Lead Teacher- Toddlers

About the Role

The Preschool Lead Child Care Teacher guides and instructs children through creative planning and implementation of a developmentally appropriate daily program of activities. This role promotes each child's affective, cognitive, physical, perceptual-motor, communicative, and social competence while supervising Assistant Teachers to ensure safe and nurturing care in a team-teaching environment. The position involves maintaining open communication with parents, program staff, and community resources.

Supervisory Responsibilities

The Preschool Lead Child Care Teacher supervises Assistant Teacher(s) in their classroom. All department staff are responsible for each other’s safety and well-being.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrates appropriate interactions with children:
  • Interacts frequently with children showing affection, interest, and respect.
  • Makes self available and is responsive to children.
  • Speaks with children in a friendly, courteous manner and encourages language use.
  • Treats children of all races, religions, family backgrounds, and cultures equally.
  • Provides equal opportunities for all children to participate in activities.
  • Encourages independence and uses positive approaches to guide behavior.
  • Helps children manage emotions and solve problems using words.
  • Encourages prosocial behavior such as cooperation and turn-taking.
• Establishes and maintains a safe and healthful learning environment:
  • Maintains an efficient, well-arranged classroom with organized interest areas.
  • Keeps equipment and materials in good repair and sanitized.
  • Provides developmentally appropriate materials and activities.
  • Implements positive routines and encourages daily health practices (e.g., hand washing, tooth brushing).
  • Ensures adequate supervision and plans emergency procedures.
• Advances children's physical and intellectual competence:
  • Promotes language development through storytelling, songs, and puppets.
  • Provides opportunities for cognitive skill development and physical activities.
  • Supports creative expression through art, music, and dramatic play.
  • Creates a multi-sensory classroom environment.
• Supports children's social-emotional development and provides positive guidance:
  • Offers opportunities for success through individual, small group, and large group activities.
  • Involves children in self-help training (dressing, toileting, eating).
  • Uses appropriate group management techniques and models table manners.
  • Includes multicultural and multi-ethnic materials in the curriculum.
• Establishes positive and productive communication with families:
  • Maintains contact with parents through calendars, verbal/written communication, and phone calls.
  • Involves parents in educational planning and classroom activities.
  • Shares individualized developmental information during parent-teacher conferences.
• Carries out supplementary and planning responsibilities:
  • Evaluates each child and conducts formal observations as required.
  • Plans developmental goals and implements Individual Education Plans for special needs children.
  • Maintains accurate records (children's files, attendance, meal participation).
  • Plans and participates in educational field trips.
  • Makes referrals to community agencies and reports suspected child abuse.
  • Attends staff meetings and coordinates activities of Assistant Teachers.
  • Assists with classroom cleanliness (e.g., washing tables, sweeping floors).
  • Completes required annual training hours and adheres to agency policies.

Requirements

• Ability to plan, lead, and participate in activities.
• Ability to lift a minimum of 35 pounds.
• Ability to stand for long periods and interact with children at their level.
• Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) requirements:
  • Conversion of Instructional I certificate to Instructional II within six years.
  • Completion of at least 24 hours of professional development per school year (Act 48 and Act 13).
  • Participation in a one-year teacher induction program.
• Availability for full-time, school-year appointment (180 school days + professional development days).
• Ability and willingness to teach online/remotely in case of closures (e.g., COVID-19).
• Maintenance of all Department of Human Services (DHS), Keystone STARS, and PDE requirements.