Lead Teacher - Preschool

• Parent Involvement
• Schedule a minimum of two home visits per year with each child's family.
• Encourage parent participation in program activities.
• Communicate with parents (informal conversations, newsletters, personal notes) regarding his/her child's involvement in classroom activities and progress towards learning goals.

• Administration
• Participate in regular reflective supervision with the Program Manager.
• Participate in ongoing professional development.
• Participate in a coaching process to promote high-quality instructions.
• Provide leadership for the classroom team.
• Maintain confidentiality regarding each child and family.
• Maintain daily attendance and CACFP food counts.
• Ensure the timely completion of necessary paperwork, including developmental assessments, lesson plans, newsletters, incident reports, etc.

• Other
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Education (preferably Early Childhood Education) with a Nebraska Teaching Certificate required, OR the ability to qualify for the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) Waiver.

The NDE waiver requires one of the following

1. Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education; or 2. Bachelor’s degree or higher that includes at least 12 undergraduate credit hours in Early Childhood Education ; or 3. 12 graduate credit hours or more in Early Childhood Education.

• *Employees hired under the NDE waiver are required to complete their Nebraska Teaching Certificate with an Early Childhood Endorsement within four years of hire. They will be designated as “Acting” Lead Teacher until that time.
• Endorsement in Early Childhood Education, Early Childhood Special Education, Preschool Disabilities, or Early Childhood Education Unified per NDE Rule 11 required within four years of hire.
• Two years of early childhood experience in a group setting preferred.
• Must be able to pass a background check that meets compliance standards.

Essential skills / Abilities required

• Knowledge of Creative Curriculum, Teaching Strategies Gold, and Pyramid practices.
• Ability and willingness to remain abreast of developments in the child development/early childhood education field to enhance professional growth and development.
• Willingness to participate in Educare's commitment to continuously review, analyze, and apply findings from local and national evaluations to current program design.
• Knowledge of state childcare licensing requirements.
• Ability to work within a multidisciplinary team as a cooperative and supportive team member.
• Ability to establish supportive relationships with staff and families from diverse backgrounds on behalf of children.
• Ability to effectively communicate, both verbally and in writing, in a manner that demonstrates and fosters cooperation, respect, concern, and openness to change.
• Ability to take or think about the perspective of others and demonstrate self-awareness of one's own culture, beliefs, and values.
• Ability to physically interact with children including the ability to walk or run quickly, kneel or sit on the floor, bend and lift, walk over rough or uneven ground, all while inside or outside the facility.
• Ability to lift, carry, and move center/classroom equipment and supplies and/or bulky objects or children weighing up to 50 lbs.
• Organization skills with the ability to manage time and multiple priorities.
• Maintain boundaries and perform all duties in an ethical and professional manner.
• Ability to obtain First Aid and CPR certification.
• Ability to operate a computer and office equipment, including but not limited to, a telephone, fax machine, and copier.