Head Start Lead Teacher (Augusta Locations)

YMCA of Metropolitan 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 includes directly supervising and developing classroom associates and managing classroom operations. Teachers plan and deliver developmentally appropriate, individualized, inclusive learning experiences that support children’s intellectual, physical, social, and emotional development, school readiness, literacy, language, early math and science, problem-solving, and approaches to learning. The teacher establishes a safe, healthy, organized learning environment; supervises children throughout indoor and outdoor activities; and uses positive, nurturing approaches to guide behavior and respond to children’s needs. Responsibilities also include preparing lesson plans and materials, organizing classroom spaces, conducting observations and developmental assessments, individualizing instruction based on children’s needs, and completing required home visits and parent conferences. The role involves family and volunteer engagement, accurate attendance and meal-count records, required reporting and documentation, and participation in meetings, training, and professional development. The posting describes two arrangements: internal teacher assistants may serve as Acting Head Start Lead Teachers until a fully qualified lead is hired, after which they return to the assistant teacher position. Internal or external candidates may serve as Supply Head Start Lead Teachers through the end of the current academic school calendar year, subject to satisfactory performance. The supply position is described as a project, part-time position working full academic-day hours, with 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 a pre-employment background check, including criminal record check, drug screening, motor vehicle record check, and reference check, in accordance with 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 readiness for school.
Develop children’s literacy, phonemic and print awareness, language, vocabulary, and appreciation of books.
Build foundations in early math and science, problem-solving, and approaches to learning.
Establish and maintain a safe, healthy 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 developmentally appropriate practices that are individualized, inclusive of children with disabilities, age appropriate, and integrated across developmental areas.
Meet applicable federal, state, local, and program regulations, performance standards, monitoring guidelines, licensing regulations, disability-service requirements, and documentation timelines.
Complete developmental assessments, parent conferences, and home visits as required.
Actively participate in teaching activities and continuously supervise children during indoor and outdoor activities and whenever they are in the teacher’s care.
Redirect inappropriate behavior positively and non-punitively, and respond promptly and nurturefully to distressed or crying children.
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, relevant, stimulating, challenging activities based on children’s individual needs and interests.
Prepare lesson plans, materials, and learning environments in advance; keep them organized, interactive, appropriate, clean, safe, and hands-on.
Balance open and structured, child-initiated and teacher-directed activities; provide large-group, small-group, and individualized instruction.
Plan and implement transitions between daily activities and organize classroom space into recognizable, clutter-free functional areas.
Conduct and document ongoing observations of each child’s overall development and milestones.
Conduct required home visits promptly and parent conferences at times, in ways, and locations convenient to parents, focusing predominantly on positive developmental information.
Administer and record scheduled developmental assessments and use their results 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.
Record and total attendance accurately each day, submit accurate attendance and other required reports, and provide the tabulated monthly roll-book attendance page before the third day of the following month.
Count, record, and submit accurate daily meal counts 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, aesthetics, and sanitation guidelines.
Follow mandatory reporting requirements for suspected abuse, unsafe conditions, repair needs, complaints, accidents, and injuries.