows daily schedule; plans must reflect a well balanced, varied program for children following designated curriculum and program guidelines as well as incorporating Ohio, SUTQ, NAEYC and grant standards. 
8. Offers children appropriate affection, verbal praise, and acceptance while providing clear, consistent, and developmentally appropriate expectations for behavior; sets firm limits with positive phrasing and actions when necessary. 
9. Assists in ensuring the center's compliance with all YMCA, ODJFS licensing, SUTQ, grant and NAEYC requirements as applicable. 
10. Collects, records and maintains all necessary information/documentation for student records, funding and other projects; enters data into appropriate systems in a consistent and timely fashion.
11. Contributes to staff projects, organizes and communicates with supervisor, families, host, and staff. Takes a leadership role when applicable in special events.
12. Attends all staff meetings, and appropriate child care workshops; maintains training hours needed for YMCA guidelines, licensing, SUTQ, grants and NAEYC. 
13. Maintains prompt hours, follows procedures for absences, and provides staff with lesson plans and guidance in the case of absence. 
14. Assists in the training of other staff. 
15. If applicable, complete duties as required by the Child and Adult Care Food program.
16. Works assigned shifts as needed to ensure teacher/child requirements are met.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS  The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and talk or hear.  The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and reach with hands and arms.  The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and distance vision. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.