Lead Teacher

JOB SUMMARY:

Pay Range $24 Hourly

Responsible for developing and implementing a high quality, nurturing, anti-bias, developmentally appropriate environment, utilizing the YWCA’s anti-bias curriculum for a diverse classroom. Maintain a safe and high-quality environment for children by providing work direction to staff. Responsible for the daily care, education and nurturing of children enrolled in the classroom along with a team of staff and for tracking and reporting the child’s progress in social, physical, emotional, and cognitive development to parents/guardians. The Lead Teacher may also be asked to occasionally fulfill the duties of the Assistant Director or the Director during their absence. The lead teacher will be expected to support the center as a whole. This may include supporting various age groups and other centers as the need arises. In addition, they may be asked to assist the leadership team with a variety of center needs.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Ensure smooth operation of the classroom as described below:

Develop and implement age appropriate curriculum based on the YWCA’s anti-bias and We Care curriculum using themes and classroom observations.

Supervise children at all times ensuring attendance tracking is completed on a regular basis.

Foster and maintain a safe and healthy learning environment.

Provide nurturing, culturally sensitive care for each child.

Assess, document and report children’s progress in social, emotional, language, literacy, cognitive and physical development, meeting timelines for reporting assessment, data needs and building curriculum.

With center teams, develop and implement behavioral management strategies. Foster and model cultural sensitivity to the families we serve.

Ensure individual child assessments and child portfolios are up to date and current.

Ensure all DHS Rule standards are maintained in classroom at all times.

Assist in maintaining governing agencies compliance at all times (DHS Rule 3, NAEYC, Parent Aware, and CACFP.)

Partner with ECE center team in planning center activities and special events.

Provide backup support for ECE Assistant Director or Director as needed. This includes assisting with opening and closing of the center.

Takes initiative for implementing new strategies or overall center objectives

Attend all staff training days and complete required number of DHS in-service hours yearly.

Provide work direction to classroom staff to ensure compliance with YWCA policies and procedures.

Understand and interpret the YWCA mission to children, families, and staff.

Coach and mentor classroom staff such as leading by example, modeling appropriate care and education of children, and providing suggestions for professional development. .

Understand the dynamics of providing work direction to a diverse staff.

Punctual and consistent attendance. Ready to go into the classroom at beginning of shift.

COMPETENCIES and REQUIREMENTS

Skills, knowledge and attributes necessary to perform the job

Organization:

The role of a Lead Teacher calls for strong attention to detail, and a consistent and reliable positive attitude;

Provide well-planned lessons, easily accessible materials and a safe and inviting classroom.

Lesson plans are submitted for approval two weeks before implementation

Highly organized and able to create structure and routine.

Communication:

Clear and concise communicator. Proven ability to clearly explain expectations and rules to young children and work directives for staff

Active listener who understands what children are saying and is able to effectively identify any problems they may be having.

Provides clear and frequent communication to families and builds strong partnerships.

Manages conflict and deals with issues respectfully and directly.

Manages professional communication through center approved methods: ProCare, daily in person communication, YWCA email, YWCA phones, conferences, parent meetings, YWCA forms

Ability to maintain confidentiality.

Classroom Management

Uses effective classroom management strategies to create a positive learning environment for all children while still providing individualized attention.

Establish daily routines, and manage transitions between activities.

Notify leadership of any programming needs, curriculum supplies, equipment, and repair needs in the classroom.

Uses time efficiently, effectively, and wisely.

Lesson Planning

Plan developmentally appropriate lessons that meet each child’s needs.

Be flexible in their planning and able to adjust lessons quickly if necessary.

Strong understanding of early childhood development and the key milestones that children reach in each developmental domain.

Submit content for newsletters and center communication

Behavioral Management

Effective process/system to respond to challenging behavior effectively including using positive reinforcement and establishing rules and boundaries in their classroom.

Look for the need children are expressing through their behaviors and create and carry out solutions to meet those needs.

Recordkeeping:

Maintain accurate and up to date records; help identify concerns and track each child’s progress.

Accurate attendance tracking

Contribute to the NAEYC Accreditation process including the completion and updating of classroom portfolios.

Ensure all child assessments and child portfolios are up to date and current.

Child Development:

Strong understanding of early childhood development and the key milestones that children reach in each developmental domain.

Provide appropriate curriculum and plan activities that nurture each child’s physical, cognitive, language, and social-emotional growth.

Ability to spot concerns or developmental delays.

Health and Safety:

First aid and CPR certified.

Additional health and safety training on emergency procedures

Maintain a high level of health and safety to ensure child well-being.

Assure emergency procedures are known and practiced.

Technology and Training

Basic understanding of how to use ECE Software

Complete and maintain required DHS and YWCA required training and inservice.

Emotional Intelligence:

Ability to be emotionally mature when handling the behavioral and personality difference children exhibit.

Exhibits compassion showing care, patience, kindness and support to each student, seeking to understand their situation.

Actively seeks and accepts feedback; looks at mistakes as learning opportunities.

Uses good judgement in solving problems, building solutions, and in recommending or making decisions.

Collaboration and Teamwork:

Ability to work cooperatively and effectively with other ECE staff.

Exhibits a clear understanding of their role in the team and provide ready support to other to achieve a common goal.

Creates respectful and trusting working relationships.

Provide training and guidance to other newer/less experienced staff.

RELATIONSHIPS:

This position reports to the Early Childhood Education Director who reports to the ECE Director of Operations. Lead Teachers will interact with Teachers, Assistant Teachers, Associate Teachers, and Teacher Aides, ECE Specialist, volunteers, students, and parents.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Required:

Education and Experience

Meet Minnesota DHS Rule 3 Teacher qualifications including yearly service requirements.

Strong interpersonal relationship skills.

Must have strong written and verbal communication.

2+ years prior experience in similarly related position creating and effectively implementing age appropriate activities and curriculum

Demonstrate strong problem and conflict management skills.

Ability to provide work direction clearly and respectfully to other staff.

Current First Aid and CPR Certifications.

Ability to mentor staff.

Preferred:

AA/BA in Early Childhood Development or similarly related field of study.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear, stand, walk, sit, use hands to fingers, handle or feel, reach with hands and arms, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee frequently is required to climb or balance and taste or smell. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision and depth perception. Individual must have the ability to get to and from various sites/events/meetings in the metro area on an occasional basis.

ADDITIONAL NOTES: This job description represents the major functions but is not intended to be all-inclusive.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY (EEO) STATEMENT: YWCA Minneapolis is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.