Lead Teacher - Toddler - Edgemoor

Wonders Early Learning + Extended Day•Bethesda, MD

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Wonders Early Learning + Extended Day is seeking a Lead Teacher for their Toddler program at the Edgemoor location. This role is crucial in providing quality childcare services within the Early Childhood Education (ECE) programs. The Lead Teacher, as part of a team, will help implement Wonders' policies, procedures, and practices in an organized and thorough manner. Teamwork is a critical component of this position. Teachers regularly meet with the team, other staff, and the Program Director to help develop programs that follow the Wonders curriculum and promote the Wonders philosophy and ideals. The Lead Teacher is responsible for program spaces, and must ensure that the spaces are safe, interesting, engaging, and reflect the diversity of our society. The Lead Teacher participates in planning learning activities that are balanced in all areas and include: active/quiet, long/short, group/individual, cognitive/physical, large group/small group and child initiated/teacher directed. Attention is given to the children's ideas and curiosities in influencing the direction of daily activities.

Requirements

Minimum of AA in Early Childhood Education, or 90-hour Preschool Course (if degree is not in ECE), or CDA credential
9-hour Communication course (if candidate does not have a college degree or college units)
Must qualify as Maryland State Senior Staff
A minimum of 1 year of classroom experience with children
Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Nice To Haves

Creative, nurturing, and fun
Dependable and detail oriented
Thrives in a high-pressure environment
People oriented - enjoys interacting with people and working on group projects
Adaptable - enjoys doing work that requires frequent shifts in direction
Innovative - prefers working in unconventional ways or on tasks that require creativity

Responsibilities

Meet with the team to plan and implement a developmentally appropriate program based on Wonders Early Learning + Extended Day philosophy and mission statement
Participate in regular meetings with your Program Director, staff and team
Maintain open communication with the Lead Teacher regarding children, families and team members
Assist in orienting and training new team members for classroom responsibilities.
Share teaching responsibilities with all team members
Plan and participate in special events for children and families
Ensure that all spaces used by the program are: physically and emotionally safe / interesting and engaging for children / clean and organized
Reflect and support the lives and work of the children present
Introduce children to the diversity of our society
Recognize and demonstrate understanding of typical and atypical development of infant to five-year-old children, help manage atypical or disruptive behaviors of children by collaborating with team
Communicate with families on a regular basis to: inform them of classroom curriculum and activities and solicit information about their child's development and family events
Assist Lead Teacher in preparing for conferences with families
Participate in accreditation and re-accreditation processes for your site
Maintain children's classroom records as defined by your Program Director
Attend a minimum of 18 hours of MSDE/OCC approved staff training yearly
Maintain Pediatric First Aid and CPR certification
Maintain a clean, sanitary, healthy and a friendly classroom environment following NAEYC guidelines
Follow NAEYC Ethical Code of Conduct
Recognize and report signs of illness, child abuse and safety hazard to appropriate authorities
Help to develop behavior management strategies based on Wonders Early Learning + Extended Day policy in collaboration with team members, Program Director, parents and childcare professionals / therapists across disciplines
Become familiar with and abide by all Wonders Early Learning + Extended Day policies, including those in the staff handbook, parent handbook and terms of employment
Other duties or responsibilities as assigned.