Lead Teacher EHS (Various Locations, Various Classrooms)

About the role

The Lead Teacher is responsible for creating and maintaining a high-quality learning environment that fosters the social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development of children, while supporting their families as partners in their education. This role ensures compliance with Head Start Program Performance Standards, NAEYC accreditation standards, and other regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Classroom and Curriculum Management: Develop and implement developmentally appropriate lesson plans aligned with Head Start goals, addressing core learning areas such as language, literacy, math, science, social studies, and motor skills. Conduct regular developmental screenings and assessments to individualize learning experiences. Maintain a classroom environment that is clean, safe, and conducive to learning, adhering to safety procedures and quality standards. Ensure classrooms are well-equipped to meet the needs of children and promote a high-quality program aligned with NAEYC, Quality Rated, Bright from the Start, and Head Start standards. Help ensure full participation of children in all classroom activities, providing necessary adaptations and supervision.
• Foster nurturing and responsive interactions with children and support their social-emotional, cognitive, and physical development. Provide child assessments and documentation using approved tools (e.g., Teaching Strategies GOLD). Supervise children at all times, ensuring safety and well-being both indoors and outdoors. Help maintain a clean and organized classroom in compliance with health and safety standards.
• Communicate regularly and effectively with families to support parent engagement and participation. Child and Family Engagement: Involve parents in their child’s education through parent-teacher conferences, surveys, and other feedback mechanisms. Establish strong partnerships with families to support family well-being and promote children’s learning and development. Engage families in the transition process to ensure continuity of care and education from Early Head Start to Head Start, and from Head Start to kindergarten. Promote culturally responsive practices to support diverse family and community needs. Serve as a subject matter expert to support families in identifying and addressing barriers to service access, including transportation or cultural/language needs.
• Serve as a subject matter expert to support families in identifying and addressing barriers to service access, including transportation or cultural/language needs. Ensure a trauma informed approach is implemented in the classroom lesson plans and interactions including providing supports as recommended through the Pyramid Approach.
• Professional Development and Leadership: Participate in ongoing professional development opportunities and apply best practices in early childhood education. Provide mentorship and support to other classroom staff to foster professional growth. Serve as a resource for colleagues by sharing expertise on early childhood education and development.

Qualifications

• Education: Minimum of a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential or state equivalent in Early Childhood Education required. Preferred: Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Child Development, or a related field preferred. For Georgia Pre-K Lead Teacher roles, a Bachelor’s Degree in one of the above fields is required at minimum, in accordance with Bright from the Start guidelines. Must meet all credentialing and qualification standards required by state and program regulations. Additional certifications or endorsements in early childhood education are a plus.
• Experience: At least two years of teaching experience in early childhood education required. Experience with developmental assessments, curriculum implementation, and family engagement strategies. Prior experience in early childhood education or a Georgia Pre-K setting strongly preferred.

Skills

• Strong understanding of Head Start Program Performance, NAEYC and QR standards, and culturally responsive practices. Strong working knowledge of the Department of Early Care and Learning: Rules and Regulations Ability to create developmentally appropriate lesson plans and adapt them to meet the diverse needs of children. Strong organizational and time-management skills to handle multiple responsibilities. Proficiency in child observation tools and data management systems. Collaborative Team Player: Values interdisciplinary collaboration and fosters teamwork. Positive “Can-Do” Attitude: Maintains an optimistic and proactive approach. Emotional Intelligence: Demonstrates a high level of emotional awareness and empathy. Innovative Problem Solver: Proactively identifies opportunities and proposes effective solutions. Self-Motivated: Independently driven and capable of completing tasks with minimal supervision. Strong Communication Skills: Exhibits above-average verbal and written communication skills. Interpersonal Proficiency: Highly developed interpersonal skills. Solution-Focused Mindset: Actively seeks opportunities for improvement, offering thoughtful ideas and suggestions to support broader organizational goals. Commitment to Growth: Embraces lifelong learning and demonstrates a consistent desire for personal and professional development. Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with integrity and discretion.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to sit on the floor, kneel, bend, squat, and get up and down frequently throughout the day to engage with young children at their level. Ability to lift and carry children weighing up to 40 pounds, as well as classroom materials and supplies. Ability to move quickly and respond to children's needs or emergency situations. Adequate vision and hearing to ensure child safety and effective communication. Ability to push, pull, or maneuver strollers, cribs, or carts when needed. Manual dexterity to assist with dressing, feeding, diapering, and other care routines as required. Tolerance for working in a busy, sometimes noisy, and physically demanding environment.

Health Requirements

• Proof of Tuberculosis (TB) test clearance required prior to employment. Must comply with any additional health screenings or vaccinations required by Our House or other regulatory agencies.