Head Start Lead Teacher

at Community Action of Southeast Iowa in BURLINGTON, Iowa, United States

Job Description

Summary: To provide a quality, comprehensive program for children ages three through five years and their families.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following.  Other duties may be assigned.

1. Maintain confidentiality.
2. Plan and implement developmentally appropriate activities as outlined in the Head Start Performance Standards and other Agency documents.
3. Plan, coordinate and implement field trip activities with Education Services Manager, Education Coordinators and Family Development Specialists.
4. Develop a respectful, supportive, trusting relationship with each family assisting them in meeting their own needs and planning for their child’s optimal growth.
5. Assist in maintaining bus routes with the transportation staff; inform families and teaching staff schedule arrival and departure times.
6. Read and be familiar with Head Start regulatory standards and interpret the program philosophy to families and the community.
7. Make at least two home visits a year per child and schedule/hold two parent/teacher conferences to discuss their child’s progress and development.
8. Encourage parent’s involvement in Head Start through parent activities, creating and implementing activities they can do with their child in the classroom and at home.
9. Maintain on-going communication with parents through written and verbal means.
10. Foster growth of children by: building confidence and responsibility in each child; modeling and achieving consistent positive discipline within the classroom; modeling and encouraging pleasant conversation, good eating habits, proper hygiene and proper table manners during meals; eating the same menus with the children at a child-sized table.
11. Establish a safe, healthy, and nurturing atmosphere with constructive discipline procedures while maintaining a daily routine conducive to optimal growth and development of children.
12. With the assistance of other staff, observe, assess, plan, record and evaluate each child’s developmental progress and make proper referrals when need is indicated.
13. Complete computer data entry information on a regular basis so that family and child information is readily available to staff for reports and on-going monitoring.
14. Responsible for general cleanliness of the classroom and for maintenance and inventory of classroom materials, including First Aid Kits, that assures health and safety of children.
15. Responsible for housekeeping chores for the health and safety of the children including sweeping/vacuuming after spills, cleaning dishes, cleaning/sanitizing tables, and picking up classroom, as well as classroom laundry needs.
16. Prepare meals and snacks as needed following CACFP and Head Start guidelines.
17. Supervise, train, and annually evaluate Teachers as indicated; supervise and train volunteers including orientation to the classroom, the program and emergency procedures.
18. Obtain substitute when absent from the classroom; notify immediate supervisor of such situations.
19. Keep timely records and reports and meet all required Agency deadlines.
20. Attend meetings as need indicates, including parent meetings, staff meetings, and support meetings for children; encouraged to participate in community activities.
21. Participate in pre-service, in-services, and other training opportunities as mandated.
22. Develop weekly lesson plans that are developmentally appropriate to the age of the children in your classroom.
23. Work with Education Services Manager and Education Coordinator, as requested, in planning the Agency Educational Program.
24. Work with individual, groups, agencies and organizations to advocate for families and to promote the program and its goals.
25. Responsible for keeping children clean including cleaning up bodily fluids, changing diapers or pull-ups /training pants, assist with toilet training to be in compliance with licensing standards.
26. Knowledgeable of and responsible for the implementation of the Head Start Performance Standards and aware of the Agency’s other programs, mission and goals.
27. Be flexible to changing work hours.
28. Assist in delivery of supplies to classrooms and centers.
29. Model professional behavior and dress code.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: Directly supervises the Teachers, substitutes and classroom volunteers. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the Agency’s policies and applicable laws.  Responsibilities include training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; motivating to succeed and taking corrective action; addressing complaints and resolving problems.