Summary

Hours:  8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday with additional hours for training/staff meetings as assigned by director

Scope of position:

The Lead Teacher is responsible for developing a cohesive teaching team, coordinating the curriculum, and managing day-to-day operational activities of the classroom. The Lead Teacher is also responsible for general administrative duties as assigned, monitoring children's progress, and maintenance of related records for assigned classroom.   Lead Teachers understand children's cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development to ensure a safe and stimulating classroom environment where children are actively engaged and encouraged to succeed.  The Lead Teacher promotes the school's philosophy and educational objectives and supports the mission and goals of the program. 

Duties

Specific Duties:

• Be a leader in the school and have a positive attitude each day
• Be supportive of the mission and goals of Westminster Preschool
• Build strong relationships with children and families
• Always maintain adult supervision of children and adhere to child/staff ratios
• Attend all required training and events as an example to other staff
• Demonstrate faith in action and love for children
• Upholds Biblical values and principles.

Classroom environment:

• Maintain a clean and organized classroom and learning environment
• Create learning centers including, but not limited to, art, math/numbers, science, sensory, music, library, blocks, dramatic play, fine motor/manipulatives, writing, with a minimum of three different materials must be available in each learning center
• Create a classroom space to post pictures of the children's families
• Create a calming corner in the classroom and teach children how to utilize the space
• Create an environment that allows for child's artwork to be displayed at eye level throughout the classroom  
• Follow a daily schedule, allowing for appropriate transition time between different activities
• Interact with the children during all activities
• Provide plans and activities for substitute or teacher assistant when absent
• Assume an equal share of the joint housekeeping responsibilities of staff
• Complete and submit the daily cleaning checklist

Curriculum:

• Lesson plan, connecting Indiana Early Learning Foundations to daily/weekly activities
• Follow educational and social emotional curriculum assigned by program 
• Do regular story dictations with the children's artwork and post in classroom
• Participate in mealtimes with children, encouraging them to try new foods, asking open ended questions, urging positive conversations
• Adapt plans and activities to accommodate children with special needs

Assessment:

• Complete ASQ assessments on all children according to the prescribed schedule
• Use data gathered from the ASQ assessments to plan for daily activities to aide children in completing their goals and meeting their milestones
• Keep portfolios on each child to document their progress

Safety:

• Meet all health/safety standards as outlined in Indiana Childcare Licensing Rules and Regulations for Registered Ministries, CCDF, VCP and Paths to Quality
• Adhere to all Safe Sleep guidelines 
• Observe handwashing policies and procedures for both staff and children
• Observe proper diaper and sanitation procedures

Communication with children, families, and staff:

• Communicate with children with eye-level, one-on-one attention throughout the day
• Positively work with children on conflicts using a problem-solving approach
• Meet with families for parent/teacher conferences
• Communicate with families through ProCare on a regular basis about their child's daily activities, teacher concerns, photos of their children, etc. 
• Communicate with co-works and administrative staff regarding classroom and work-related needs

Requirements

Qualifications:

• Have a minimum of CDA awarded by the Council for Professional Recognition or equivalent (or commit to beginning within 6 months of being hired)
• Be working on an Associate degree or higher degree in early childhood education, child development/family studies, early childhood education or the equivalent
• Have a degree (Associate's or higher) in early childhood education or equivalent
• Have a degree (Associate's or higher) outside of the early childhood field with 3 or more years of work experience in a non-accredited program, and at least 30 contact hours of relevant training during that past 3 years.
• Ability to learn and utilize specialized software for parent communication
• Ability to communicate professionally verbally and in writing

Requirements:

• CPR/First Aid/Universal Precautions with annual recertification
• Must pass drug screening, criminal background check and FSSA background check
• TB testing
• Up-to-date physical
• Complete trainings in Safe Sleep, Indiana Early Learning Foundations, Child Abuse and Neglect, and Child Safety modules
• Maintain and hold 20 hours annually of in-service training on early childhood topics
• Attend and participate in all mandatory staff meetings/trainings
• Must be in a capacity to independently care for the appropriate number of children in the staff/student ratio required for the age group to which they are assigned
• Be familiar with the Voluntary Certification Program, Registered Ministry licensing requirements and Paths to Quality requirements

Physical requirements:  

• Willing and able to lift a child weighing at least 40 pounds
• Must be able to bend, stoop, reach, sit on the floor and rise from the floor without adult assistance.