Early Childhood Headstart Lead Teacher

Job Title: Early Childhood Headstart Lead Teacher   

Classification:  Support Staff

Range:              IV

QUALIFICATIONS:

1. High School Diploma or GED 
2. A minimum of 18 months childcare experience, preferably in a certified public preschool program
3. Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree preferred or significant progress towards BA degree in early childhood or related field.
4. Minimum of 18 credit hours of early childhood, child development or closely related field from an accredited college or university, as well as an additional 60 clock hours of related professional development
5. Willingness to continue formal education and make progress toward obtaining a degree relevant to the position
6. Minimum 21 years of age to meet licensing requirements
7. Basic computer literacy skills, including email, word processing and spreadsheets
8. Ability to demonstrate competency in accredited food handler training, via an American National Standards Institute approved program, (ANSI), or have possession of a valid Food Handlers Card 
9. Bilingual Spanish preferred
10. Fingerprint clearance card
11. First Aid /CPR certification
12. Demonstrated success working with multi-cultural student populations and their families
13. Willingness and ability to meet funding and licensing agency requirements, as appropriate and as directed
14. Ability to stand for long periods of time, move quickly to supervise young children on the playground and in the classroom
15. Ability to lift/carry 35 lbs. 

FUNCTION:

The Fowler Preschool Lead Teacher will be responsible for planning and delivering instruction to 4- and 5-year-olds, supervising teacher assistants, completing all required documentation and maintaining strong communication and involvement with parents and guardians.   The Lead Teacher will work closely with program director and site administrators to ensure maintenance of an optimal learning environment. 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Familiarity with Arizona Department of Education (ADE) High Quality Education and the Arizona Early Learning Standards and ability to plan in accordance with these standards;
• Familiarity with the student assessment tool Teaching Strategies Gold (TSG), the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS), and any other additional assessments required by Quality First. 
• Ability to use appropriate tools to document student learning, goals and progress towards goals;
• Ability to implement and plan for instruction and a learning environment which is reflective of the requirements of the Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale (ECERS); 
• Implement a developmentally appropriate curriculum based on student interests, needs and abilities;
• Include opportunities for whole group work, individual student learning time and collaborative small group work time;
• Complete weekly plans which align with relevant standards and assessment tools;
• Complete all required monitoring and grant embedded documentation as directed;
• Work collaboratively with appropriate personnel and student guardians to ensure all students are making appropriate academic and social progress, including appropriate implementation of the Individual Education Plan (IEP) goals;
• Keep children meaningfully engaged in hands-on developmentally appropriate, learning activities;
• Ensure that students are being provided multiple opportunities to explore, learn and demonstrate their creativity;
• Maintain healthy classroom environment embedded with structure, routines and well thought out systems for all learning activities; 
• Maintain a positive, engaging and attractive classroom environment, which reflects the ECERS standards;
• Ability to interact and collaborate with supervisors, peers and subordinates and communicate expectations and needs in a clear and accurate manner; 
• Develop an inclusive classroom valuing diversity and integration of family in the life of the classroom and the education process;
• Support development of healthy nutritional habits for all students by facilitating family style meals as appropriate;  
• Incorporate various learning modalities into the instructional day in order to ensure a range of approaches to the various student learning styles;
• Demonstrate warmth, caring and consideration for the whole child in every encounter with the students. 

Evaluation: In accordance with Governing Board Policy GDO.

Reports to: Early Childhood Director