Primary Purpose

The Lead (Toddler) Teacher develops and maintains parent relationships, collaborates with colleagues, and takes part in continuous professional development, which ensures a quality learning environment and meets the developmental needs of children aged twelve months to five years. Provides a nurturing, consistent, developmentally appropriate environment that meets the cognitive, emotional, social and physical needs of the Center’s children, and other related tasks as required.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The essential functions or duties listed below are illustrations of the various types of work performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

• Plans, implements and maintains developmentally appropriate classroom space, material and equipment.
• Plans, implements, directs and oversee developmentally appropriate curriculum and activities with input from teachers in the classroom; primarily responsible to oversee safety and well-being of children in the classroom.
• Responsible to ensure children adjust successfully to a classroom, foster positive relationships between children and their peers.
• Promote positive discipline practices that support problem solving and conflict resolution consistent with the staff handbook and EEC standards, rules and regulations.
• Supervise toileting, toilet training and diapering practices.
• Evaluate children’s development ongoing, work with specialists or outside services designated to a child.
• Responsible to maintain children’s attendance and ongoing development records and portfolio.
• Complete formal observations and assessments of children in classroom two times per year, schedule and conduct parent conferences to review child assessment two times per year.
• Develop and maintain positive and effective communication with parents, create a welcoming environment for parents.
• Attend parent meetings on topics related to early education and care and center policies among other topics.
• Attend staff meetings, prepare for and lead weekly team meetings. Maintain team meeting notes and plans for team.
• Serve as a leader in the classroom to ensure a positive, collaborative and professional atmosphere, serve as a model and provide support to teachers; work cooperatively with staff.
• Work with Director to coordinate in-service trainings to meet professional development goals of teachers, give feedback to Director and take part in Teacher performance assessments.
• Provide orientation to new staff members; supervise volunteers and substitute teachers.
• Supports the mission and philosophy of the Early Learning Center in all duties and functions, as set forth in the staff handbook and the EEC standards, rules and regulations.
• Continue to take course work as needed to meet performance goals, keep abreast of developing practices in the early childhood field, and attend in-service trainings.
• Performs similar or related work as directed, required, or as situation dictates.

Supervision
The Lead Teacher reports to the Director of the Early Learning Center.

Supervisory Responsibilities
Supervise Teacher and Assistant Teacher on team, volunteers and substitute teachers.

Work Environment
Works in early childhood learning facilities with a moderate level of noise; the work is subject to seasonal changes and requires planning; the employee may work weekends and evenings on occasion. The employee operates standard office equipment, including a computer, copier; uses classroom, sports and other recreation equipment; operates a department van. The employee has significant contact with children, parents, the general public, other town agencies, e.g., school department and outside organizations. Errors could result in of accreditation, personal injury or injury to others, monetary loss or delay or loss of service.

Recommended Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience
EEC lead teacher qualified. Two years experience as an early childhood teacher, or an equivalent combination of training and experience that includes an Associate’s degree in child development, early childhood education or a related field.

Additional Requirements

• Certification in CPR and First Aid

Knowledge, Ability and Skill
Thorough knowledge and understanding of EEC licensing regulations, standards and policies and procedures. Strong interpersonal skills; ability to work cooperatively and communicate well with others, verbally and writing, including co-workers, children and parents. Organized, reliable and conscientious, able to work independently and as a team; ability to act professionally, appropriately, and to maintain confidentiality of records and other information. Willingness to increase knowledge in the field, to work toward meeting performance goals, and to understand and abide the Center’s policies and procedures. Knowledge of computer applications (word processing, internet and intranet and software applications.

Physical Requirements
Minimal physical effort is required. The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, speak, hear, sit, use hands to operate equipment and may be required to lift up to 30 pounds. Vision requirements include the ability to read routine documents, use a computer and operate a motor vehicle.