Lead Teacher - Early Childhood in Manchester

The Lead Teacher for the Toddler Program is responsible for all aspects of the care and education for the children enrolled in his/her class. Responsibilities may include but are not limited to the following: physical caregiving, developmental assessments, following an age appropriate curricular plan, and facilitation of supportive relationships with director, co‑workers, parents, and students.

Minimum Requirements:

• Must have a minimum of an Infant‑Toddler Child Development Associate (CDA) credential or an equivalent credential that addresses comparable competencies; Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• One year of experience in an early childhood program serving infants and toddlers in a developmentally appropriate environment.

Essential Job Functions/Responsibilities:

• Ensure the safety of each child enrolled in the class whether in the classroom, on the playground, or in common areas.
• Accept and maintain responsibility on a daily basis for the ordered arrangement, appearance, décor, and cleanliness of the learning environment of the classroom.
• Develop and implement lesson activities that will support children in knowing, accepting and appreciating themselves as individuals, based on the Creative Curriculum model and Second Step.
• Make appropriate referrals based upon assessments, team planning sessions, and ongoing observations.
• Maintain accurate and efficient records pertaining to meal count, attendance, Online Work Sampling observations, Online ASQ screens and classroom volunteer hours.
• Coordinate and complete a minimum of 2 parent conferences per child and/or home visits.

Interaction with Children:

• Serve as a role model for the children in the areas of attitude, speech and actions on a daily basis; treat each child with dignity and respect for his/her cultural background.
• Encourage children’s development in the areas of building self‑confidence, problem solving, and taking responsibility for their actions.
• Interact with each child on a daily basis through circle time, centers, snacks, lunchtime, playground, free play, etc.

Relationships with Parents:

• Respect the cultural differences and socioeconomic diversity of all parents.
• Communicate with parents daily through the reports and weekly newsletters.
• Greet parents daily as they drop off and pick up with a warm smile and positive comment about their child.

Other Responsibilities:

• Be familiar with and adhere to the State of Michigan Licensing Rules for Child Care Centers.
• Be flexible, as scheduling often changes due to ratio needs.
• Attend monthly staff meetings.

Physical Requirements:

• Must be able to communicate with others and clearly understand normal conversations in person and on the telephone.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to have ordinary ambulatory skills sufficient to visit other locations; and the ability to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, and manipulate (lift, carry, move) light to medium weights of 10‑50 pounds.
• Requires good hand‑eye coordination, arm, hand and finger dexterity, including ability to grasp, and visual acuity to use a keyboard.
• The employee frequently is required to sit, reach with hands and arms, talk and hear.
• Requires regular attendance and/or physical presence at the job.