Lead Teacher

About the role

Position Summary The Lead Early Childhood Education Teacher is responsible for creating and maintaining a safe, nurturing, engaging, and developmentally appropriate learning environment for young children. The Lead Teacher provides daily leadership within the classroom, develops and implements curriculum, maintains required documentation, communicates effectively with families, and works collaboratively with classroom support staff and program leadership. The Lead Teacher serves as a positive role model and is expected to demonstrate professionalism, dependability, flexibility, teamwork, and a commitment to providing high-quality early childhood education.

Responsibilities

• Classroom Leadership & Supervision: Maintain a safe, welcoming, organized, and developmentally appropriate classroom environment.
• Provide active supervision of children at all times, including consistent scanning, headcounts, and awareness of classroom ratios.
• Maintain required staff-to-child ratios and immediately communicate ratio or coverage concerns to program leadership.
• Establish and consistently follow classroom routines and schedules.
• Guide classroom assistants, aides, and support staff in daily routines and responsibilities.
• Ensure classroom responsibilities are shared appropriately among classroom staff.
• Model professional, respectful, and positive interactions with children, families, coworkers, and leadership.
• Communicate classroom needs or concerns proactively with the Program Director.
• Curriculum & Child Development: Plan and implement developmentally appropriate weekly lesson plans and learning experiences.
• Provide opportunities for learning through play, exploration, movement, conversation, and hands-on experiences.
• Individualize activities and classroom supports based on children's developmental needs, interests, and abilities.
• Observe and document children's development and progress as required by the program.
• Complete required assessments, observations, and developmental documentation within established timelines.
• Maintain required curriculum materials, classroom documentation, and family communications.