Lead Preschool Teacher

JOB TITLE: Lead Preschool Teacher

EMPLOYER: Martin Luther King Community Center

DEPARTMENT: Education

REPORTS TO: Director of Education

Salary: $23.00/hour

Schedule: 40 hours per week/8:00 am to 4 pm Monday through Friday

Start Date: November 9, 2026 or later

Benefits: Medical (subsidized at 85% by MLK Center), Dental, Vision, Life/ADD, Long and Short Term Disability, PTO, Paid Holidays, Tuition Reimbursement, Cell Phone Reimbursement, Simple IRA Match

SUMMARY:

This position is responsible for developing a cohesive teaching team, coordinating the curriculum, and managing the day-to-day operational activities of the classroom; communicating with both children and adults in order to meet the needs of the children; effectively guiding teacher assistants; and resolving parental concerns.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Coordinates and implements educational curriculum by developing classroom activities based on developmentally appropriate practices and early learning standards.
• Leads by example; encourage teaching team success through modeling and
• Plans individual and group age-appropriate activities to actively engage children and encourage social, cognitive and emotional growth.
• Maintains frequent communications with parents through informal discussions, progress reports, and parent-teacher conferences.
• Ensures all center policies and state regulations are
• Ensures a healthy classroom environment – including maintaining appropriate hygiene and cleanliness standards and safety and security of children.
• Supervises teacher assistants and classroom volunteers to ensure they are following planned activities, hygiene and safety standards.
• Maintains accurate records, forms and
• Maintains personal professional development plan to ensure continuous quality
• Helps with kitchen duties, when
• Performs any other duties assigned by the Director of Education/Executive Director.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Associate's Degree (AA)/CDA or equivalent from a two-year college or technical school, or six months to one year related experience and/or training, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Certificates, licenses and registrations required:

• Infant/child CPR and First Aid

• Computer skills required:

• Word Processing Software (Word);
• Electronic Mail Software (Outlook);

• Other skills required:

• A strong understanding of child
• Positive energy and the ability to work well with others (staff, children, and parents) and to foster a team environment.
• Excellent leadership, organizational, and interpersonal
• Must clear full background check and must submit record of all State of RI mandated vaccinations

COMPETENCIES:

• Interpersonal Skills - Focuses on solving conflict, not blaming; Maintains confidentiality; Listens to others without interrupting; Keeps emotions under control; Remains open to others' ideas and tries new things.
• Judgement - Displays willingness to make decisions; Exhibits sound and accurate judgment; Supports and explains reasoning for decisions; Includes appropriate people in decision-making process; Makes timely decisions.
• Planning/Organizing - Prioritizes and plans work activities; Uses time efficiently; Plans for additional resources; Sets goals and objectives; Organizes or schedules other people and their tasks; Develops realistic action plans.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Continually required to
• Continually required to
• Continually required to
• Continually required to utilize hand and finger
• Continually required to climb, balance, bend, stoop, kneel or
• Continually required to talk or
• Occasionally exposed to outside weather
• Occasionally exposed to extreme heat or cold (non-weather).
• Occasionally exposed to bloodborne and airborne pathogens or infectious
• While performing the duties of this job, the noise level in the work environment is usually loud.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 30
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include: close vision; distance