43-week program Early Learning Lead Teacher (3-5)

We are currently searching for a full-time 43-week program Preschool Lead Teacher to join our DuPage office in our Preschool for All programs in Wheaton.

Pay

The average starting salary for this position will fall in the range of $45,000 and $47,000 annually. Where candidates fall in this range will be based on skill and experience level. A $3,000 sign-on bonus is offered, distributed as follows: $750 on the first paycheck, $1,250 after 6 months, and $1,000 after 1 year.

Responsibilities

• Support a team approach to planning and implementing program activities.
• Collaborate with Family Support Workers, Teachers, Program Aides, site partners, and site supervisors for the betterment of the classroom and families.
• Participate in ongoing CLASS implementation and monitoring.
• Guide and facilitate activities of the children, ensuring appropriate child guidance, discipline, and proper ratios are maintained at all times.
• Attend all mandated trainings and set and achieve professional development goals, tracking all development in Gateways.
• Share resources with other staff members as appropriate.
• Use Teaching Strategies Gold to maintain ongoing, high-quality documentation of school readiness skills and maintain interrater reliability.
• Use Teaching Strategies Gold to communicate with families through monthly newsletters and family conference forms.
• Implement the program’s Planned Language Approach, specifically designed to support dual language learners.
• Schedule and conduct education home visits with teaching staff to discuss individual development and progress, assisting parents in developing educational goals for their child.
• Maintain accurate teacher and child files.
• Ensure all transportation safety procedures are followed, including utilization of the bus attendance log if applicable.
• Ensure accurate completion of CACFP documents in conjunction with the teaching staff.
• Build and ensure positive and ongoing relationships with parents, volunteers, and other staff members.
• Work with site supervisor and family support worker to exchange information pertinent to the identification and services of children with disabilities.
• Conduct and/or oversee screening of all children within prescribed time frames using developmental, social-emotional, and other prescribed screening tools.
• Ensure the curriculum is used with fidelity and submit weekly lesson plans including individualization for all children, monitoring and facilitating accommodations listed in IEPs and IFSPs.
• Provide a supportive, caring, and safe environment for children.
• Use the playground as an extension of the classroom and ensure playground safety.
• Provide active supervision to ensure the safety of children while in the classroom, during transitions, at time of transportation, and while on the playground, ensuring no child is left alone or unsupervised.
• Ensure the usage of agency technology equipment and time are utilized for agency business.
• Ensure compliance with the agency’s code of conduct and fiscal integrity by adhering to purchase approval requirements and procedures.
• Assist in the development of the agency’s annual program self-assessment.
• Ensure all content area data is accurately reflected in the agency’s Program Information Reports within set time frames.
• Participate in program recruitment efforts to maintain full enrollment.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or education from an accredited college or university.
• Lead Teacher working with children ages 3-5: PEL or a Gateways ECE level 5 Credential while working towards receiving PEL.
• Satisfactorily pass all screenings and criminal background checks.
• Driving for work required with a personally owned vehicle; travel between sites required.

Skills

• Ability to plan and implement learning experiences that advance the intellectual and physical development of children, including improving literacy awareness and approaches to learning.
• Establish and maintain a safe, healthy learning environment for children.
• Support the social and emotional development of children.
• Encourage the involvement of families in a Head Start program and support the development of relationships between children and their families.
• Demonstrated ability to work in teams.
• Excellent written and oral communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work in a complex environment.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse individuals and groups.
• Ability to work independently as well as in a team setting.

Physical Demands

• While performing the essential duties of this job, the employee is required to sit and stand for sustained periods of time, frequently talk, hear, use hands and fingers to feel, handle, and operate objects or controls.
• Occasionally stand, bend, stretch, stoop, kneel, and crouch.
• Close visual acuity to perform activities such as preparing and analyzing data and figures, transcribing, and viewing a computer terminal.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Metropolitan Family Services contributions of $2,000 to individual and $4,000 to family HSA accounts, pro-rated to the benefits start date.
• Free General Medicine and Behavioral Health Teladoc services provided to all team members.
• Ascensus 401K plan services with a 4% employer match, vested at 100% on day one of eligibility.
• Additional benefits available for part-time and temporary workers (inquire upon hire).