Team Leader (Head Start)

The Team Leader is responsible for teaching a preschool classroom and will provide day-to-day oversight to one Family Service Teacher and other classroom staff. The person will ensure that the classroom provides an educational environment that is developmentally and linguistically appropriate and accommodates children’s individual rates of development as well as individual interests, temperaments, cultural backgrounds, and learning styles. The person will ensure that the team’s work is done in accordance with Head Start Performance Standards, USDA requirements, state licensing requirements and agency policies and procedures.

Job Responsibilities:

• Teach in assigned classroom everyday.
• Provide instructional leadership that promotes school readiness and ensures the delivery of high-quality early childhood education aligned with program standards and best practices.
• Create and maintain a safe, welcoming, nurturing, and academically engaging classroom environment that supports the social, emotional, physical, cognitive, and language development of every child.
• Build positive, trusting relationships with children by creating meaningful learning experiences that encourage exploration, independence, and confidence.
• Plan, implement, and evaluate developmentally appropriate, research-based Pre-K curriculum and instructional practices that meet the diverse needs of all learners.
• Design engaging lesson plans that promote school readiness skills while supporting children's individual learning styles, interests, and developmental goals.
• Utilize formative and summative assessments to monitor children's progress, analyze data, and make informed instructional decisions that improve learning outcomes.
• Implement effective classroom management strategies that foster positive behavior, active engagement, and a respectful learning environment.
• Partner with families by encouraging meaningful participation in school readiness activities, maintaining open communication, and supporting children's learning at home and in the classroom.
• Collaborate with teaching staff, coaches, specialists, and administrators to ensure consistent implementation of high-quality educational practices and continuous program improvement.
• Participate in ongoing coaching, reflective practice, professional development, and professional learning communities to strengthen instructional skills and improve child outcomes.
• Model professionalism, teamwork, and a commitment to continuous improvement by sharing best practices and supporting a collaborative learning culture.
• Build partnerships with families, community agencies, and local school districts to ensure children experience a smooth, positive, and successful transition into kindergarten.
• Demonstrate knowledge of current early childhood education research, child development principles, and instructional best practices to support the success of all children.
• Be committed to applying EPIC’s Core values to daily work by maintaining professionalism, accountability, consistency with program standards, and promptly reporting observed concerns through appropriate
  channels and following our Speak Up, Speak Out guidelines.

Working Conditions/Physical/ Mental Abilities and Processes:

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.
Work requires daily standing, sitting, walking, stooping, kneeling, lifting, twisting, turning, pushing, pulling, speaking, hearing, seeing and the ability to articulate clearly; use of hands to finger, bending and reaching.
Ability to feel or operate objects and equipment; reach with hands and arms.
Ability to work with personal computer for long periods of time.
Some travel to and from main office and training sites

Conditions of Employment:
Prior to employment, complete a pre-employment drug screen, Tb skin test by an EPIC approved healthcare provider at no cost to the employee.
Pre-employment basic physical by an EPIC healthcare provider (obtain within (30) days of employment and no cost to the employee).
Must pass an initial and periodic background check through the Washington State Department of Children, Youth & Families (DCYF) in Merit.
Provide proof of MMR vaccination and/ or resistance to Measles, Mumps & Rubella.
Current Food Handlers card.
Current First Aid/CPR card.
Prior to the first day, complete Health & Safety training certificates through DCYF student training portal.
Complete Childcare Basics 30 hours STARS training within 3 months of hire
Meet the minimum education requirements within the timeframe as stated in the performance standards.
Complete Child Abuse and Neglect training and all other mandated training.
CEO Approval.

Please note that this position is for the 2026/2027 program year, starting on August 24, 2026.

• Associate of Arts in Early Childhood Education or Development, or in a related field.*
• Demonstrated work experience of at least two (2) years, with lead teaching experience in a preschool setting.
• Documental work experience in the training and mentoring of classroom staff.
• Childcare Basics 30 hours STARS training.
• Valid Washington State Driver’s License & Auto insurance
• Demonstrated effective oral and written communication skills, ability to work very closely with other Team members, and ability to grasp a team-centered approach to delivery of services for children and families.
• Candidates who do not meet the minimum education requirement would need to hold a current Preschool Child Development Associate (CDA) or equivalent Preschool certificate, enroll in a higher education institution towards an AA in ECE, be on a Professional Development Plan with a confirmed deadline.