Lead Early Childhood Teacher

Position Description:

A teacher reports directly to the center director for the implementation and ongoing success of the center’s educational program. The principal duties of the teacher include: develop action plans, carry out activities on a daily basis and evaluate the effectiveness of child development activities, supervise staff assigned to assist in the classroom, ensure the safety and physical well-being of the children, maintain regular communication with parents, and contribute to the effective operation of the overall child care center program.

The teacher will also interact with children in a positive, supportive manner, encouraging cooperative play. The teacher will warmly greet parents and children daily, console children when insecure or injured, guide and redirect inappropriate behaviors, and support children in learning through investigation, exploration, experimentation, and open-ended questions.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities:

• Plan and conduct an effective child development curriculum to meet the physical, social, emotional, and intellectual needs of each child in accordance to the school’s educational philosophy (NAEYC Standards and Nebraska Core Competencies for Early Childhood Professionals).
• Ensure that child care routines are carried out in a manner that is prompt, hygienic, and documented, and consistent; including routines to diapering, potty training, hand washing, tooth brushing, eating, napping, and transitioning between activities.
• Ensure the safety of children through constant supervision, effective arrangement of space, proper maintenance of equipment, and regular practice of fire drills and other emergency procedures.
• Operate the classroom in compliance with all child care licensing standards including discipline standards.
• Provide supervision to all staff assigned to the classroom and include staff planning and child development assignments.
• Maintain a classroom environment in which children feel secure, welcome, and valued.
• Provide positive guidance to help children develop the ability to be self-disciplined.
• Provide experiences which promote individual self-expression in conversation, imaginative play, and creativity.
• Provide a variety of language stimulation activities, including sign language.
• Provide experience involving thinking skills such as generalizing, classifying, sorting, and problem solving.
• Provide a variety of opportunities to help children develop and understand appropriate relationships with others.
• Ensure that parents receive adequate information about their child’s experiences at the center through daily contacts and regularly scheduled parent conferences.
• Maintain written records designed to evaluate each individual child as well as the class as a whole.
• Contribute to the operation of the center by participating in staff meetings and sharing information gained through attendance at workshops and professional reading
• Work as a member of a team to ensure continuity of curriculum and a high standard of quality in all classrooms in the center
• Maintain professional attitudes and loyalty to the school at all times
• Attending all staff meetings and recommended training programs and conferences
• Participate in professional organizations that work for the improvement of early childhood education
• Perform other related duties as assigned

Job Requirements:

Education and Experience

• Bachelors degree in early childhood education preferred
• Bachelor degree in an appropriate human service or education field (e.g. psychology, special education, music, social work) including some courses in child development, and at least two years teaching experience
• An associate degree in child development or early childhood education and at least two years teaching experience
• A child development associate credential and at least three years teaching experience

Personal Qualities

• Must be physically able to perform the job of a teacher of young children
• Must have warm, supportive attitude toward children
• Must be reliable
• Must be flexible in receiving assignments or adapting to changes in program
• Must be willing to accept supervision in order to improve work performance
• Strong professional parent communication skills
• Must LOVE to work with children
• Ability to lift at least 35lbs