Lead Preschool Teacher

About the role

The Lead Preschool Teacher at Mission Neighborhood Center's (MNC) Helen Fabela Chavez Campus is responsible for creating a nurturing environment that supports children's social, emotional, physical, cognitive, and nutritional development. This position adheres to Head Start, California Department of Education, California Department of Social Services, and Childcare Licensing Division guidelines.

Responsibilities

• Facilitates intentional, child-led learning through small group activities, routines, classroom interactions, and transitions to meet individual and group needs.
• Develops developmentally appropriate lesson and curriculum plans using the Creative Curriculum guidelines, based on children’s strengths, interests, and developmental needs as reflected in observations, screenings, and DRDP-2015 assessment results.
• Organizes age-appropriate indoor, outdoor, quiet, active, and field trip activities, actively participating alongside children to foster exploration and discovery.
• Implements academic, behavior, family events, health, and nutrition plans for the purpose of achieving program objectives.
• Ensures all adults in the classroom follow schedules, routines, and policies of the classroom, campus, and agency.
• Instructs children and parents to support child development and parenting skills, and helps ESL learners acquire and expand English language skills and vocabulary.
• Aids children with personal care routines, including feeding, diapering, toileting, hand washing, tooth brushing, and safe sleep, while following written policies and procedures to model proper hygiene.
• Prioritizes children’s health and safety by maintaining required adult-child ratios and ensuring active supervision at all times.
• Counts children during and after transitions and throughout the day, communicating and documenting on the board.
• Makes up for the absence of the Campus Director / Campus Supervisor and maintains flexibility with scheduling, including working in another classroom as programs needs change.
• Maintains flexibility to adjust planned activities based on children’s interests.
• Maintains student files and records to ensure organized, accurate, and readily accessible information.
• Completes daily meal counts and attendance records for the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) in accordance with MNC policies and procedures.
• Completes and tracks Department of Education Attendance Register and Best Interest Day Forms (daily/monthly).
• Conducts three developmental assessments (DRDP-2015) for each child.
• Develops Individualized Learning Plans (ILPs) for each child based on observations, screenings, parent input, and DRDP-2015 assessment results.
• Conducts parent-teacher conferences and home visit packet, as needed, following program policies and procedures.
• Collaborates with the campus team to ensure specialized services are provided for children with identified special needs, and prepares documentation to support referrals for further evaluation and services for children with suspected special needs.
• Builds strong relationships with children and their families and encourages parent involvement in the program.
• Communicates with parents about incidents observed and documented on-site regarding their child.
• Partners with families to incorporate children’s home cultural practices and traditions in the classroom, promoting diversity and inclusivity to reflect each child’s unique background.
• Collaborates with Family Support Specialists to support families in case managing specific needs, advocating for parents, and encouraging parent involvement in the program.
• Assists volunteers, substitutes, and parents in working with children in the classroom, ensuring proper health practices, food handling, and appropriate interactions and supervision.
• Maintains and cleans classroom spaces, equipment, refrigerators, work areas, and playgrounds to ensure availability of items and to provide a safe, sanitary environment.
• Sets up and serves meals and snacks to meet children’s nutritional needs and checks and signs for food and food service supplies upon delivery.
• Checks and logs food temperatures and follows procedures for heating and storing food according to MNC’s policies and procedures.
• Carries out Health & Safety Checklists, identifies and corrects deficiencies, performs minor classroom repairs as needed, and reports major repairs to the Campus Director or Supervisor.
• Understands and follows emergency and safety procedures.
• Responds to emergency situations to resolve immediate safety concerns and assists in maintaining emergency equipment and supplies.
• Assists the Campus Director / Campus Supervisor in organizing campus parent committee and electing officers and representatives to PPC in accordance with Program Performance Standards and PPC bylaws.
• Follows Head Start/CDE/CLD policies and procedures in reporting suspected child abuse in accordance with federal and state laws.
• Participates in parent meetings, professional development trainings, in-service sessions, and other opportunities.
• Develops an individualized professional development plan with the Campus Director / Campus Supervisor annually to identify needed training and areas for growth.
• Partners with education coaches to engage in practice-based coaching cycles to improve teaching practices rooted in CLASS, CSEFEL, DRDP, and the Creative Curriculum framework.
• Completes DRDP 2025 training and receive rater certification within 30 days of start date and enroll in additional DRDP Instrument and Meaningful Observation training if necessary.
• Enrolls in annual CA Social-Emotional Foundations in Early Learning (CSEFEL) training when available.
• Maintains timekeeping policies and procedures and approves your timesheet following payroll schedule.
• Performs other duties as assigned to support classroom, campus, and program needs.

Qualifications

• An Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Development (ECD) or related field is required, and must be enrolled in a Bachelor’s Degree program in ECD or related field.
• A Bachelor’s Degree in ECD or a related field is highly preferred.
• A minimum of 6 units in Infant Care is also required.
• At least 2 years of professional experience working with Preschoolers.
• State of California Child Development Teacher Level Permit.
• Fingerprinting Clearance (DOJ & FBI).
• Clearance of Child Abuse Index (CACI).
• Current Physical Health Screening (every 2 years thereafter).
• Current Immunizations (TB, Influenza, MMR, Pertussis) (every 2 years thereafter).
• Current CPR & First Aid Certificate (every 2 years thereafter).
• Must be registered with the Early Care & Education Workforce Registry.
• To attend trainings that are required by funders (might be an evening or Saturday).

Skills and Abilities

• Independent thinker, possess excellent customer service skills, professional attitude, a high level of personal integrity, maturity, and business judgment.
• Able to multi-task, prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, able to do presentations and to maintain confident information.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Well-organized professional who thrives in a team-oriented environment.
• Ability to remain tactful under pressure and present a professional demeanor and communication style with co-workers in a multicultural setting.
• Extremely proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software and multi-line phone system.
• Set priorities and standards of performance; Develop plans by which work can be accomplished.
• General office equipment, fax, copier, printer, phone, and computer.
• Ability to maintain the highest level of confidentiality.