Lead Teacher (LJ)

Position Summary

The Lead Teacher serves as the primary instructional leader within the classroom and is responsible for creating and sustaining a safe, nurturing, and developmentally appropriate learning environment for young children. Utilizing The Creative Curriculum, the Lead Teacher designs, implements, and evaluates comprehensive instructional experiences that support cognitive, social-emotional, language, and physical development. This role exercises substantial professional discretion and independent judgment in curriculum planning and delivery, assessment practices, classroom management, and implementation of individualized learning strategies. The Lead Teacher collaborates with families, Teacher Assistants, specialists, and leadership to support each child’s development, school readiness, and overall success.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the instructional leader of the classroom, implementing The Creative Curriculum to design and deliver developmentally appropriate learning experiences aligned with program standards and child needs.
• Exercise independent professional judgment in curriculum planning, instructional delivery, assessment integration, and classroom management to promote strong child outcomes.
• Establish and maintain a safe, inclusive, engaging, and developmentally appropriate classroom environment.
• Differentiate instruction based on developmental observations, child interests, and ongoing assessment data.
• Apply knowledge of early childhood development and evidence-based practices to instructional decision-making.
• Support social-emotional development using Pyramid Model strategies.
• Collaborate with support staff and specialists to address individual child needs and strengthen instructional outcomes.
• Conduct ongoing observational assessments and developmental evaluations using approved assessment tools to monitor children's growth, inform instructional planning, and support individualized learning goals.
• Analyze assessment data, child progress, and classroom outcomes to inform instructional decision-making, curriculum implementation, and continuous classroom improvement.
• Maintain accurate, complete, and up-to-date child and classroom documentation in accordance with program requirements.
• Provide day-to-day leadership, direction, training, and performance feedback to Teacher Assistants.
• Foster classroom consistency and teamwork by modeling professional teaching practices, classroom management strategies, developmentally appropriate interactions, and implementation of program standards.
• Collaborate with the Director of Early Learning to strengthen classroom quality, staff development, and program effectiveness.
• Maintain consistent, professional communication with families via Brightwheel, conferences, and scheduled meetings.
• Build strong family partnerships by sharing child progress, developmental updates, and learning experiences.
• Partner with leadership and support staff to address concerns related to development, behavior, attendance, or family needs.
• Prepare for and attend Parent/Teacher conferences.
• Participate in ongoing Pyramid Model coaching through Montclair State University.
• Engage in required observations (TPITOS/TPOT) and organization-sponsored professional development to maintain and expand expertise in early childhood education, child development, The Creative Curriculum, social-emotional learning, and evidence-based instructional practices, demonstrating continuous professional growth and reflective practice.
• Participate in staff meetings, planning sessions, and organizational training activities.

Qualifications

• Education: Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education or Child Development Associate (CDA) required. Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education or a related field strongly preferred.
• Experience: Experience working with young children required. Experience implementing curriculum and conducting child observations and assessments preferred. Experience utilizing The Creative Curriculum preferred.

Core Competencies

• Communication & Family Engagement: Maintain consistent, professional communication with families via Brightwheel, conferences, and scheduled meetings. Build strong family partnerships by sharing child progress, developmental updates, and learning experiences.
• Teamwork & Collaboration: Foster classroom consistency and teamwork by modeling professional teaching practices, classroom management strategies, developmentally appropriate interactions, and implementation of program standards. Collaborate with support staff and specialists to address individual child needs and strengthen instructional outcomes.
• Cultural Competence: Apply knowledge of early childhood development and evidence-based practices to instructional decision-making.
• Curriculum Design and Instructional Planning: Apply knowledge of early childhood development and evidence-based practices to instructional decision-making.
• Professional Development & Continuous Improvement: Participate in ongoing Pyramid Model coaching through Montclair State University. Engage in required observations (TPITOS/TPOT) and organization-sponsored professional development to maintain and expand expertise in early childhood education, child development, The Creative Curriculum, social-emotional learning, and evidence-based instructional practices, demonstrating continuous professional growth and reflective practice.

Technical Skills

• Proficiency with Brightwheel.
• Familiarity with The Creative Curriculum resources, lesson planning tools, and assessment systems.
• Ability to utilize classroom technology, virtual meeting platforms, and electronic communication systems.
• Basic proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.