Childcare Lead

Vail Unified School District•Tucson, AZ

About The Position

The Childcare Lead facilitates and provides quality care in an environment that allows children to develop to their potential. Children are engaged in activities designed to promote social, physical, and intellectual growth. The position plans and implements developmentally appropriate individual and group activities, supervises children, maintains required records and ratios, and provides a safe, clean, organized, and nurturing environment. The Childcare Lead communicates and builds positive relationships with families, explains the program’s philosophy and developmentally appropriate practices, and maintains regular family communications and updated documentation. The role follows Vail School District policies and procedures, the Community Programs Staff Handbook and accreditation requirements, and Arizona Department of Health Services rules and regulations. It attends required meetings and completes at least 24 hours of qualifying professional development each year. The position may provide indirect supervision of Community Programs childcare support staff as assigned. The employee must establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, families, agency representatives, and the public, and work with a diverse population, including people with varying individual needs. The schedule is 7.5 hours per day for 203 days per year.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
At least 6 months of experience in childcare or a related field.
Ability to demonstrate knowledge and proficiency in using computers and other technology.
Ability to obtain and maintain a valid Arizona Fingerprint Clearance Card.
Ability to obtain CPR and First Aid certifications.
Submit a report of a negative Mantoux skin test administered no later than 12 hours after the employment start date, or a physician’s written statement that the employee is currently free of tuberculosis.
Ability to listen, obtain clarification, record and deliver information, explain procedures, and follow oral and written instructions.
Ability to read and interpret safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals; speak effectively with students, parents, employees, and community members; write activity and lesson plans, routine reports, and correspondence; and communicate effectively with students who have special needs.
Ability to manage difficult or emotional student or customer situations, respond promptly to customer needs and service requests, solicit feedback, and meet commitments.
Ability to treat others with respect and dignity, uphold organizational values, use sound judgment, make timely decisions, accept responsibility, and react well under pressure.
Ability to perform basic arithmetic and apply fractions, percentages, rates, ratios, and proportions to practical situations; ability to draw and interpret graphs.
Ability to understand and carry out written, oral, or diagram-based instructions, address problems involving concrete variables in standardized situations, identify and resolve problems, analyze information, develop alternatives, and work in group problem-solving situations.

Responsibilities

Clearly articulate the Community Programs philosophy and goals.
Plan, post, and implement individual and group activities that stimulate children’s growth and follow applicable learning standards.
Carry out enrichment activities based on written activity and lesson plans.
Participate in children’s activities through interaction, observation, language development, modeling desired behavior, and conflict resolution using positive guidance techniques.
Supervise children, maintain required ratios, and keep a daily attendance roster, including children traveling to and from the program.
Provide information for the classroom and site newsletter.
Maintain and update emergency information for each child.
Prepare monthly sign-in sheets, add parent names and schedule labels, and review parent signatures and times daily.
Provide a clean, organized, safe, nurturing, and engaging environment with developmentally appropriate activities and centers.
Participate in daily cleaning and safety checks; report supply and maintenance needs to the Site Director.
Follow Vail School District Governing Board policies and procedures, the Community Programs Staff Handbook and accreditation requirements, A.C.T. and G.R.E.A.T. statements, and Arizona Department of Health Services rules and regulations.
Ensure policies and procedures are followed and relevant parent forms are collected and completed daily.
Attend and actively participate in required staff meetings and complete at least 24 hours of professional development annually that meets DHS Licensing requirements, with attendance verification placed in the personnel file.
Read the staff notebook and sign in and out daily.
Communicate positively and effectively with parents and families, explain program philosophy and developmentally appropriate practices, and maintain regular family communications and monthly updated documentation and observation boards.
Perform tasks assigned by the Site Director, Regional Site Director, Enrichment Program Coordinator, or Director of Community Programs.
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with Community Programs staff, local and state agency representatives, families, and the public, including working with a diverse population and people with varying individual needs.
May provide indirect supervision of Community Programs childcare support staff as assigned by the Site Director or Regional Director.