Early Childhood Mentor Teacher
About the role
You'll play a vital role in shaping the future of early childhood education by supporting and inspiring teaching teams every day. More than a classroom leader, you'll serve as a trusted coach, role model, and instructional expert, helping educators build the skills and confidence needed to create exceptional learning experiences for young children.
Responsibilities
Modeling Best Practices: Demonstrate high-quality teaching techniques, including effective transitions, positive behavior management, and the implementation of the current Child Start curriculums. Spend approximately 70% of weekly hours in the classroom working with teachers.
Curriculum & Assessment Oversight: Assist teaching teams in lesson planning and the intentional use of data from child assessments (e.g., AIM) to individualize instruction. Reviews, monitors and approves all lesson plans to ensure they meet requirements outlined in Head Start Performance Standards, KDHE guidelines, and program policies and/or procedures. Provide feedback as needed.
Review and approves curriculum cart for each classroom.
New Teacher Onboarding: Act as the primary guide for new hires at the center, ensuring they understand classroom routines, safety protocols, and Head Start philosophies.
Compliance Monitoring: Ensure classrooms maintain "audit-ready" status regarding health, safety, and education standards at all times.
Conduct regular and unannounced classroom observations and monitoring.
Provide feedback, guidance, and technical assistance to teaching staff to strengthen instructional practices and classroom management.
Support communication and collaboration between staff, families, and community partners.
Coordinates with Center Supervisor and Site Coach regarding ongoing needs for each classroom.
Requirements
Associate’s degree in Education, child development or a related field. Bachelor’s degree preferred.
Requires a minimum of two years of experience in early childhood education / Head Start / EHS environment.
Thorough understanding of the Head Start/Early Head Start program model; regulations and standards in early child development; teaching strategies; and the critical contributing components of a high quality-learning environment for infants and toddlers, as well as preschoolers.
Must attain and maintain CLASS reliability certification after 6 months in position.
Data-analysis skills; ability to translate data into actionable program improvements.
Excellent interpersonal/communication skills; ability to collaborate, model best practices and mentor.
Leadership style that supports managers, teachers and center supervisors.
Requires a high level of confidentiality and flexibility.
Requires excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Benefits
Child Start's Mentor Teacher is $22.03/hour, 40 hours/week and 52 weeks/year. Child Start offers competitive salary and benefits, including Medical/Dental/Vision plans, company-paid Short-Term and Long-Term Disability coverage, 403(b) retirement plan, 9 paid holidays each year, and much more!
Pay
$22.03/hour
Schedule
40 hours/week, 52 weeks/year