43-week program Early Learning Lead Teacher (3-5)

Metropolitan Family Services•Wheaton, IL

3d•Onsite

About The Position

We are currently searching for a full-time 43 week program Preschool Lead Teacher to join our DuPage office in our Preschool for All programs in Wheaton! This role is responsible for supporting a team approach to planning and implementing program activities, collaborating with various staff and partners for the betterment of the classroom and families. The Lead Teacher will guide and facilitate children's activities, ensure appropriate child guidance and discipline, and maintain proper ratios. They will also be responsible for implementing the program’s Planned Language Approach to support dual language learners, conducting education home visits, maintaining accurate teacher and child files, and ensuring compliance with safety and program procedures.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or education from an accredited college or university required.
Lead Teacher working with children ages 3-5: PEL or a Gateways ECE level 5 Credential while working towards receiving PEL required.
Satisfactorily pass all screenings and criminal background checks.
Driving for work required with a personally owned vehicle.
Travel between sites required.

Nice To Haves

Ability to plan and implement learning experiences that advance the intellectual and physical development of children, including improving the readiness of children for preschool by developing their literacy awareness and their approaches to learning.
Establish and maintain a safe, healthy learning environment for children.
Support the social and emotional development of children.
Encourage the involvement of the families of the children in a Head Start program and supporting the development of relationships between children and their families.
Demonstrated ability to work in teams.
Excellent written and oral communication and interpersonal skills.
Ability to work in a complex environment.
Ability to work effectively with diverse individuals and groups.
Ability to work independently as well as in a team setting.

Responsibilities

Responsible for supporting a team approach to planning and implementing program activities.
Collaborates with Family Support Workers, Teacher’s, Program Aide, site partners, and site supervisor for the betterment of the classroom and families.
Participates in ongoing CLASS implementation and monitoring.
Guide and facilitate activities of the children and ensures appropriate child guidance and discipline and proper ratios are maintained at all times.
Attend all mandated trainings.
Set and achieve professional development goals. All professional development to be tracked in Gateways.
Share resources with other staff members as appropriate.
Use Teaching Strategies Gold to maintain ongoing, high quality documentation of school readiness skills and maintain interrater reliability.
Use Teaching Strategies Gold to communication with families through monthly newsletters and family conference forms.
Responsible for the implementation of the program’s Planned Language Approach which is specifically designed to support dual language learners.
Schedule and conduct education home visits with teaching staff to discuss individual development and progress, assist parents in developing educational goals for their child.
Maintain accurate teacher and child files.
Ensure all transportation safety procedures are followed including utilization of the bus attendance log if applicable
Ensure accurate completion CACFP documents in conjunction with the teaching staff.
Builds and ensures positive and on-going relationships with parents, volunteers, and other staff members.
Works with site supervisor and family support worker to exchange information pertinent to the identification and services of children with disabilities.
Conducts and/or oversees screening of all children within prescribed time frames using the developmental, social emotional and other prescribed screenings tools.
Ensures the curriculum is used to fidelity and that submission of weekly lesson plans including individualization for all children, including monitoring and facilitating accommodations listed in IEPs and IFSPs.
Provides a supportive, caring and safe environment for children.
Use the playground as an extension of the classroom; assures that the playground is safe.
Provides active supervision to ensure the safety of children while in the classroom, during transitions, at time of transportation, and while on the playground.
Ensures that no child shall be left alone or unsupervised.
Ensures the usage of agency technology equipment and time are utilized for agency business.
Ensures compliance with the agency’s code of conduct.
Ensures agency’s fiscal integrity by adhering to purchase approval requirements and procedures.
Assists in the development of the agency’s annual program self-assessment.
Ensures all content area data is accurately reflected in the agency’s Program Information Reports within set time frames.
Participate in program recruitment efforts to maintain full enrollment.
Performs other duties as assigned.