Lead Teacher, Great Start Readiness Program (2025-26 school year)

Kent Intermediate School District • Grand Rapids, MI

1d • $43,921 - $52,181

About The Position

Lead Teacher, Great Start Readiness Program ( 2025-26 school year ) 172 days per year, 35 hours per week. Broad Statement of Responsibilities: Prepare students for kindergarten in a safe and nurturing preschool environment.

Requirements

• A valid Michigan teaching certificate and an Early Childhood Education (ZA) or Early Childhood-General and Special Education (ZS) endorsement OR – A bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or child development with a specialization in preschool teaching. The transcript will document a major, rather than a minor, in child development or early childhood education.
• Knowledge and experience working with preschool, early elementary, and/or early childhood education.
• Ability to plan, prepare, and carry out engaging educational activities that promote the social-emotional, academic, and physical development of the whole child.
• Ability to establish and maintain a safe and secure learning environment.
• Ability to communicate effectively with young children and their families.
• Display sensitivity in meeting the needs of a diverse population of children and families.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to apply common sense understanding and learned skills while interacting with students and adults.
• Ability to develop effective working relationships with students, staff, and the school community.
• Demonstrate self-directedness and initiative when given a variety of tasks and responsibilities.
• Frequently stand, walk, sit, talk and hear.
• Regularly reach with hands and arms.
• Regularly sit on the floor with children for extended periods of time.
• Regularly get up and down from the floor.
• Regularly lift up to 40-70 pounds.
• Occasionally climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and peripheral vision.
• The employee needs to be able to tell where a sound is coming from and hear in a noisy environment.
• Employee must possess physical ability sufficient to employ physical intervention strategies when necessary, i.e. non-violent crisis intervention techniques.

Nice To Haves

• Certification of CPR and First Aid required by State Licensing.
• Teaching experience with at-risk children.
• Experience working with early childhood curriculum.

Responsibilities

• Develop high-quality weekly lesson plans with fidelity to the Connect4Learning curriculum.
• Lead/ facilitate developmentally appropriate learning activities for all parts of the preschool day.
• Gather child assessment data to plan for individualized instruction.
• Attend home visits, conferences, family events/ advisory meetings, and open houses.
• Actively participate in all planned professional development and PLCs.
• Maintain child files.
• Ensure compliance with all licensing standards.
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Develop positive partnerships with families and other staff members.
• Guide and collaborate with an Associate Teacher.
• Responsible for daily operation of the program.

Benefits

• Robust benefit package includes full medical, dental, and vision insurance; generous paid sick and personal days; State of Michigan School Employment retirement program; Kent ISD is a participating employer for the Public Student Loan Forgiveness program (PSLF/ SAVE plan) for eligible Federal student loans.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time