Pre-K Lead Educator

Responsible to: Director

Job Purpose: The Pre-K Lead Educator is responsible for the physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being and the supervision of his/her assigned group of children. Caring for four and five-year old’s, educators will provide a safe, nurturing, and enriching educational environment; contributes to social interactions; has the patience, compassion, and energy to successfully guide children, each of whom will have different needs, abilities, aptitudes, and emotions; planning comprehensive curriculums addressing developmental needs along with foundational life skills preparing them for the next stage of formal education.

Certification Requirement

Candidate must hold an active Virginia teaching license in Early Childhood Education.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direction of the Director, the PreK Lead Educator performs all of the following:

Child Development and Supervision

Plans, supervises, and implements the childcare program in accordance with policies and the philosophy of the center.

Treats each child with dignity and respect.

Helps children become aware of their roles as integral members of a group.

Physically supervises all activities of children in their care, supervision standards and processes must be maintained at all times both inside and outside of the center.

Provides consistent care of children’s needs throughout the day, including but not limited to:

• Feeding
• Diapering
• Toilet Training
• Comforting
• Guidance
• Nap/ Rest
• Play
• Learning

Tailors the program to the needs of individual children with concern for their interests, differing abilities, special talents, and individual style and pace of learning.

Considers individual children in relation to their cultural and socioeconomic background.

Leads developmentally appropriate activities and lessons that include dramatic play, block/manipulative, gross/fine motor, arts/crafts, music/movement, language, math/science, indoor/outdoor activities, etc.

Communicates daily with parents/families regarding child’s day/activities.

Evaluates child’s performance and completes a developmental checklist as required.

Provides medical care as needed to children.

Submits weekly lesson plans at least one week in advance to Director.

Identifies behavioral problems and determine the right course of action.

Coordinates activities for volunteers.

Classroom and Program Management

• Responsible for the arrangement, appearance, decor, and learning environment of the classroom.
• Ensures classroom environment, lesson plans, and all other quality criteria are maintained at all times.
• Responsible for maintaining accurate documentation and records of attendance, accidents, activity sheets, etc.
• Responsible for ensuring the cleanliness of and reporting any maintenance/repair for the classroom.
• Assumes an equal share of housekeeping responsibilities (indoors and outdoors).
• Responsible for ensuring the classroom is adequately stocked with any necessary forms or supplies each day before the first child arrives.
• Attends all required staff meetings.
• Participates in recommended training programs, conferences, CPR and First Aid courses, and other aspects of professional development (Minimum hours required: 16 per year)
• Implements methods for effectively utilizing Educational Assistants.
• Represents the PreK Lead Educator position, the YWCA, and UVA Wise in a hospitable manner to guests and in contact outside the center.
• Maintains a positive, flexible, and cooperative relationship with all staff and volunteers of the agency.
• Assists the Director in supervising classroom staff/volunteers and ensuring the smooth coordination of all classroom activities and plans.
• Carries out standards of Virginia Department of Education licensure rules; responsible to read, review, and understand all regulations.
• Responsible for reporting in an appropriate and timely manner any noncompliance with UVA Wise or YWCA policies and procedures, VDOE licensure rules, and local, state, and federal regulations.
• Performs other duties assigned by the Director.

General Requirements

• Works in a safety-conscious manner, which ensures that safe work practices are used in order not to pose a risk to self or others in the workplace. Reports any safety violations or hazards to the supervisor.
• Complies with YWCA and UVA Wise policies and procedures and local, state, and federal regulations.
• Adheres to a drug-free workplace.
• Interacts in a tactful, diplomatic, and humanistic manner with children, families, visitors, volunteers, and co-workers to provide a safe and caring environment that ensures self-respect, personal dignity, rights, and physical safety of each person.
• Maintains a dependable attendance record and adheres to standards of cleanliness, grooming hygiene, and dress code.
• Ensures equal opportunity in the conduct of all business activities without regard to race, color, religion, sex/gender, age, national origin, disability, citizenship, veteran status, or any other legally protected category.

Physical Demands

• Walking, standing, talking, and hearing. The employee must be able to hear children at all times, must be able to see the children with a quick glance, and must be able to physically respond immediately.
• Ability to routinely lift children, move furniture in an early childhood classroom, and sustain long hours of active work for 8 hours or more.
• Ability to lift 40 pounds.
• Agility to move quickly and keep pace with young children.

Mental Demands

• Ability to communicate effectively (verbal and written).
• Ability to maintain emotional control under stress.
• Ability to remain alert and energetic for 8 hours or more.

Travel

Minimal travel required. Some travel may be required for trainings.

Other

Lead educators shall be at least 18 years of age, have fulfilled a high school program completion or the equivalent, and meet one of the following:

Have one of the program director qualifications in Virginia Department of Education licensing standard 8VAC20-780-190;

Have an endorsement or bachelor's degree in a child-related field such as, but not limited to, elementary education, nursing, or recreation, from a college or university;

Have three months of programmatic experience and at least one of the following education backgrounds:

A one year early childhood certificate from a college or university that consists of at least 30 semester hours;

A child development credential by an organization listed in § 22.1289.048 of the Code of Virginia; (https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title22.1/chapter14.1/section22.1-289.048/)

A teaching diploma from an internationally or nationally recognized Montessori organization; or

Have six months of supervised programmatic (center) experience.

Within six months before being promoted or beginning work or one month after being promoted or beginning work, a minimum of 12 hours of training shall be received related to the care of children, including but not limited to:

(1) Child development;

(2) Playground safety;

(3) Health and safety issues; and

(4) Preventing and reporting child abuse and neglect.

Email cover letter and resume to: careers@ywcatnva.org

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $41,000.00 - $49,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 10 hour shift
• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday
• No weekends

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Wise, VA 24293: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $41,000 - $49,000