Lead Teacher -GA Pre-K - Norcross Center

Sheltering Arms•Norcross, 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 includes maintaining a safe, healthy, and orderly learning environment; supporting children’s physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development; building positive relationships with families; and maintaining professional standards and effective teamwork. The teacher plans and implements age-appropriate, integrated activities, maintains weekly lesson plans, assesses children’s development on an ongoing basis, and uses assessment results to guide learning. The role also includes daily communication with families, family engagement, and collaboration with center staff and leadership. The teacher must follow applicable licensing, NAEYC, Quality Rated, Head Start, and Georgia Pre-K requirements, and maintain children’s supervision and safety at all times. The position involves working in a busy, occasionally noisy environment with multiple activities and situations occurring at once. Physical duties may include lifting and carrying children and equipment, cleaning and maintaining the center, and moving around the classroom and playground. Background check, fingerprinting, and drug testing are required before the hire date. Pay is in accordance with the State Salary Schedule for Georgia’s Pre-K Lead Teachers.

Requirements

Proficient knowledge of child development and early education theories and practices.
Strong understanding of GELDS and Georgia Pre-K program requirements.
Knowledge of safe and appropriate activities for children and policies and procedures that 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 and listening communication, stress-management, time-management, and teaching skills.
Ability to work independently with minimal guidance and use resources effectively and efficiently.
Ability to learn and apply new skills and maintain current knowledge of early childhood education trends and best practices.
Ability to maintain strict confidentiality, demonstrate cultural awareness and sensitivity, and work respectfully, flexibly, consistently, fairly, compassionately, and ethically.
Ability to work with special-needs children and families.
Background check, fingerprinting, and drug test required prior to hire date.
Ability to lift and carry 30 pounds unassisted and 50 pounds with assistance.
Ability to sit on the floor and stand up independently, clean and maintain equipment and the center, and perform physical activities including climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
Ability to learn and use technology, pass a hearing test, and visually observe children throughout the classroom and playground from at least 20 feet away.
Ability to work in a busy and occasionally noisy environment, handle multiple situations at once, and respond to accidents and emergencies.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Maintain an orderly, safe, and healthy learning environment, including performing daily health checks and classroom and playground safety checks.
Follow active supervision, handwashing, sanitizing, and other health and safety procedures; report safety deficiencies to the Curriculum Specialist or Center Director.
Share routine classroom duties, including playground supervision, toileting, cleanup, and classroom maintenance.
Plan and implement an integrated, age-appropriate curriculum that supports children’s physical, cognitive, language, literacy, number-concept, social, and emotional development.
Maintain weekly lesson plans, prepare materials in advance, and use ongoing developmental assessments to plan activities suited to children’s needs and developmental levels.
Use positive guidance, support children’s independence and problem-solving, and work with children with special needs and their families.
Establish routines and smooth transitions, and provide varied hands-on, creative, and culturally diverse learning experiences.
Communicate with parents daily about children’s activities and development, including through Procare, progress notes, newsletters, and conferences.
Conduct home and/or personal visits, explain classroom activities to families, and encourage family participation in the program.
Attend staff and parent leadership meetings, conferences, and in-service training; apply and share knowledge gained.
Follow center procedures and schedules, maintain attendance and timekeeping expectations, and report planned absences to the Center Director before the workday begins.
Maintain current knowledge of early childhood education practices and applicable state licensing, NAEYC, Quality Rated, and Head Start standards.
Work collaboratively with center staff, maintain effective relationships, help resolve conflict, and remain flexible with center changes.
Work with the Curriculum Specialist or Center Director to ensure classrooms have adequate materials and that children’s assessments are completed and used for planning.
Maintain confidentiality and perform other related duties as assigned by leadership.