Infant Toddler Lead Teacher

SALARY

The average starting salary for this position will fall in the range of $55,000 and $57,000 annually. Where candidates fall in this range will be based on skill and experience level. Salary for 43-week programs will be pro-rated.

Job Summary

Responsible for planning and implementing individualized curriculum. Facilitate teaching methods and activities for children that appropriately address the social, emotional, physical, and cognitive needs of the children. Ensure staff adherence to the Head Start Standards. Work with diverse staff and service population.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Ensures timely completion of monthly job targets.
• Responsible for supporting a team approach to planning and implementing program activities.
• Collaborates with Family Support Workers, Teacher’s Assistant, Program Aide, site partners, and site supervisor for the betterment of the classroom and families.
• Participates in ongoing CLASS implementation and monitoring.
• Guide and facilitate activities of the children.
• Ensures appropriate child guidance and discipline, proper ratios, and use of active supervision.
• Attend all mandated trainings.
• Set and achieve professional development goals.
• Share resources with other staff members as appropriate.
• Use Teaching Strategies Gold to maintain ongoing, high-quality documentation of school readiness skills.
• Maintain Interrater Reliability.
• Use Teaching Strategies Gold to communicate with families through monthly newsletters and family conference forms.
• Schedule and conduct education home visits with teaching staff to discuss individual development and progress, assist 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.
• Ensure accurate completion CACFP documents in conjunction with the teaching staff.
• Builds and ensures positive and on-going relationships with parents, volunteers, and other staff members.
• Tracks and provides support to teaching staff for ongoing observation and documentation process by teaching staff of the Teaching Strategies Gold portfolios.
• Works effectively with diverse staff and service population.
• Works with site supervisor and family support worker to exchange information pertinent to the identification and services of children with disabilities.
• Ensures the submission of weekly lesson plans including individualization for all children, including: monitoring and facilitating accommodations listed in IEPs and IFSPs.
• Uses the playground as an extension of the classroom; assures that the playground is safe.
• Provides active supervision to ensure the safety of Head Start children while in the classroom, during transitions, at time of transportation, and while on the playground.
• Ensures that no child shall be left alone or unsupervised.
• Provide site management in the absence of site supervisor.
• Serve as agency representative during DCFS visits in the absence of site supervisor.
• Ensures the usage of agency technology equipment and time are utilized for agency business.
• Ensures compliance with the agency’s code of conduct.
• Ensures agency’s Head Start fiscal integrity by adhering to purchase approval requirements and procedures.
• Aids in the development of the agency’s annual Head Start self-assessment.
• Ensures all content area data is accurately reflected in the agency’s PIR within set time frames.
• Participate in program recruitment efforts to maintain full enrollment.

REQUIRED EDUCATION, CERTIFICATIONS, CREDENTIALS And/or EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education or Education from an accredited college or university. OR Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in Early Childhood Education.
• Lead Teacher working with children ages 3-5: PEL or a Gateways ECE level 5 Credential while working towards receiving PEL.
• Lead Teacher working with children ages 0-3: Bachelor’s with a Gateways IT Level 5 Credential.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, And ABILITIES

• Ability to obtain appropriate Gateways to Opportunity Level 5 Credential.
• Ability to plan and implement learning experiences that advance the intellectual and physical development of children, including improving the readiness of children for preschool by developing their literacy awareness and their approaches to learning.
• Ability to establish and maintain a safe, healthy learning environment for infants and toddlers.
• Ability to support the social and emotional development of children.
• Ability to encourage the involvement of the families of the children in a Early Head Start program and supporting 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.
• Mobility for travel required.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse individuals and groups.
• Candidates must have regular access to reliable transportation or a reliable vehicle with insurance.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule including some evenings and/or weekends if needed.
• Satisfactory passing of a health examination, fingerprint and criminal background check.
• Ability to work independently as well as in a team setting.

About Us

Metropolitan Family Services empowers families to learn, to earn, to heal, to thrive. Part mentor, part motivator, part advocate, since 1857, Metropolitan family Services has been the engine of change that empowers families to reach their greatest potential and positively impact their communities. Metropolitan is Illinois' first comprehensive human services agency and reaches more than 117,000 individuals and families in Chicago, Evanston/Skokie, the southwest suburbs and DuPage County with services promoting education, economic stability, emotional wellness and empowerment.