Lead Teacher

Our ideal candidate is an educator and leader who enjoys teamwork & collaboration and working towards building strong partnerships with families, children, and staff. He/ She will have exceptional early childhood classroom experience, leadership, interpersonal skills, and supervisory experience, that support Felton’s mission. The ideal candidate will have a strong and clear vision that frames the work they will do in supporting and serving the needs of young children and their families.

Job Description The Lead Teacher is responsible for general administrative duties as assigned, for supervision and performance evaluation of subordinate staff, planning, preparing, and implementing daily activities, a developmentally appropriate curriculum, monitoring children's progress, and maintenance of related records for assigned classrooms. He/she manages and supervises all operations of an assigned infant/toddler/preschool classroom according to established procedures and opening/closing of the site. The Lead Teacher is responsible for ensuring Felton is providing an engaging, developmentally appropriate early learning curriculum for 12 – 24 children. He/she is responsible for mentoring, supervising, and managing the performance of 2 -5 regular staff, and substitutes.

Leadership & Supervision

Assumes responsibility for the operation of the Center in the absence of the Program Supervisor/Director, as requested.

Assists in the design and implementation of education programs, including in‐service staff training programs.

Assists in planning and attending special programs and activities related to the center.

Attends and engages in staff and parent meetings, including biannual Parent/Teacher conferences, and Back to School night.

Attends and engages in ongoing professional development to improve personal and professional skills.

Keeps current with all credentials and degrees in accordance with all accrediting and regulatory bodies.

Conducts regular team meetings with support staff.

Create, support, and promote a team environment by encouraging and facilitating problem-solving, participating in site meetings and case conferencing, accepting supervision, and working closely with the Program Supervisor, Program Director, and other staff.

Support teaching staff by modeling superb classroom management, providing feedback to improve teachers’ skills, organizing, and facilitating staff meetings and teacher training

Contribute to ongoing development and evaluation of the center's goals and objectives

Lead the staff in creating a warm, nurturing, and respectful atmosphere for the children to be encouraged to learn and grow.

Delegate tasks such as leading activities, taking supply inventory, restocking supplies, and basic cleaning of the facility

Supervises and assists assigned support staff with special problems or situations involving staff, families, or children.

Supports the professional growth of colleagues by sharing materials and information and providing helpful feedback and encouragement.

Responsible for conducting staff conferences to address performance. Completes quarterly and annual performance evaluations of assigned classroom staff.

Supervises and guides student interns in the classroom, including required evaluations.

Maintains child‐staff and group size ratios at all times.

Early Learning Classroom Environment

Work closely with other teaching staff in developing and implementing a high-quality classroom and child development program ensuring that classroom activities are in keeping with the program's curriculum and philosophy (Creative Curriculum, CSEFEL, PITC Principles, and

Developmentally Appropriate Practices) and reflect and respect the individual development and diversity of the program's children, families, and staff.

Provides educational and therapeutic activities for children across the general areas of gross and fine motor, imitation, social responsiveness, exploration, self-help, competence, language, emotional and perceptual-cognitive development using weekly activity plans or individual program plans (for infants and disabled children).

Ensures children are supervised 100% of the time. Keeps all children within the vision to be accountable for safety. Always follows protocols and procedures on a consistent basis.

Uses and promotes positive guidance techniques.

Communicates with children on their developmental level.

Establishes routines with smooth transition periods.

Encourages children to be independent.

Designs appropriate room arrangements to support the goals of the program. Participates in annual California Department of Education

Exemplary Program Standards, ITERS/ ECERS, and works will classroom staff to set goals and implement methods for improving classroom functioning.

Maintains a safe & healthy environment and notifies the facilities team of maintenance issues.

Maintains classroom inventory and assists in the purchase of equipment and supplies in accordance with classroom budget. Curriculum

Provides a balance between child‐initiated and teacher‐initiated activities.

Provides a developmentally appropriate and integrated curriculum that meets the needs of individual children.

Plans and implements culturally diverse experiences that support families.

Maintains and posts written curriculum plans.

Eats all meals with children and assists in the development of good nutrition habits and socialization skills.

Assists children in establishing good habits of toileting and personal hygiene.

Documentation, Observation, and Developmental Assessments

Assesses children’s needs and developmental progress on an ongoing basis.

Involves classroom team in formal observations and assessments.

Uses observations, assessments, and children’s emergent interests to plan curriculum.

Provide individualized and small group instruction to adapt the curriculum to the needs and interests of each child.

Updates documentation boards based on Felton’s guidelines and ensures the learning is visible.

Meets with individual parents as required on matters involving child or Center policies.

Communication, and Collaboration

Work cooperatively with parents, staff, and third-party consultants to meet the individual needs of children and their families

Maintain positive communication regarding Felton’s ECE programs to families, other staff members, and the surrounding community.

Meet regularly with administration, parents, teachers, and others regarding the developmental progress of children and interpretation of Felton’s ECE policies and procedures.

Reports to: Program Supervisor

Job Type: Full-Time

Work Schedule: Onsite

FLSA Status: Exempt

Salary Range: $70,000 - $80,000 Annually (DOE)

Benefits (subject to election and eligibility): Fully-Paid Medical and Dental Plans; Health Reimbursement Card, Paid Time Off (personal, vacation, and sick time), 403B with company match.

This position is union-represented by SEIU Local 1021 and is subject to the applicable collective bargaining agreement.

Candidates should apply for the position at our career page “careers.felton.org” OR directly email resumes to “jobs@felton.org”.