Job Description
Job DescriptionDescription:
POSITION SUMMARY:
This position supports the work of the Y, a leading nonprofit charitable organization committed to strengthening community through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. The lead teacher is responsible for maintaining a warm, healthy environment to promote the total growth and well-being of the children in the program. The teacher shares with the assistant teacher the responsibility of nurturing each child’s social, emotional, physical, and cognitive growth. The teacher has the responsibility to guide the assistant teacher as a team member in the daily operation of their classroom by maintaining quality early childhood education and care for all participants and insuring compliance in all state regulations and national standards.
OUR CULTURE:
Our mission and core values are brought to life by our culture. In the Y, we strive to live our cause of strengthening communities with purpose and intentionality every day. We are welcoming: we are open to all. We are a place where you can belong and become. We are genuine: we value you and embrace your individuality. We are hopeful: we believe in you and your potential to become a catalyst in the world. We are nurturing and we support you in your journey to develop your full potential. We are determined: above all else, we are on a relentless quest to make our community stronger, beginning with you.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
1. Prepare teaching plans and programs in accordance with established guidelines.
2. Adapt and implement daily lessons and activity plans.
3. Adjust lessons and teaching approach to needs of individual children to match interests, handicaps, special talents, learning style, and pace.
4. Provide a learning environment respectful of a child’s learning level and personal experiences.
5. Provide an environment conducive to group learning and interactions.
6. Make and communicate on-going observations and evaluations necessary for monitoring progress and areas of improvement.
7. Conduct conferences and other communications for parent interaction and understanding.
8. Maintain required program records and documentation.
9. Maintain site and equipment as appropriate; identify and communicate areas of safety concern.
10. Oversee classroom teacher(s) assigned responsibilities and daily tasks.
11. Establish positive relationships, interactions, and communication between children, staff, and families.
12. Work as a supportive team member within the classroom and center.
13. Ability to work with and give direction to other teachers within the classroom.
14. Attend trainings, staff meetings, and professional development opportunities.
15. Responsible for tracking and gathering evidence of each child’s social, emotional, and cognitive growth for assessment purposes.
16. Maintain daily, weekly, and monthly written and verbal communication with parents/guardians.
*Essential Functions are subject to change.
Requirements:
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES:
· Communication & Influence: Listens and expresses self effectively and in a way that engages, inspires, and builds commitment to the Y’s cause.
· Inclusion: Values all people for their unique talents and takes an active role in promoting practices that support diversity, inclusion, and global work, as well as cultural competence.
· Critical Thinking & Decision Making: Makes informed decisions based on logic, data, and sound judgment.
· Functional Expertise: Executes superior technical skills for the role.
· Innovation: Creates and implements new and relevant approaches and activities that improve and expand the Y’s work and impact in the community.
· Program/Project Management: Ensures program or project goals are met and intended impact occurs.
· Developing Self & Others: Develops self and supports others (e.g., staff, volunteers, members, program participants), both formally and informally, to achieve their highest potential.
· Emotional Maturity: Demonstrates ability to understand and manage emotions effectively in all situations.
QUALIFICATIONS:
· Minimum high school diploma; 3 or more years’ experience working with assigned age group of children. EEC lead teacher certification required.
· Current knowledge of state and YMCA standards and regulations specific to early childhood education and development and childcare.
· Ability to effectively interact with parents and children on a range of issues.
· Demonstrated ability to engage in a range of children’s educational, recreational, and social activities.
· Knowledge of best practices and assigned age group educational methods.
· Demonstrated ability to make mature judgements in difficult situations.
· Ability to learn and implement programs related to curriculum and assessment tools.
· CPR/First Aid Certification within 3 months
· Ability to respond to safety and emergency situations.
WORK ENVIRONMENT & 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. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
· Able to lift thirty to fourty pounds
· Able to sit on the floor with children