Lead Preschool Teacher - East Valley

Position Overview

The Preschool Lead Teacher provides a caring, safe, and well-managed environment for children to participate in learning activities and imaginative play. The teacher provides instruction in basic skills such as color, shape, number, and letter recognition as well as social skills. The Lead Teacher establishes clear objectives for all lessons, prepares, organizes, and leads instruction in all activities. The Lead Teacher will lead evaluation of children's academic performance and social development. The Lead teacher will communicate with parents and guardians to discuss their children's progress. The Lead Teacher ensures enforcement of all district policies and rules regarding preschool program. The Lead teacher ensures meals and snacks are served in accordance with nutritional guidelines.

Essential Functions

• Plans, develops and implements age-appropriate curriculum.
• Aids students, individually or in small groups, with lesson assignments (e.g. read stories, provide writing assistance, reinforce language skills, numbers, alphabet, computer learning programs, etc.) for the purpose of practicing and/or reinforcing learning concepts and assisting students in reaching academic goals and grade level standards.
• Adapts classroom activities, assignments and/or materials (e.g. art projects, computer, language skills, etc.) for the purpose of supporting and reinforcing classroom goals and objectives.
• Assists students during lunchtime, toileting and washing activities.
• Maintains classroom equipment, work area, and manual and electronic files and records (e.g. clean/bleach tables, sign-in/sign-out logs, etc.) for the purpose of ensuring availability of items; providing written reference; providing a safe learning environment; and/or meeting mandated requirements.
• Prepares instructional materials (e.g. laminating, making posters, making copies, bulletin boards, filing, newsletters, etc.).
• Provides an environment of comfort and security for young students by indulging in nurturing behavior.
• Reports observations and incidents relating to specific students (e.g. accidents, fights, appropriate and/or inappropriate social behavior, violations of rules, safety conditions, change in behavior, etc.) for the purpose of communicating information to appropriate instructional and/or administrative personnel.
• Maintains ongoing, open communication with parents/caregivers. Provide a classroom environment that encourages parent participation. Ensure that each family receives an opportunity to build strong relationships and experience clear communication with teacher staff. Liaison with children’s families to ensure smooth transition from home to school setting and transitions from classroom to classroom when needed. Assist families with children’s transitions from toddler to preschool and from preschool to kindergarten.
• Maintains a safe and positive learning environment by monitoring individual and/or groups of students in a variety of settings (e.g. classroom, playground, etc.).
• Safeguards the classroom by ensuring that Teacher Assistants are kept updated in all matters concerning the classroom and program, i.e. lead teacher meetings, lesson plans, policies and procedures, training received, etc.
• Provides functional training and guidance to staff, interns, substitutes and volunteers assigned to the classroom.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Education, Licensure, or Certification: High School Diploma or GED. Food Handler’s Card/Certification. Must be able to obtain and hold a valid IVP Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card at all times. Present a recent (within 1 year) Negative TB test. 6 months experience or more working in an Early Childcare setting.
• Specialized Knowledge, Skills & Abilities: Positively interact with all students. Create a safe learning environment that is conducive to learning. Able to design lesson plans to meet student needs and school & state requirements. Able to employ varied teaching strategies and best practices that effectively teaches the curriculum. Ability to identify individual student needs. Good communication skills with, students, coworkers, administration and parents. Ability to collaborate with other teachers and school staff. Ability to maintain flexible work schedule. Ability to maintain a professional appearance. Demonstrate a commitment to the teaching profession by utilizing resources for professional development therefore, improving the education that is provided. Must possess strong communication and organizational skills. Must have ability to interact positively with students, parents, teachers and administrators.

Background Checks

• The incumbent in this position will be required to pass a criminal history background check. Must be able to obtain and hold a valid IVP Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card at all times.

Physical And Travel Requirements / Work Environment

• Travel between campuses is required from time to time.
• This position requires the need to lift objects (up to 25 pounds) on occasion.
• This position may require sitting for long periods at times, talking on the phone, standing, kneeling, stooping and long periods of concentration.
• Local and in-state travel required.