Lead Teacher - Two Year Old Classroom

Responsibilities

1. Professional Conduct

   1. Arrive to work when scheduled, be punctual and give ample notice for absences

   2. Have the ability to open/close your classroom, as well as the center if needed

   3. Maintain respectful working relationships and work collaboratively with other teachers, staff and directors

   4. Maintain confidentiality concerning children

   5. Complete tasks in a timely manner

   6. Have the ability to problem solve and maintain composure under new or stressful circumstances

   7. Maintain an overall positive attitude when presented with challenges (i.e. in front of coworkers, parents, and children)

2. Working with Children

   1. Present a friendly, warm demeanor and engage with children in an inviting manner, including hugs, tone of voice and eye contact

   2. Provide a variety of age-appropriate experiences that help children develop an emerging sense of self-awareness while also applying knowledge of child development in planning activities, setting up classroom environments and interactions

   3. Use positive approaches to help children control impulses and fears and adhere to the Green Bean’s discipline policy which incorporates redirection as the primary discipline strategy. Never use corporal punishment, theats, derogatory remarks, or withholding of food as a means of managing behavior

   4. Encourage self help and independence in developmentally appropriate situations

   5. Facilitate positive interactions and friendships among children and model pro-social language and behavior by interacting in a respectful manner with staff and children

   6. Work with each child at their developmental level and provide support and modifications to your activities and lesson plans as needed

   7. Observe and plan a behavioral intervention plan for children with challenging behaviors.  Document and communicate with parents when challenging behaviors occur.  Plan parent/teacher conferences to discuss further if needed.  

3. Classroom Responsibilities

   1. Provide high-quality care including changing diapers, following hand washing procedures for staff and children, participate in family style dining, and monitor the safety and well-being of each child

   2. Follow a daily classroom schedule that includes choice time, circle time, gross motor sessions, and art/sensory activities

   3. Through observation and assessment, develop investigations and provocations that foster the interest of children while incorporating age-appropriate experiences and challenges

   4. Complete blogs, investigation templates, and portfolios at appropriate times and keep them up to date

   5. Conduct regular documentation to be used to inform your lesson planning as well as for display, both inside and outside of the classroom (photos, children’s work, quotes, observations, teacher reflection, etc) 

   6. Exhibit proper sanitation behaviors, such as washing hands after diapering or wiping noses, sanitizing tables and surfaces and sweeping floors after meals

   7. Supervise all children at all times by sight and sound and include roster check after transitions

   8. Participate in fire/tornado drills, and be aware of emergency evacuation plan

   9. Check to make sure playground is free from hazardous objects and gates are closed and locked

   10. Keep classroom reasonably clean and uncluttered

   11. Have basic knowledge of NAEYC Standards and how they relate to curriculum, assessment, developmentally appropriate practice, parent communication, and safety

   12. Have basic knowledge of DCFS Licensing Standards as it relates to teacher-child ratios, health & safety, sick policy, diaper changing policy, sanitation, and nutrition

   13. Have the ability to implement best practice in order to meet and exceed Licensing Standards

   14. Complete accident reports, incident reports and other paperwork in a timely manner - have parents fill out medication consent forms as needed

4. Working with Parents

   1. Seek partnerships with parents while maintaining respectful rapport

   2. Listen and respond respectfully to parents and remain tactful when discussing children - confidentiality must be practiced when discussing other children

   3. Regularly communicate with parents verbally and in writing as needed and remain available and approachable with parents

   4. Conduct parent-teacher conferences, both annually and as needed

5. Working with School Staff

   1. Be open to constructive feedback

   2. Work collaboratively with Lead Teachers, TAs, Floaters, and Directors

   3. Incorporates suggestions from Teachers and Directors in your daily work

   4. Maintain respectful relationships with all staff and students

   5. Show capability in helping train new staff 

   6. Supervise one or more teaching assistants (including conducting regular team meetings, modeling appropriate interactions with children and parents, training teaching assistants on documentation and project work, etc.)

6. Professional Development & School Culture

   1. Attend Professional Development Day and other trainings offered

   2. Participate in professional development hours (a minimum of 15 hours per year is required by DCFS)

   3. Participate in annual Back-to-School Night and other family events

   4. Contribute to a healthy school culture

   5. Offer constructive feedback and show support to fellow teachers when troubleshooting

   6. Express interest and offer support in the activities of other classrooms

   7. Actively work to create a healthy and positive classroom and center environment

Qualifications, per DCFS Guidelines

Section 407.140 Qualifications for Early Childhood Teachers and School-age Workers

a) Early childhood teachers and school-age workers shall be at least 19 years of age.

b) Early childhood teachers and school-age workers shall have a high school diploma or

equivalency certificate (GED).

c) In addition to meeting the requirements of Section 407.100, the early childhood

teacher responsible for a group of children that includes infants, toddler or preschool age children shall have achieved:

1) Sixty semester hours (or 90 quarter hours) of credits from an accredited

college or university with six semester or nine quarter hours in courses

related directly to child care and/or child development, from birth to age six; or

2) One year (1560 clock hours) of child development experience in a nursery

school, kindergarten, or licensed day care center and 30 semester hours (or 45

quarter hours) of credits from an accredited college or university with six

semester or nine quarter hours in courses related directly to child care and/or

child development, from birth to age six; or

3) Completion of credentialing programs approved by the Department in

accordance with Appendix G of this Part.

• Meets all DCFS licensing requirements including a physical examination which provides evidence that staff are free of communicable disease, including active tuberculosis, and physical or mental conditions that could affect their ability to perform assigned duties.  

• Receipt of the flu shot, Tdap and MMR immunizations

• Three (3) written character references

• Complete a background check and fingerprinting

• Knowledge of developmentally appropriate practice

• Knowledge of NAEYC and DCFS Licensing Standards

• Maintain valid first aid and CPR certification

• Must be available to work between the hours of 6:45  a.m. and 6:15 p.m.

General Requirements for Personnel, per DCFS Guidelines

a) Staff shall be able to demonstrate the skill and competence necessary to contribute to each child’s physical, intellectual, personal, emotional, and social development.  Factors contributing to the attainment of this standard include:

    1) Emotional maturity when working with children;

    2) Cooperation with the purposes and services of the program;

    3) Respect for children and adults;

    4) Flexibility, understanding and patience;

    5) Physical and mental health that do not interfere with childcare responsibilities;

    6) Good personal hygiene;

    7) Frequent interaction with children;

    8) Listening skills, availability and responsiveness to children;

9) Sensitivity to children’s socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic and religious backgrounds, 

and individual needs and capabilities;

    10) Use of positive discipline and guidance techniques; and

11) Ability to provide an environment in which children can feel comfortable, relaxed, 

happy and involved in play, recreation and other activities.

b) Child care staff shall generally demonstrate skill and competence necessary to assume direct responsibility for child care including:

    1) Skills to help children meet their developmental and emotional needs; and

2) Skills in planning, directing, and conducting programs that meet children’s basic needs.

c) Child care staff shall be willing to participate in activities leading to professional growth in child development and education, and in training related to specific needs of children served.