Lead Teacher - Jerome Preschool

Saginaw Intermediate School District•Saginaw, MI

5d•Onsite

About The Position

This position serves as the Lead of a teaching team in a classroom of preschool children. This position plans and implements a healthy, safe, and developmentally appropriate learning environment for preschool children that promotes developmental gains toward the attainment of kindergarten readiness skills as defined in the Head Start Program Performance Standards, The Head Start Child Development and Early Learning Framework and Kindergarten Readiness Goals. Behavior and actions in the classroom, with families, the community and with staff serves as a model of excellence. Because this position is one part of a large system of services provided to children and families, this position also serves as a social service referral person and shares responsibility for parent involvement in the program. The position may be reassigned to various classrooms/centers as deemed necessary for program operations. The position may serve as “program director” for child care licensing purposes.

Requirements

Bachelors or Advanced Degree in Early Childhood Education or Bachelor’s and coursework equal to a major in Early Childhood Education with experience teaching preschool.
Must be willing to obtain Administrative training within six months of employment.
Have knowledge and experience in the philosophy and practices of Head Start, early childhood education and developmentally appropriate practice.
Must be willing and able to obtain Basic First Aid and CPR Certification and maintain certification.
Acceptable tuberculosis and drug screening results, a clear criminal records check and an initial health exam are required post job offer and prior to employment.
Current and former Head Start employees, students, and parents will receive preference for employment vacancies for which they are qualified.
Personal qualifications require emotional maturity, willingness to cooperate with the aims of the program, respect for children and adults, flexibility, patience, good personal hygiene and physical and mental health which does not interfere with responsibilities.
Also education or experience in collaborating with parents in the education of their children.
SISD - Saginaw County Head Start is a customer-driven, family friendly program. As such, all staff must value and be committed to the highest levels of professionalism, cooperation, teamwork and tolerance; this includes working well with families, children, co-workers, supervisors and the greater community.

Nice To Haves

Willingness to learn ChildPlus and Teaching Strategies Gold programs as needed.

Responsibilities

Attends all required training and workshops, including on-line training and cluster meetings as required by Head Start and Michigan state licensing.
Remains up-to-date on information that pertains to the needs of the children in the program including Head Start Performance Standards, Michigan child care licensing regulations and other applicable regulations and practices.
Keeps up to date on Developmentally Appropriate Practice.
Maintains knowledge of the regulations associated with prevention of occupational disease and injury, including the exercise of universal precautions and the prevention of contamination.
Is able to work with children at all levels of development.
Maintains professional certification that employee was hired in with or obtained to meet Head Start and ISD standards.
Successfully completes and maintains Basic First Aid, CPR certification and licensing required training.
Actively participates in opportunities for continuous professional development.
Participates in the delivery of Head Start services as defined by Head Start Performance Standards and Saginaw ISD Head Start Operational Procedures.
Establishes a safe, healthy, stimulating and developmentally appropriate learning environment for children birth to five and children with all abilities.
Ensure that learning environments are safe from hazards, free from clutter, and allow for visibility of children; by utilizing the Daily Health and Safety Checklist.
The ability to maintain strict confidentiality with respect to Head Start children, families, and staff in accordance with established policies, procedures, and other legal requirements i.e., FERPA, HIPAA.
Fosters self-esteem, self-direction, self-control, and school readiness skills with preschool children by using positive methods and modeling and participating in curriculum development and implementation.
Complies with program curriculum and supplemental curriculum, State of Michigan Licensing for child care centers and the Head Start Program Performance Standards
Screens, observes and assesses children’s development on a regular basis, analyzes data and makes plans or referrals specific to the needs of the individual child.
Participates in recruitment activities and transportation services
Assists with kitchen duties as necessary, i.e.; warming up food, dishing food into bowls, taking food temperatures and cleaning refrigerator and warmer.
Assists with bus aide duties as necessary, i.e.; riding the bus, completing bus paperwork and buckling children in seats on the bus.
Supervises and eats nutritionally prepared meals with the children as a curriculum activity, to model good nutrition, proper social skills and language stimulation in a family style environment as listed in the Head Start Performance Standards.
Submits weekly/monthly paperwork and progress reports to the supervisor as scheduled.
Supervises or orders supplies as needed and takes inventory as requested.
Maintains child records in cooperation with the Family Advocate(s).
Gathers and maintains individual, family and classroom data for documentation, screening, on-going assessment, evaluation and recording keeping for successful individual and program planning.
Understands, generates and documents in-kind and other allowable costs applied toward the non-federal share requirement.
Supports monthly Parent Club meetings at the center.
Schedules and arranges meetings, and documents parent-teacher conferences and home visits as required.
Models, mentors and supervises all classroom volunteers, including parents who come into the classroom.
Works closely with the local school system(s), as appropriate, for shared activities, registration and smooth transition.
Virtual if needed
Plans, supervises and works in conjunction with Associate Teacher, Program Aide and other staff as assigned on all aspects of the classroom and implementation of the curriculum.