Lead Teacher

Who We Are

Pacific Clinics is California's largest community-based nonprofit provider of behavioral and mental health services and support. Our team of more than 2,000 employees speak 22 languages and are dedicated to offering hope and unlocking the full potential of individuals and families through culturally responsive, trauma-informed, research-based services for individuals and families from birth to older adults. 

Pacific Clinics Head Start and Early Head Start programs provide free early education and childcare for children from birth to age five and prenatal and parenting support for eligible families.

Who We Serve 

Pacific Clinics serves children, transitional age youth, families, adults, and older adults. We offer a full range of mental and behavioral health services, foster care and social services, housing, continuing adult education and early childhood education programs to Medi-Cal eligible individuals and families throughout Alameda, Contra Costa, Fresno, Kings, Los Angeles, Madera, Orange, Placer, Riverside, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Solano, Stanislaus, Stockton, Tulare and Ventura Counties.

Pacific Clinics Head Start and Early Head Start programs provide services in center-based, home base and family childcare provider homes, regardless of income. We teach children how to share emotions in a healthy way.

What We Offer

• Pay: The starting rate for this position is now $27.82 per hour.
• We Offer Medical, Dental & Vision benefits, retirement options, Flex Spending, EAP, and more!
• Employee engagement and advocacy opportunities to advance our justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion agenda across our Agency and throughout the communities we serve
• Benefits eligibility starts on Day 1!

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Lead Teacher is responsible for early childhood education that is geared toward the overall goal of social competence. This position is responsible for classroom operation including planning and curriculum implementation. In compliance with the Head Start Performance Standards, it provides comprehensive services and classroom experiences that meet the individual needs of students.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITES:

• Plans and maintains a safe, clean, learning environment, and assures the well-being and safety of children in her/his care.
• Plans and implements activities with children between the ages of three and five years, consistent with the curriculum provided and Head Start mandated outcomes.
• Responsible for supervision of children; responsible for holding parent/teacher conferences; and for ensuring parent involvement in the education of their children.
• Follows the Head Start Program Performance Standards, all Pacific Clinics Head Start policies and procedures, and the Pacific Clinics Head Start Employee Handbook.
• Guides, and models appropriate behavior and teaching techniques for teacher assistant and volunteers under her/his supervision in the classroom. Plans and carries out program objectives and activities.
• Maintains a cooperative attitude of working together with teacher assistant, volunteers, parents, and program specialists in planning and implementing classroom activities.
• Plans and implements daily activities that engage children in all domains of Head Start Early Learning Framework including; literacy, language, math, science, creative arts, social skills, approaches to learning, social studies, physical health, logic and reasoning, and second language learning. Uses assessment information for individually interacting with children and teaching identified concepts during daily routines, review times, and records individual activities on lesson plans.
• Maintains accurate and current assessment information noting child’s progress across all developmental domains utilizing anecdotal notes and/or examples of children’s work.
• Accurately completes all paperwork, including home visit forms, parent/teacher conference forms, lesson plans and transition forms.
• Reviews child’s file, documents parent contact, and files paperwork upon completion Develops and implements weekly lesson plans that are consistent with the program curriculum, Head Start Early Learning Framework and the State of California Pre-K Foundations.
• Encourages and models language expansion, extended learning and problem solving strategies throughout the day.
• Implements behavior plans designed by the mental health specialist and/or resource teacher and reports on the effectiveness of the plan after suffice.
• Implements Child Abuse/Neglect Reporting Policy and Procedures.
• Sits with children during all meal times and eats the same lunch as the children, providing a model for good nutritional habits (unless prohibited from doing so by dietary or doctor’s concerns).
• Visits each child’s home twice per year, meeting with parents, becoming familiar with the child’s home environment, discussing the child’s learning goals, and getting to know the family.
• Holds two parent/teacher conferences per year to share each child’s progress with parents.
• Reports to work on time and maintains reliable and regular attendance.
• Models Pacific clinics’ approach, mission and core values in all communication and correspondence.
• Communicates effectively in a culturally competent and diverse consumer population and promotes favorable interaction with managers, co-workers and others.
• Performs other duties as assigned.


QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.


ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS/INTERACTION:

Initiate and maintain professional interactions and communication with Clinic’s employees and/or others.


EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE/POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

• BA/BS Degree in Child Development or Early Childhood Education (ECE) required.
• Must possess a current Child Development Teacher Permit or higher.
• Must maintain DOJ, FBI, and Child Abuse Index Clearance.
• Must possess a current Pediatric CPR and First Aid Certification.
• Demonstrated ability to work in Windows environment (including Word and Excel).
• Must possess a valid California driver's license and maintain an insurable driving record under the Clinics' liability policy.


PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• Occasional need to provide gentle physical restraint to children.
• May be required to lift up to 40 pounds.
• Some exposure to communicable diseases.
• Noise level in work environment may be moderate to loud.
• Travel/overnight many be required associated with attendance at conferences, meetings and other duties.
• Work is typically performed in a classroom setting and some office work required.
• Some evenings and weekend work may occasionally be required for events such as home visits, parent teacher-conferences, Parent Committee meetings, and social and community events.


WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts and outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Local business travel is required.


SITE SPECIFICS:

A review of this description has excluded the marginal functions of the position that are incidental to job performance of the fundamental job duties. All duties and requirements are essential job functions.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by this employee. The employee will be required to follow any other instructions and to perform any other duties requested by his or her Manager and/or Supervisor.

Salary : $28