Lead Teacher, Widener Childhood Development Center

About the role

The Lead Teacher at the Widener Child Development Center is responsible for planning and implementing high-quality instruction, supervising and managing children and the assistant teacher in the room, and collaborating with Widener University field placement and work study students.

Responsibilities

• Read and be accountable for WCDC policies, Department of Human Services regulations (DHS), Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), and Quality Rating System Standards (Keystone Stars).
• Plan and facilitate the approved classroom curriculum to ensure engaging, age appropriate lessons are offered to students.
• Input weekly lesson plans into the online digital platform, Teach Strategies Gold.
• Provide positive reinforcement to students and model problem solving behavior and good communication skills. Treat all children with dignity and respect to allow for individual differences.
• Supervise all individuals in the room, including assistant teacher and Widener University students, to ensure appropriate and respectful student-teacher interactions.
• Work cooperatively with the assistant teacher to ensure he/she takes an active role in implementing and participating in all activities.
• Collaborate with Widener University field placement and work study students within a classroom setting, assign roles, and provide direction as to which activities to lead, which students to interact with, etc.
• Maintain required ratio and total awareness of children’s safety at all times; actively supervise and manage students at all times.
• Facilitate and maintain an environment that is safe, inviting, interesting, and stimulating for students.
• Maintain accurate records, including but not limited to, classroom attendance, illness and injury, and absences.
• Be accountable for leading classroom staff in emergency policies and procedures (Fire drill, weather drills, lockdown).
• Cultivate and maintain positive parent-teacher relationships; communicate with families on a daily basis via Brightwheel daily reports; send daily updates and pictures of students’ learning, check in with families as needed regarding individual students and absences.
• Acknowledge all parents, students, and visitors when entering and exiting the building each day.
• Take initiative in communicating with individual families via email or phone regarding any concerns or behaviors specific to individual students.
• Maintain written documentation and anecdotal notes of student progress to share with families during conferences twice a year; input data into online assessment platform Teaching Strategies GOLD.
• Be proactive in attending and renewing all trainings according to licensing requirements, including, but not limited to 12 hours of childcare related trainings annually as required by DHS and Keystone STARS.
• Be proactive in managing challenging behaviors by implementing strategies and accommodations specific to individual students-sticker charts, behavior charts, visuals, etc.
• Maintain documentation; ABC charts, anecdotal records, and additional documentation as needed to address challenging behaviors.
• With Director’s support, maintain communication with individual student’s IEP teams; collaborate with assigned therapists and special instructors, attend IEP meetings to implement accommodations and differentiations.
• Engage in outside play with students encouraging gross motor movement, exploration, and creativity while on the playground.

Qualifications

• Required: Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or the Human Services field.
• Two (2+) years of experience within the Childcare field. An equivalent combination of experience and education may be considered.
• Proficient use of computers, internet, and Microsoft Office programs (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).
• Current PA State Criminal History Report (DHS) Department of Human Services.
• Current FBI Criminal History Report (DHS) Department of Human Services.
• Current PA Child Abuse History Clearance (DHS) Department of Human Services.
• Must have current Annual Physical Exam and Manitou TB Test.

Physical Requirements and/or Unusual Hours

• Must be able to fully participate in all classroom and outside activities, which may include but are not limited to routinely stooping, standing, sitting on the floor, bending, kneeling, running, and other forms of physical activity.
• Routinely lift up to twenty-five (25) pounds; occasionally lift and carry supplies, equipment, and children that weigh up to fifty (50) pounds.
• Occasionally walking or climbing stairs; mobility between office and other offices/buildings on campus.