Head Start Master Teacher Watertown

Classification: Academic/Full-time/Non-Exempt – 37.5 hours per week, Monday-Friday, located in Watertown.

About the Role

The Master Teacher is responsible for teaching and maintaining a safe, healthy, and developmentally appropriate pre-school classroom of 17 three-year-old children with the assistance of a Teacher Assistant and Teacher Aide. This role involves preparing and implementing lesson plans for age-appropriate classroom activities while ensuring compliance with NYS Daycare and Head Start regulations. The Master Teacher provides leadership, supervision, and guidance to classroom staff, with systematic planning and recordkeeping as essential components of the position.

Responsibilities

• Teach and maintain a safe, healthy, and developmentally appropriate pre-school classroom.
• Prepare and implement lesson plans for age-appropriate activities.
• Ensure compliance with NYS Daycare and Head Start regulations.
• Provide leadership, supervision, and guidance to classroom staff.
• Engage in systematic planning and detailed recordkeeping.
• Serve as an advocate for children and families.
• Work independently and as a team member to deliver quality programming.
• Maintain confidentiality of program and agency-related information.
• Keep accurate and detailed records.

Requirements

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education or a Bachelor’s Degree with coursework equivalent to a major related to early childhood education.
• Experience teaching in an early childhood setting.
• Supervisory experience.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Ability to stand, sit, walk short distances, and lift up to 40 lbs.

Skills

• Knowledge of early childhood education.
• Supportive and non-judgmental approach to working with diverse families.
• Strong organization, communication, and time management skills.

Other

• Employment is conditional pending Policy Council approval, satisfactory medical exam and TB test, and receipt of clearance from the NYS Office of Children and Family Services, NYS Central Register for Child Abuse & Neglect, and NYS Criminal Justice Center.
• The agency is a substance-free workplace and conducts random, post-accident, and reasonable suspicion drug testing.
• Preference is given to qualified in-house candidates.

Pay

• Grade 5: $21.68 per hour (Associate’s degree).
• Grade 6: $23.24 per hour (Bachelor’s Degree).

Benefits

• Agency Flexible Benefits Plan.
• Academic schedule with paid school vacations.
• Unemployment benefits during the summer.