Lead Teacher

The Lead Teacher provides daily care to children in a Head Start / Early Head Start (HS/EHS) classroom using appropriate child guidance techniques and building responsive relationships with classroom teachers, staff, children and families. The Lead Teacher ensures that all regulations and mandates for federal, state, and local licensing are met and works with a team of classroom teachers and family members to achieve positive outcomes for children of all abilities.

All employees and volunteers are expected to be sensitive to our clients’ cultural and socioeconomic characteristics, reflect Sunbeam Family Services core values and to perform at Sunbeam’s standards of excellence at all times.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS                                                        

Promote, encourage and display examples of leadership for the agency in accordance with the agency mission.
Support and individualize the physical, social-emotional, and cognitive development of each child in the classroom.
Demonstrate capacity for providing developmentally sensitive, evidence based, hope centered and trauma informed services and leadership.  
Serve as a leader of the Early Childhood Services (ECS) program and effective role model for developmentally-appropriate practice, for the values expected within the program, and for the mission of the organization.
Perform the functions of this position with a strong understanding of the Head Start Performance Standards.
Ensure compliance with Head Start Program Performance Standards, federal and state regulation, and DHS Child Care Licensing requirements.
Plan and provide a comprehensive program, including implementation of EHS/HS curriculum and Head Start /Early Head Start Program Performance Standards
Maintain record keeping and reporting systems to ensure accurate information, with timely completion and follow-up
Plan and implement ECS developmentally-appropriate curriculum and assessment for the classroom. Order supplies and materials as needed for effective service delivery.
Oversee supervision and management of children in the classroom in order to ensure a safe, clean, and healthy learning environment.
Conduct home visits and parent-teacher conferences in accordance with Head Start Program Performance standards to share each child’s progress with parents.
Work cooperatively with other staff assigned to classroom as a team to involve all parents with the children and to encourage the active participation of all parents in the program.
Observe children to detect signs of illness, injury, emotional disturbances, learning disorders, speech problems, or other special needs and reports those signs immediately to supervisor for required or necessary follow-up.
Work with supervisor to ensure child-staff ratio is maintained at all times.
Encourage and model language expansion, extended learning, and problem solving strategies throughout the day.
Participate in and attend all staff meetings, trainings, and certification courses as required.
Travel locally as required in the performance of responsibilities.
Perform other appropriate and related responsibilities as assigned by supervisor or member of Executive Team.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS          

Minimally Required

Preferred

Education/ Certification

Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education (ECE) or a related field (official transcripts required). Minimum of 6 college credits in ECE or CD and 9 college credits in educ, psych, health care, nursing or another field closely related to child growth and development required.

CPR/First Aid Certification (or within 30 days of hire), maintained throughout employment

Master’s Degree in ECE or a related field

Experience

Three (3) years of prerequisite related work experience preferred

Effective experience in child care as well as training and supervising teacher assistants

Skills Knowledge

Abilities

Caring and compassionate attitude when interacting with and caring for children and families.

Knowledge and understanding of state and local childcare licensing requirements.

Excellent command of English language and grammar, both verbal and written

Intermediate knowledge of Microsoft applications and the ability to master other software as needed

Good organizational and time management skills.

Must work independently and collaboratively in a team environment.

Exercise independent judgment.

Communicate in a professional manner, demonstrating dignity, respect for our internal, external, and community members.

Process, protect and exercise discretion in handling confidential information and materials.

Sustained concentration to detail and accuracy, along with the ability to prioritize workload.

Willingness to work with high-risk, low-income communities.

Must be able to travel and work some evenings and weekends as required by the job.

Local travel required and must have valid Oklahoma driver’s license and insurance as required by the position.

Knowledge and understanding of Head Start/Early Head Start

Knowledge and understanding of Child Plus

Knowledge and understanding of NAEYC

Advanced computer database and Microsoft Office software skills

Bilingual Spanish/English speaking – ability to interact with children and families from multilingual homes.