Head Start Lead Teacher (Augusta Locations)

YMCA of Metro Atlanta•Augusta, GA

About The Position

The Head Start Lead Teacher is responsible, under the supervision of the Center Manager/Director, for implementing the day-to-day operation of services for children ages 3–5. The role directly supervises and develops classroom associates and provides a safe, healthy, inclusive learning environment that supports children’s intellectual, physical, social, and emotional development and readiness for school. The teacher plans and implements developmentally appropriate, individualized, age-appropriate learning experiences across the curriculum, including literacy, language, early mathematics and science, problem-solving, and approaches to learning. Duties include preparing lesson plans and classroom materials, organizing functional classroom areas, balancing child-initiated and teacher-directed activities, and providing large-group, small-group, and individualized instruction. The teacher also maintains constant supervision, supports children with appropriate behavior guidance and care practices, and responds promptly and nurturingly to children in distress. The role includes working with families through home visits, parent conferences, and classroom and home participation opportunities. The teacher conducts observations and developmental assessments, uses assessment information to individualize instruction, and refers suspected disabilities or abuse to the appropriate authority. The teacher maintains attendance, meal counts, assessments, and other required documentation; follows applicable program, licensing, health, safety, sanitation, and reporting requirements; and participates in required meetings, training, and professional development. The posting describes two specific arrangements: Acting Head Start Lead Teachers are internal teacher assistants who serve until a fully qualified lead is hired, then return to the assistant teacher role. Supply Head Start Lead Teachers may be internal or external candidates and, with satisfactory performance, serve through the end of the current academic school calendar year. The Supply role is project-based, part-time, works full academic-day hours, and has an end date.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
PDS documentation, transcripts, and proof of credentials.
Ability to kneel, bend, squat, lift, push, pull, and carry objects or children weighing up to 50 pounds.
Ability to pass pre-employment criminal record, drug screening, motor vehicle record (MVR), and reference checks according to company policy.
Must be legally eligible to work in the United States without current or future sponsorship.

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 and school readiness.
Develop children’s literacy, phonemic and print awareness; language and vocabulary; appreciation of books; early math and science; problem-solving; and approaches to learning.
Establish and maintain a safe, healthy, inclusive learning environment and support children’s social and emotional development.
Encourage family involvement in the Head Start program and support relationships between children and their families.
Consistently use individualized, inclusive, developmentally appropriate practices across all areas of children’s development.
Meet applicable federal, state, local, program, performance, monitoring, licensing, and disability-service requirements and timelines, including developmental assessments, parent conferences, and home visits.
Actively participate in teaching indoors and outdoors and maintain constant supervision of children during activities and care.
Redirect inappropriate behavior positively and non-punitively, and promptly comfort children who are distressed or crying.
Use developmentally appropriate feeding, toileting, cleaning, and health care practices, including for children with special health care needs.
Model appropriate language, including grammatically correct spoken and written language.
Plan, prepare, and implement age-appropriate, integrated, thematic, hands-on activities based on children’s individual needs and interests.
Prepare organized, interactive, appropriate, clean, and safe lesson plans, materials, and learning environments in advance.
Plan and implement a balance of open and structured, child-initiated and teacher-directed activities, including large-group, small-group, and individualized instruction.
Plan and implement transition strategies for daily activities and organize classroom space into functional, recognizable, clutter-free areas.
Conduct and record ongoing observations of the whole child and developmental milestones.
Conduct required home visits in the home and on time, and hold scheduled and additional parent conferences at times, in ways, and locations convenient for parents, with a predominantly positive and developmental focus.
Administer and record scheduled developmental assessments and use the information to plan, teach, and individualize classroom activities.
Refer suspected disabilities and abuse to the appropriate authority based on assessments, observations, milestones, or typical behavior.
Plan and provide opportunities for parent and volunteer participation in the classroom and at home.
Accurately record and total daily attendance, submit attendance and other applicable reports, and provide monthly tabulated attendance by the third day of the following month.
Count, record, and submit accurate meal-count reports to food service staff after each meal.
Attend and participate in required team, site, and agency meetings, trainings, professional development, and continuing education.
Follow and enforce site-appropriate health, safety, classroom organization, aesthetic, and sanitation guidelines.
Follow mandatory reporting requirements for suspected abuse, unsafe conditions, repair needs, complaints, accidents, and injuries.