Lead Teacher - Birth to Three

Duties & Responsibilities

• Ensure their teaching teams work cooperatively to plan and implement individual educational plans for young children ages birth through 3 years.
• These educational plans must encourage every child’s social, emotional, physical, and language development in a manner appropriate to their age and stage of development.
• Accurately complete and turn in all necessary paperwork for the classroom to the manager on time.
• Accurately enter all information into TSG and review it weekly by all team members.
• Provide a safe, stimulating, and nurturing environment enriched by high quality language experiences with an emphasis on social and emotional growth.
• Implement all program requirements in adherence to performance and outcome standards as prescribed by the requirements of the center’s multiple funding partners and in accordance with each child’s ability, the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s (NAEYC) core components, and the Illinois Early Learning Guidelines.
• Make appointments and complete home visits and parent teacher conferences.
• Coach Teacher Assistants in the classroom.
• Model developmentally appropriate practice.
• Complete and execute collaborative staff goal setting and implementation.
• Guide, direct, and evaluate Teacher Assistants, Foster Grandparent, and Child Development students.
• Conduct team and individual reflective guidance meetings.
• Work collaboratively with team on time off requests.
• Develop and maintain confidential education information for each child.
• Facilitate and document weekly team meetings.
• Ensure all required program documentation is completed accurately and submitted in a timely manner.
• Monitor and ensure that daily attendance and meal participation reports are completed.
• Ensure all confidential information is protected.
• Collaborate with Supervisor and Director to assess strengths, challenges and develop goals annually.
• Input classroom data into appropriate information systems.
• Observe, assess and document each child’s health, skills, behavior, growth and development.
• Provide opportunities for the children to develop positive self-images and experience success.
• Ensure the development of individualized education for each child is documented.
• Ensure the development and implementation of individualized educational activities is incorporated into lessons plans for each child.
• Identify any developmental concerns regarding the children and follow agency protocol.
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of Early Childhood Education.
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of Infant and toddler development.
• Plan and implement developmentally appropriate classroom activities which will promote the social, emotional, physical and cognitive development of each child.
• Work collaboratively with team to develop lesson plans with goals, objectives activities, and outcomes for children that integrate health, nutrition, mental health, disabilities and parent involvement into the plans.
• In collaboration with the Birth to 3 manager implement and help assess the program’s educational plan.
• Work collaboratively with support staff to integrate assessment results into curriculum and lesson planning.
• Establish and maintain a classroom environment which includes positive guidance techniques that meets state and local licensing regulations, NAEYC performance standards and St. Vincent’s philosophy and curriculum.
• Create a secure environment that invites learning through exploration and discovery.
• Ensure that all children are always under appropriate supervision.
• Develop and maintain an attractive, clean, safe, and engaging environment that encourages children’s independence and self-selection of activities.
• Work collaboratively with team to ensure they care for equipment and materials.
• Notify supervisor and appropriate parties of any needed repairs or maintenance in classroom, playground, gym, and large motor room.
• Ensure that daily, weekly and monthly health and safety policies and procedures are implemented and documented.
• Encourage and provide opportunities for parent participation in the program.
• Provide examples and ideas for educational activities for parent/child participation at home.
• Encourage family engagement, including quarterly Family Engagement Events.
• Develop effective partnerships with families.
• Ensure that teaching team is sending information and activities via Remind App and TSG family.
• Attend all required meetings and trainings, including mentoring and coaching trainings.
• Regularly participate and make contributions at Teacher meetings, trainings, supervision, weekly team meetings; etc.
• Complete a minimum of (20) CEU’s annually to meet DCFS and Accreditation continuing education with infant and toddler focus.
• Provide classroom coverage as needed to ensure teacher, child ratios.
• Provide recommendations in the evaluations and corrective actions of Teacher Assistants.
• Complete required documentation for monthly State Pre-K reports.
• Follow all mandates of NAEYC, state and local licensing and St. Vincent’s philosophy and curriculum.
• Act with integrity and aspire to model our Core Values in the delivery of all services.

Qualifications

• Education/Experience: Associate degree in Early Childhood Education (ECE) and an IT credential Level 4 and ECE Level 5 required. Bachelor’s degree in ECE or CD, preferred.
• Member of GatewaysThree (3) years prior teaching experience with birth to 3-year-old children.
• Three (3) years experience working in early childhood setting.
• Knowledge of Creative Curriculum and Teaching Strategies Gold.
• Knowledge of developmentally appropriate practices for children ages 15 months to 3 years.
• Ability to establish a respectful and trustworthy relationship with birth to three and their families.
• Ability to establish a respectful, cooperative and collaborative relationship with co-teachers.
• Ability to work respectfully and cooperatively with Teacher Assistants, including assisting them in increasing their professional knowledge and skills regarding developmentally appropriate practices for birth to three.
• Ability to read and speak English proficiently.