Pre-K Lead Teacher (All Locations)

NATURE AND SCOPE

Under the direction of the Center Manager, the Pre-K Lead Teacher will successfully lead a team, plan, administer and evaluate Pre-K and Early Learning Services. This will play a key role in planning, implementing, and delivering age-appropriate instruction for four-year-old children that will prepare them for kindergarten.

RESPONSIBILITIES (including, but not limited to)

• Provide quality instruction to Pre-kindergarten children that will enable them to learn and demonstrate mastery of Core Standards (GELDS) that will prepare them for kindergarten and school success.
• Behave in a professional manner that is always open, cordial, family and child-centered, and in the best interest of the YMCA Early Learning program.
• Model appropriate use of grammar (verbal and written) when communicating with students, parents, colleagues, and leadership.
• Create a language rich environment that includes daily story reading, as well as regular writing activities and environmental (basic) print.
• Plan, prepare, and implement age-appropriate activities that are integrated across the curriculum; thematic; real, concrete, and relevant; stimulating and challenging; and based on the child’s individual needs and interests.
• Prepare in advance lesson plans and materials, ensures that the classroom environment is organized, interactive, appropriate, clean, safe, and hands on.
• Plan and implement a balance of open and structured child-initiated and teacher-directed activities.
• Prepare, plan, and implement transition strategies for daily activities.
• Organizes classroom space into functional areas (i.e., interest centers) that are easily recognizable and clutter free.
• Conduct and record ongoing observations that are descriptive of the whole child and his/her developmental milestones rather than just exclusive reports of problem behaviors.
• Consistently utilize information from developmental assessments in the planning, teaching and individualization of classroom activities.
• Based on assessments, observations, developmental milestones, and/or typical behavior immediately refer all suspected disabilities and abuse to the appropriate authority.

REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or related field
• Must have some knowledge of project-based curriculum such as Creative Curriculum
• Must demonstrate enthusiasm for working with Pre-K students.
• Must have good verbal and written communication skills.
• Credentials must be verified in Georgia Professional Development System (PDS) prior to hire.
• Transcript and proof of credentials
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee must be able to perform physical requirements, including, but not limited to, kneel, bend, squat, lift, push, pull, and carry objects or children up to 50 lbs

PREFERRED REQUIRMENTS

• A Valid GA teaching certification (T4 or T5) in Early Childhood Education