Description

Background on Peregrine School

Peregrine School is a nonprofit, independent school whose mission is to educate creative, critical thinkers. Peregrine strives to provide children with the richest and most rigorous developmentally appropriate experience possible, honoring both the spirit of childhood and the vast possibilities for human development. Peregrine School serves children ages 12 months to 6th grade; with ratios of 1:4, 1:6, and 1:8 in our Early Childhood Centers; and between 1:10 and 1:14 in our Elementary School. Visit www.peregrineschool.org for more information.

Summary of Job Description

The Head Teacher organizes an excellent, high-quality, progressively oriented program for preschool students. Beyond simply delivering curriculum, Head Teachers foster a nurturing and child-centered environment that meets children’s needs, inspires them to learn critically and creatively, and supervises the other staff in their program.

Position Start Date: June 1st, 2024

Responsibilities/Duties

• Oversee and manage a specific preschool program, including but not limited to class curriculum, teaching staff and their schedules, substitutes, interns/volunteers, and communication with parents.
• Research and develop meaningful projects that advance upon students’ skill level, build on previous themes, and encourage exploration in new areas of interest.
• Willingness and ability to engage in Reggio-Emilia and other developmentally appropriate, child-centered, play-based approaches to teaching.
• Support the SOAR curriculum.
• Support and lead circle time, activities, and projects according to class structure.
• Prepare and teach activities/projects.
• Take initiative to improve routines and the classroom program.
• Collaborate with other staff to ensure that the curriculum is well articulated with other ECC programs.
• Supervise teachers, substitutes, interns, and/or volunteers, and coach them, as necessary, with verbal and written/email reminders; document all communication and meetings.
• Facilitate the completion of closing tasks.
• Be knowledgeable of and follow school policies, protocol, and expectations; ensure that anyone under their supervision is as well.
• Engage students in a nurturing manner that uses open-ended questions and positive guidance techniques.
• Engage with groups of students in play, games, and activities according to class ratios.
• Create a physically safe, attractive, and developmentally appropriate classroom environment.
• Help serve and clean up meals.
• Help maintain the classroom and garden through cleaning, organization, and yard work.
• Work collaboratively with the team to maintain classroom ratios.
• Document and communicate each child’s progress through portfolios, conferences, reports, and class emails/blogs.
• Oversee and maintain the classroom budget.
• Facilitate and participate in events and professional development opportunities for staff, with support from admin.
• Address situations with students, families, and/or staff promptly as they occur.
• Maintain open communication with the team on a regular basis.
• Check work email for school and class communication, and keep updated on important dates and information communicated.
• Approve timesheets; make sure timesheets are accurate and approved by employees, and address any issues as they arise.
• Facilitate weekly staff meetings.
• Attend Professional Development days.
• Participate in school events and other extensions of classroom work and school programs.
• Communicate with the ECC Director on a regular basis; collaborate with the ECC Director to cover extra and shared duties.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Reports to the ECC Director.

Qualifications

• An AA, BA, or BS in Child Development or a related field. Acceptable: At least 12 Early Childhood Education units or equivalent, combined with significant experience.

  • At least 3 units of infant/toddler development are required if working in the infant/toddler program.

• Experience working with preschool children in a professional setting.

• Strong familiarity with and experience with Reggio-Emilia and other child-centered, play-based approaches to teaching.

• Ability to organize and teach an enriched program involving play-based learning, themes, projects, and other age-appropriate activities.

• Understanding of and commitment to Peregrine School’s mission and philosophy.

• Excellent supervisory skills in organizing a team of teachers and aides.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• Strong interpersonal skills: ability to deal effectively with a diversity of individuals at all organizational levels.

• CPR/First Aid preferred, but not required.