Center Lead Teacher Job Description

Supervisor: Early Childhood Coordinator

Benefit Package:  VA Retirement System (VRS), Anthem Health Insurance, Cafeteria Plan, Life Insurance, Optional Life, Dental, Saving Bonds, Direct Deposits

Salary: $35,250 - $59,850                                           Positions Supervised: None                                        Fiscal Responsibilities: None

Qualifications:

Virginia State Teaching License; Degree in Early Childhood Education; or Elementary Education

At least one year work experience with early childhood/elementary education preferred.

Computer Skills

Criminal Record Check Clearance

Current certification in CPR/First Aid

Valid Driver’s license

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Ensures the center’s compliance with Virginia State Child Care Minimum regulations, Head Start performance standards, and program policies, and procedures.
2. Serves as an advocate for early childhood programs, children, and families.
3. Supervises children from the time the first child arrives until the last child leaves.
4. Plans work in conjunction with other staff and is flexible in adjusting plans to meet changes and emergencies.
5. Keeps supervisor and appropriate staff informed of work load and developments.
6. Utilizes a team approach to planning, writing lesson plans, setting up and maintaining center, and carrying out routines of the day.
7. Plans field trips and parent activities with assistance of parents and staff.
8. Maintains center files in a locked cabinet.
9. Maintains and displays all required documents.
10. Ensures that at least two home visits per child and three parent teacher conferences at the center are conducted.
11. Refers children and families for special needs, social services, nutrition, family services, health, adult education, and other family needs to the Family Service Providers.
12. Maintains child/adult ratio of two staff with children at all times.
13. Performs and conducts center routine maintenance.
14. Attends to all children’s physical needs.
15. Accompanies children and families on field trips.
16. Participates actively in physical movement activities daily.
17. Documents all family contacts in writing and places in child’s file.
18. Administers “emergency” first aid/CPR as needed.
19. Involves children in hands-on learning experiences.
20. Administers the Galileo Acuscreen, observes and inputs information in a timely manner, adhering to the time frames.
21. Administers PALS assessment.
22. Maintains a portfolio on each child with work samples and at least one anecdotal note or sample in each of the eight areas on a monthly basis.
23. Promotes a team oriented approach with assistant teacher/s and Family Service Provider.
24. Shares information about the program with parents, families, and community for recruitment.
25. Communicates regularly with the Education Coordinator about center activities, plans, events, and concerns.
26. Encourages parents and volunteers to participate in program operations, training sessions, and events in the county.
27. Refers to the Head Start case manager concerning children’s needs for services.
28. Records and reports all child injuries and illnesses.
29. Refers children with special needs to the Health/Disabilities Coordinator for evaluation.
30. Refers families to the Family Service Providers for family needs.
31. Demonstrates knowledge of community resources and keeps current information in the center for reference.
32. Involves children in the selection, preparation and clean up in meals and snacks.
33. Utilizes the CLASS adult-child interaction strategies.

General:

1. Performs other duties as assigned by immediate supervisor and/or School Board.
2. Maintains a neat and professional appearance.
3. Reports problems promptly to supervisor.
4. Maintains confidentiality of all records and information regarding staff and families enrolled in the program.
5. Shall not verbally abuse the operation of the Head Start program in public or spread gossip or rumors which may be detrimental to the Head Start program and its relationships to community growth.

Professional Development:

1. Participates in training and professional development activities planned or provided by the program.
2. Maintains an annual log of training and/or professional development opportunities to be placed in personnel file each program year. 

Employee Conduct:

1. Reliability: Employee will be relied upon to accept responsibility for and complete job assignments on time.
2. Working Relationships: Employee will function as a team member by working cooperatively with other staff.
3. Observation of agency rules, regulations, and polices. Employee is to follow Head Start Performance Standards, state licensing requirements, Lee County School Board policies, Head Start procedures, and personnel policies and to seek clarification from supervisor when needed.
4. Attendance: Employee observes scheduled work time and reports absences as required.

The following reflects requirements of the American Disabilities Act.

Physical Demands:

This job may require lifting of objects that exceed 25lbs., with frequent lifting and/or carrying of objects weighing up to 10 lbs. Other physical demands that may be required as follows:

(A.)Stooping and/or kneeling    (B) Reaching    (C) Talking   (D) Hearing     (E) Seeing

Temperament (Personal traits):

1. Adaptability to performing a variety of duties, often changing from one task to another of a different nature without loss of efficiency or composure.
2. Adaptability to accepting responsibility for the direction, control, or planning of an activity.
3. Adaptability to dealing with people beyond giving and receiving instruction.
4. Adaptability to making generalizations, evaluations, or decisions based on sensory or judgmental criteria.

Capacity and Ability Requirements:

Specific capacities and abilities may be required of an individual in order to learn or perform adequately a task or job duty.

1. Intelligence: Ability to “catch on” and understand instructions and underlying principles. Ability to reason and make judgments.
2. Verbal: Ability to understand meanings of words and ideas associated with them.
3. Numerical: Ability to perform arithmetic operations quickly and accurately.
4. Data Perception: Ability to understand and interpret information that may be presented in the form of graphs, charts, or tables.

Work Conditions:

Normal working environment - A work week consists of 168 hours in seven consecutive days beginning 12:01 a.m. Saturday and ending midnight on Friday. A pay period will be one month. All time sheets/activity reports, including substitute time sheets, should be delivered to the Head Start office by the 16^th of the month. The Lee County School Board generates payroll during the third week of the month so that checks are ready on the first day of the month.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this position. They are not intended to be a complete list of responsibilities, duties and skill required of personnel so assigned.

The Lee County Public Schools System/Lee County Head Start will hire personnel in compliance with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.