Lead Teacher

POSITION TITLE:  Lead Teacher  
 
LOCATION:  Early Education and Care Center, 809 W. Greenfield Avenue, Milwaukee, WI
 
PRIMARY FUNCTION:Responsible for a safe and educational classroom environment by providing daily care, nurturing and development of children.
 
PRIMARY DUTIES:
 
CHILD SAFETY AND DEVELOPMENT
 

1. Provide a safe environment, both indoors and outdoors, that is orderly, clean, appealing and permits children to grow and learn and prevents accidents and injury.
2. Promote good health and nutrition and provide environment that contributes to prevention of illness.
3. Implement a program/curriculum that meets the emotional, physical, intellectual, and social needs of both the individual child and a group of children, through developmentally appropriate practices, in accordance with the policies and philosophy of the La Causa Child Care/Educational program.
4. Establish and maintain good communication with parents through verbal contact on a daily basis, written notes and/or phone conversations, when appropriate.  Sensitive issues should be discussed with the director before approaching the parent(s).
5. Know how many children are in the group and where they are at all times.  Never leave a child or group of children unattended.
6. Provide opportunities to stimulate children to play with sound, rhythm, language, materials, space and ideas in ways that will express their creative abilities.
7. Model appropriate positive behavior guidance techniques and assist other staff so that discipline is consistent.
8. Continually monitor the activities of assistants, trainees, substitutes and new co-workers assigned to the group, helping them relate to and supervise the children and serve as a knowledgeable resource for other staff.
9. Help each child feel accepted in group and help children learn to communicate and get along with others.  Encourage feelings of empathy, respect, and dignity among children and adults.
10. Supervise, assist, and participate in all daily routines including arrival, meals, nap time, toileting needs, music time, group time, outdoor activities, transitions, clean-up and departure.
11. Monitor the staff to child ratio in the group and inform supervisor of any significant change.

 
LESSON PLANS AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS
 

1. Assume responsibility in conjunction with co-workers for preparing and posting weekly lesson plans with group objectives and submitting a copy to the applicable stakeholders.
2. Be responsible for educational resource materials, equipment, classroom atmosphere, and initiating communication with the director regarding program needs and concerns.

 
GENERAL
 

1. Make decisions based on knowledge of early childhood theories and practices, promote quality in child care services and take advantage of opportunities to improve both personally and professionally and for the benefit of children and families.
2. Understand and appropriately implement the duties of a mandated child maltreatment reporter under current policies and procedures.
3. Be flexible to the staffing needs of the entire program, not just a specific group, and understand that hours are subject to change due to fluctuating enrollment and the needs of the program.
4. Follow WI Child Care Regulations, NAEYC standards, and La Causa Policies and procedures and assure that assistants, trainees, substitutes and others in classroom environment do the same.
5. Participate in training to include, but not limited to: Nurturing, Non-Violence, Early Childhood, High Scope and others and implements curricula and materials in the classroom.
6. Perform other duties as assigned for the overall purpose of the program and fulfillment of La Causa's mission and vision. NE
7. Must complete 25 hours of in-service training per year.

 
NORMALWORKING CONDITIONS:  Work is generally performed in classroom, playground and outdoor environment (fieldtrips).  Frequent walking, sitting, bending, standing, seeing, hearing, physical tasks with children and lifting infants and toddlers required.  May be exposed to infectious diseases.  Flexible hours required; as dictated by program needs.
 
REPORTS TO: Child Care Supervisor
 
QUALIFICATIONS:  
 

1. High school diploma or GED equivalent required.
2. Introduction to the Childcare Profession (Formerly Early Childhood 1), Skills and Strategies for the Child Care Teacher (Formerly Early Childhood 2) and Fundamentals of Infant and Toddler Care (formerly-Infant and Toddler) required.  Associate Degree or 4 year degree in Early Childhood education, preferred.
3. 2 years classroom experience, preferred.
4. Able to lift children up to 50 pounds in weight.
5. Must be 21 years of age.
6. Legally able to work near children according to state licensing requirements
7. Knowledgeable about High Scope Curriculum and Accreditation Criteria
8. Excellent communication skills, both oral and written, interpersonal relationship skills, and able to work effectively with others from culturally diverse, linguistic and economic background; both in a team and individual environment
9. Good critical thinking; able to use logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems
10. Able to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends depending on program needs
11. Bilingual, English and Spanish, strongly preferred
12. Must successfully complete TB Testing, Physical and background checks

 
 
TO APPLY:                            Apply online at www.lacausa.org under “About La Causa” then “Employment App.”
 
Please know that La Causa’s Family Resource Center (804 W. Greenfield Avenue) and your Public Libraries offer free use of a computer and access to internet.
                                               
 

• The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.
• Any employee wishing to apply for this position should notify their immediate supervisor of their intentions

 
 
LA CAUSA, INC. IS AN AA/EEOC/LEP EMPLOYER
 

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

Any employee wishing to apply for this position should notify their immediate supervisor of their intentions

LA CAUSA, INC. IS AN AA/EEOC/LEP EMPLOYER

Apply online at www.lacausa.org Please know that La Causa’s Family Resource Center (804 W. Greenfield Avenue) and your Public Libraries offer free use of a computer and access to internet.