Qualifications and Requirements
The Lead Teacher must have:
- Personal, education and work experience qualifications as required for Virginia Licensing Standards for Child Care Centers
- Emotional maturity, willingness to cooperate with the aims of the program, respect for children and adults, flexibility, patience, good personal hygiene, and physical and mental health which does not interfere with responsibilities.
- A tuberculosis test, and compliance with background checks as required by DSS and DHCDC
- Ability to collaborate with parents in the education of their children.
- Must meet all child care licensing requirements per Virginia Code and regulations
Essential Functions and Responsibilities
(These are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work performed. The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.)
- Perform the functions of this position with a strong understanding of the curricula utilized in DHCDC and the component parts as well as thorough knowledge and application of developmentally appropriate practices.
- Guide and facilitate activities of the children, including daily activities, field trips, selecting and arranging equipment and materials in the classroom.
- Cooperate with other staff and classroom groups to maintain the smooth functioning of the Center, which at times may require changes to meet the needs of the children.
- Maintain a comprehensive and ongoing portfolio assessment for each child, including weekly observations in each area
- Eat with and assist children in development of social and self-help skills, and sound nutritional practices.
- Guide children's acquisition of social skills.
- Attend staff training and meetings, and Board and parent meetings as requested.
- Work with teacher assistants and volunteers to use and develop their skills and abilities in planning and carrying out classroom activities.
- Maintain a safe and healthy classroom environment. Assure that classroom equipment, furniture, materials, and supplies are properly maintained and stored.
- Use the playground as an extension of the classroom;
- Develop and maintain a schedule for children.
- Supervise and monitor children
- Identify and respond to emergency situations to include child elopement
- Assist in conducting the daily health and environment checklist.
- Assist in orienting volunteers, providing them with guidance as needed,
- Complete and submit required forms and records in a timely and accurate fashion, e.g., lesson plans, time sheets, assessments, meal reports etc.
- Actively participate in the development and implementation of the teacher professional development plan.
- Assure that files are complete, accurate, and confidentially maintained; and
- Perform other duties, as may be required.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Requires ability to use abstract reasoning, problem solving, planning, and analytical skills.
- Requires effective interpersonal and oral communication skills
- Ability to work in a team setting,
- Ability to present a positive image of the organization to members of the community.
- Possess visual and auditory acuity within professionally determined normal ranges, with correction if need.
- Manual dexterity sufficient to operate a computer and office equipment, including, but not limited to, the telephone, fax machine, copier, and walkie talkie
- Ability to work with culturally diverse staff, children and parents.
Working Conditions and Physical Requirements
- Possible exposure to blood and bodily fluids or tissues.
- Possible exposure to communicable diseases.
- Job requires sitting in chairs and on the floor, standing for long periods of time as well as stooping, squatting, and running if needed to ensure child safety.
- Must be able to clean interactive areas
- Must be able to lift 40 pounds to include children when necessary
- Must be able to enter and exit a Center van without assistance and withstand exposure to adverse weather conditions.