Early Learning Lead Teacher (All Locations)

YMCA of Metropolitan Atlanta•Atlanta, GA

About The Position

The Early Learning Lead Teacher is a co-teaching role serving children ages six weeks to three years. Under the supervision of the Program Director, the teacher helps ensure each child’s safety and well-being by providing a safe, healthy, and developmentally appropriate learning environment. The role includes collaborative supervision, direct supervision and development of classroom associates, and management of day-to-day classroom operations. The teacher plans and implements inclusive learning experiences that support children’s intellectual and physical development, and follows applicable program standards, licensing requirements, and federal, state, and local regulations. The position involves active participation in classroom activities, ongoing supervision of children indoors and outdoors, documenting observations and developmental milestones, communicating with families, and maintaining a clean, safe, organized classroom. The teacher also participates in required meetings, training, professional development, and continuing education. Employment is through the YMCA of Metropolitan Atlanta, Inc. Candidates must pass pre-employment background, criminal record, drug screening, motor vehicle record, and reference checks according to company policy, and must be legally eligible to work in the United States without current or future sponsorship. The job posting may change at any time. The YMCA states that it does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on protected grounds.

Requirements

Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential in Infant and Toddler Education or higher.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to perform physical duties including kneeling, bending, squatting, lifting, pushing, pulling, and carrying objects or children up to 50 pounds.
Ability to pass pre-employment background, criminal record, drug screening, motor vehicle record, and reference checks according to company policy.
Must be legally eligible to work in the United States without current or future sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education.

Responsibilities

Directly supervise and develop classroom associates, and manage day-to-day classroom operations.
Plan and implement learning experiences that advance children’s intellectual and physical development.
Use developmentally appropriate practices that are individualized, inclusive of children with disabilities, age appropriate, and integrated across areas of development.
Meet applicable federal, state, local, and program requirements and timelines for compliance, implementation, and documentation.
Meet performance standards, monitoring guidelines, licensing regulations, and disability-service requirements; complete developmental assessments, parent conferences, and home visits.
Actively participate in teaching by moving around the learning environment, indoors and outdoors.
Maintain constant supervision of children during activities and whenever they are under the teacher’s direct care.
Redirect inappropriate behavior positively and non-punitively, and respond promptly and appropriately to children in distress.
Use developmentally appropriate feeding, toileting, cleaning, and health-care practices, including for children with special health-care needs.
Model appropriate language, including grammatically correct verbal and written language.
Prepare lesson plans, materials, and learning environments in advance so they are organized, interactive, appropriate, clean, safe, and hands-on.
Plan and implement transitions between daily activities.
Organize classroom space into recognizable, functional, and uncluttered areas, such as interest centers.
Conduct and document ongoing observations of each child and developmental milestones.
Maintain professional, cordial, family-centered, and child-centered conduct in the best interest of the program.
Attend and participate in required team, site, and agency meetings, trainings, professional development, and continuing education.
Follow site health, safety, classroom organization, aesthetic, and sanitation guidelines.
Follow mandatory reporting requirements for suspected abuse, unsafe conditions, repair needs, complaints, accidents, and injuries.