Description

JOB TITLE: Head Teacher

REPORTS TO: Director/Assistant Director

FLSA TYPE: Non-Exempt

GENERAL FUNCTION

• The Master Teacher is responsible for meeting the developmental needs of children birth through six years of age in a group setting. 
• Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
• planning and implementing developmentally appropriate lesson plans that address the cognitive, emotional, and social needs of each child,
• providing a safe and secure environment
• providing documentation of positive developmental outcomes for students, as well as maintaining positive relations and communications with families, partnership agencies and program staff.
• Directs classroom teachers, assistant teacher, practicum students, and volunteers to meet program standards as well as Oklahoma Department of Human Service Licensing Regulations, NECPA. guidelines, Oklahoma City/County Health Department and the Child and Adult Center Food Program licensing regulations.

PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES

Planning:

• Plan and implement developmentally appropriate lessons and activities.
• Plan in advance, weekly lesson plans and supply needs and turn into your director or designated person.
• Post current lesson plans in the classroom at all times.
• Develop a daily schedule that provides a balance of active and quiet activities, individual and group times.
• Arrange the classroom to provide for learning centers and rotate toys routinely.
• Monitor children’s developmental progress through observation records, checklists, daily reports and portfolios.

Parent Communication:

• Maintain positive, open relations with all families.
• Address and greet parents by name upon arrival and departure.
• Reinforce daily to parent and child the successes and positive behaviors exhibited.
• Visit with parents and keep record of all behavior concerns as may arise.
• Communicate all concerns and provide written documentation of all concerns to Director or Associate Executive Director of Youth Development
• Conduct parent teacher conferences twice yearly as schedule and more often as needed.
• Facilitate all classroom activities, participate, model, and observe as necessary.

Classroom Organization:

• Manage all classroom supplies and equipment in a safe and organized manner.
• Maintain the classroom environment to support smooth transitions and independent learning of children.
• Maintain labeling on classroom shelving and containers.
• Maintain neatly all storage areas.
• Follow a cleaning schedule.
• Display all posting and children’s work in a neat and orderly manner at children’s eye level.
• Children’s artwork display should be at least 90% creative art, 10% can be process art.
• Maintain a parent informational board in the classroom; autobiography of each teacher, picture of each teacher, class schedule, special events, current lesson plans, and center newsletter.
• Maintain learning centers; older toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergarteners have space arranged for a variety of individual and small group activities including block building, dramatic play, art, music, science, math, manipulative, quiet book reading, sand and water play and woodworking should be offered occasionally.
• Maintain clear pathways for children to move from one area to another without disturbing activities.
• Areas are organized for easy supervision by staff.

Maintain a Safe, Secure and Clean Environment:

• Lift and carry children as need.
• Follow all program guidelines in regard to food service, clean up and food storage.
• Complete accident/incident reports in a timely manner, following the chain of command have the report signed and provide a copy to the parent on the day of the incident.
• Support and demonstrate discipline practices in accordance with D.H.S. Licensing Regulation.
• Remove all broken toys or equipment.

Maintain Professionalism:

• Attend all required staff meeting and trainings.
• Follow program dress code.
• Maintain appropriate attendance.
• Maintain eye contact and smile at parents, children and staff during all communications.
• Maintain confidentiality on a strict need to know basis with parents, staff, outside agencies, and the general community.
• Maintain current certification in Infant/Child and Adult CPR, First Aid.
• Plan and complete training hours required by Oklahoma DHS Licensing Regulations.
• Meet and/or exceed all Oklahoma D.H.S. Licensing regulation and NECPA. guidelines in relation to programming for children birth to six years. 
• May assist in interviewing center staff.
• Develop meaningful and sustainable relationships with members, donors and volunteers.

Requirements

Entry Requirements:

• High school diploma
• Must be at least 18 years of age and have obtained the qualifications:
•  Level IV or higher of Appendix L-3
• Professional Development Ladder (C.D.A., C.C.P. or higher level -Oklahoma Certificate of Mastery, Competency Certificate, A.A./A.S. with 12 hrs of ECE/CD, A.A./A.S. degree in ECE/CD or B.A./B.S. with at least 18 credit hours in ECE/CD)
• Possess a command of spoken and written English to serve as a language role model.
• Must be certified by the ASHI in PR/CPR, AED, O2, and First Aid. 
• Follow Child Abuse Report Guidelines.
• Experience managing groups of young children.
• Meet all Health Department Guidelines.
• Meet all Oklahoma Department of Human Service Licensing Regulations.
• Pass random drug test.
• Minimum of 6 months experience working in a licensed childcare program.
• Excellent organizational skills required.
• Ability to provide a positive, nurturing environment for children required.
• Ability to be flexible in assignment and work hours.
• Ability to provide superior customer service required.

Accountability:

• The Master Teacher is responsible for the equipment, supplies and appearance of a specified classroom, and responsible for maintaining established program. 
• The Master Teacher reports to the Director and Associate Executive Director of Youth Development.
• Attendance to all mandatory meeting and workshops is required. 

Adaptability Requirements:

• Position requires a high degree of adaptability. Incumbent will be faced with a variety of issues on a day-to-day basis and will be engaged in multiple tasks and is to respond quickly and appropriately to frequently changing needs of children.
• Responsibilities include but not limited to job description.

Physical Requirements:

• Incumbent must be able to lift 50 pounds.
• Standing up to 95% of the day 
• Stoop and bend, sit on the floor, perform all activities with children, i.e., jump, dance, walk, run, etc for extended periods of time.
• Must be able to effectively communicate verbally
• Seeing: Yes
• Hearing: Yes
• Color Acuity: Yes

Environmental Conditions:

• Health risks include probable exposure to diseases transmitted by oral-fecal route
• Works in an environment filled with items (toys, small furniture, etc.) providing numerous opportunities for slipping and falling.
• Exposed to continuous noise up to 90 decibels.
• Constant exposure to over-crowding and noxious odors.
• No provision of adult size furniture in classroom.
• Frequent exposure to outside weather conditions.
• Changes soiled diapers and clothing on a regular basis.

After Hire Requirements:

• New Staff Orientation within the first 30 days of hire.
• Within 60 days of employment completion of Oklahoma Department of Human Service Licensing Orientation.
• Within 30 days of employment provide current certificate of completion for Infant/ Child and Adult C.P.R., First Aid.
• Attend all required staff meetings or trainings.
• Annually complete 24 hours training to meet D.H.S. Licensing Requirements
• Annually set 3 goals for professional development.
• Bring a copy of all current training hours and certificates needed for NECPA and DHS Licensing.