Lead Teacher (North Philadelphia)

Lead Teacher

Statement of General Purpose

The Lead Teacher is responsible for ensuring the safety of each child is his/her care; monitoring, assessing, and supporting individual child development; planning and facilitating meaningful learning experiences; and creating an ideal learning environment for children in the Early Learning Center.

Examples of Essential Functions and Responsibilities

• Supervises the safety and well-being of assigned children at all times.
• Establishes, implements, and records high-quality lesson plans centered on early learning standards.
• Plans, facilitates, monitors, and supervises all classroom and field trip learning experiences for Early Learning Center participants to encourage and support intellectual, emotional, and social growth.
• Addresses disciplinary problems in an understanding, positive, and non-physical manner.
• Promotes a positive self-image for each child, respecting the dignity and worth of each child, encouraging creativity and independence.
• Introduces children to basic concepts to prepare them for reading, arithmetic, and other subjects and concepts; teaches group socialization skills such as communicating, sharing, and mutual respect; uses meal and snack time as learning experiences; participates in all creative and dramatic activities.
• Prepares and uses classroom materials, equipment, displays, bulletin boards, exhibits, and decorations to create an ideal learning environment; maintains classroom in clean and orderly fashion.
• Plans, schedules, arranges, and accompanies children on field trips and other activities of interest and educational value.
• Prepares formal advance plans of lessons, activities, field trips, events, themes, presentations, etc.
• Collaborates with administrators and staff in a team approach to develop methods and techniques to optimize child growth and development.
• Works directly with parents/families to discuss child progress and establish development plan.
• Participates in in-service training; utilizes external training and educational opportunities to augment teaching skills; applies educational theory, technical improvements, new textbooks and materials, and other advances in the field to students and classroom environment.
• Develops knowledge and awareness of social and human services programs and other resources available to Day Care Program participants and their families.
• Identifies and refers child development, performance, behavior, discipline, relationship, and other problems to Day Care Program management; utilizes assessment techniques such as observation, screening, development profiles and inventories, and readiness and achievement tests as appropriate.

• Maintains accurate attendance records; prepares individual progress reports; provides routine and exception reports to Community Center management.
• Ensures compliance with health and safety requirements.
• Performs related work as required.

Core Competencies

• Extensive knowledge of the modern methods, principles, and practices of early childhood education; of child growth and development; and of the content, methods, and materials used to teach children in early childhood.
• Ability to develop curriculum content and appropriate instructional methods; to plan and prepare lessons; to develop materials for use in instructional programs; to express ideas clearly and concisely; and to exercise good judgment in addressing and resolving problems.
• Ability to provide Community Center management with accurate and timely reports and recommendations.
• Ability to communicate effectively with children, parents, employees, and others in a positive, pleasant, professional, and productive manner.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education or Elementary Education with 18 credits in ECE, or Bachelor’s Degree in related filed with 30 credits in ECE.
• Two years teaching experience, preferably in a STAR 3 or 4 facility and with Head Start, PHLPreK, or PreK Counts programming.
• Ability to provide health screening with TB test and all necessary clearances.

Other Requirements

• This position includes the normal physical demands associated with a day care or similar program, including lifting, bending, and carrying; and travel to other facilities throughout the Philadelphia area.