Lead Teacher - Preschool - East Point Center

Sheltering Arms•East Point, GA

About The Position

The Lead Teacher is responsible for the care and education of a group of children as part of a teaching team and assists with planning and implementing the curriculum. The role provides a safe, healthy, and orderly learning environment; supports children’s physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development; and uses ongoing developmental assessments to plan age-appropriate activities. The Lead Teacher also builds positive relationships with families, communicates with parents about children’s activities and progress, and works collaboratively with center staff. The position requires knowledge of child development and early education practices, relevant safety and supervision policies, and applicable licensing and program standards. The Lead Teacher must maintain confidentiality, demonstrate professionalism and flexibility, and be prepared to manage accidents or emergencies while ensuring children are supervised and engaged in safe, appropriate activities. Duties may change, and other related responsibilities may be assigned by leadership.

Requirements

Associate degree in Early Childhood Education or a closely related field.
Knowledge of child development and early education theories and practices.
Knowledge of safe and appropriate activities for children and relevant policies and procedures to ensure children are supervised and safe.
Understanding of the early education and family center cultural environment.
Team-building, supervisory, analytical, problem-solving, decision-making, verbal communication, listening, stress-management, time-management, and teaching skills.
Ability to work independently with minimal guidance and to learn and apply new skills.
Ability to maintain strict confidentiality and demonstrate respect, cultural awareness and sensitivity, flexibility, sound work ethics, consistency, fairness, compassion, and understanding.
Willingness to work with children with special needs and their families.
Ability to lift and carry 30 pounds unassisted and 50 pounds with assistance.
Ability to sit on the floor and stand independently, clean and maintain equipment and the center, and perform physical activities such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
Ability to work in a busy and occasionally noisy environment with multiple activities and situations occurring at once.
Ability to learn and use technology, pass a hearing test, and visually observe children in the classroom and playground from at least 20 feet away.
Background check, fingerprinting, and drug test required before the hire date.

Nice To Haves

BA or BS in Early Childhood Education or a closely related field.

Responsibilities

Maintain an orderly, safe, and healthy learning environment, including completing daily health and classroom/playground safety checks and reporting deficiencies.
Follow health, hygiene, sanitation, and Active Supervision procedures, and share routine duties such as playground supervision, toileting, cleanup, and classroom maintenance.
Plan and implement an integrated, age-appropriate curriculum that supports children’s physical, cognitive, language, literacy, social, emotional, and creative development.
Maintain weekly lesson plans, prepare materials in advance, and use ongoing assessment results to plan activities suited to children’s developmental levels.
Promote children’s independence, positive self-esteem, social skills, problem-solving, and appropriate expression of feelings through positive guidance.
Welcome children, parents, and visitors, and communicate with families about children’s daily activities, assessments, and developmental progress.
Plan and conduct home and/or personal visits, parent conferences, and family-engagement opportunities; use Procare, progress notes, and monthly newsletters to communicate.
Attend staff and parent leadership meetings, conferences, and in-service training, and apply and share relevant knowledge and skills.
Promote the agency’s philosophy and educational objectives and maintain knowledge of early childhood education trends and applicable standards.
Work with the Curriculum Specialist or Center Director to ensure classroom materials are available and children’s assessments are completed and used for planning.
Work effectively with center staff, build productive relationships, help resolve conflict, and adapt to center changes.
Report planned absences to the Center Director before the workday, follow the assigned schedule and center rules, and maintain reliable attendance.
Maintain confidentiality and follow leadership instructions and other related duties as assigned.