Early Head Start Lead Teacher

Omaha Tribe of Nebraska•Macy, NE

3d•$18 - $19

About The Position

The Lead Teacher plans, implements, and coordinates a comprehensive early childhood education program for infants and toddlers. The program is intended to provide quality, family-focused child development services, including education, health, nutrition, and mental health. The Lead Teacher ensures that the education program is developmentally appropriate, meets children's needs, and complies with Federal Head Start Performance Standards and applicable local, state, and agency policies and procedures. The position works Monday through Friday, from 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM. The Lead Teacher supports children's development, maintains a safe and stimulating classroom, plans and delivers curriculum, partners with families, leads the classroom team, completes required records, and performs other duties as assigned to meet program needs.

Requirements

Minimum Infant/Toddler Child Development Associate (CDA) credential.
Maintain CDA credentials.
Knowledge of curriculum, principles, and best practices in early childhood education.
Ability and willingness to remain current regarding child development and early childhood education practices.
Ability to work cooperatively and supportively as a team member.
Ability to establish supportive relationships and form alliances with staff and families from diverse backgrounds on behalf of children.
Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing in a manner that fosters cooperation, respect, concern, and openness to change.
Organization skills and ability to manage time and multiple priorities.
Ability to collaboratively problem-solve.
Knowledge of state childcare licensing requirements.
Ability to operate a computer and office equipment, including a telephone, fax machine, and copier.
Ability to obtain First Aid and CPR certification.
Ability to perform the listed duties satisfactorily; reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities.
Ability to lift up to 50 pounds and to walk, stand, sit for extended periods, operate a keyboard, and physically interact with children, including walking or running quickly, kneeling or sitting on the floor, bending, and lifting.
Ability to lift, carry, and move classroom equipment, supplies, bulky objects, or children weighing up to 50 pounds.

Nice To Haves

Associate of Arts degree in Early Childhood.
Two years of early childhood experience in a center-based setting.

Responsibilities

Observe, assess, and document each child's skills, behavior, growth, and development.
Provide opportunities that help children experience success and build self-confidence.
Develop individualized education plans for each child.
Identify children with possible developmental delays and, with the Education Coordinator, refer them for additional evaluations as required by the Educational Services Unit.
Participate in child and family reviews and Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) meetings.
Support children and families during transitions between age-appropriate classrooms and from toddler to Head Start programs.
Conduct family-style mealtimes, engage with infants and toddlers at the table, and encourage toddlers' self-help and independence through setup and cleanup activities.
Build positive relationships with children and families in the classroom.
Develop and maintain an attractive, stimulating, and healthy learning environment.
Encourage children to independently select activities.
Ensure children are appropriately supervised and maintain the required adult-to-child ratio of 1:4; cell phones are not permitted.
Use positive behavior support strategies and interventions and encourage children's self-regulation.
Plan and implement age-appropriate lessons and activities that support infants' and toddlers' social, emotional, physical, cognitive, and intellectual development.
Develop lesson plans with goals, objectives, activities, and outcomes, and implement them intentionally.
Participate in interpreting and analyzing assessment results, use data to plan individual and classroom experiences, and intentionally share information with families.
Schedule and meet with parents regularly about children's progress, including at least two parent/teacher conferences and two home visits per year.
Encourage parent participation in program activities and in educational activities for children at home and in the community.
Communicate with parents about children's classroom involvement and progress toward learning goals through informal conversations, newsletters, and Brightwheel.
Identify professional development goals, participate in ongoing professional development, and apply newly learned strategies.
Complete paperwork in a timely manner, including developmental assessments, lesson plans, newsletters, and incident reports.
Lead the classroom team by planning and leading team sessions, monitoring teammates' observation notes and goal identification, and supporting classroom best practices.
Supervise student teachers, practicum students, and volunteers as needed.
Mentor and model for Associate Teachers and substitutes.
Maintain confidentiality regarding each child and family and comply with confidentiality regulations.
Maintain daily attendance, USDA food counts, medical logs, infant/toddler eating, sleeping, and toileting information for distribution in child files and to parents, and complete other required forms.
Maintain professional and ethical boundaries and perform duties professionally.
Notify the supervisor by 6:45 a.m. if unable to work.
Attend and engage in continuing education, meetings, and professional development training as required or directed by the Education Coordinator.
Perform other duties as assigned to meet program needs.