Lead Teacher

Little 1's Learning Center is committed to providing exceptional early childhood education through strong relationships, intentional teaching, continuous learning, and a culture of collaboration. The Lead Teacher contributes to a safe, engaging, and developmentally appropriate learning environment where children learn, grow, and thrive while leading a high-quality classroom that supports the Learning Center's mission, quality standards, and core values.

This position is located at our Abbott Headquarters (1941 Abbott Rd.)

Pay Range: $21.79/hr. - $30.28/hr.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Operational Soundness

• Maintain active supervision and lead safe, organized, and engaging classroom environments.
• Plan, implement, and evaluate developmentally appropriate curriculum aligned with Creative Curriculum, Teaching Strategies GOLD (TSG), and children's individual learning goals.
• Lead daily classroom routines, transitions, and learning experiences that promote engagement, independence, and positive behavior.
• Monitor classroom operations to ensure compliance with Alaska Child Care Licensing Regulations and all Learning Center health, safety, sanitation, medication, emergency, and confidentiality procedures.
• Complete accurate and timely documentation, including attendance, Procare entries, child observations, developmental assessments, portfolios, family communication, and other required records.
• Complete Teaching Strategies GOLD observations and checkpoints within established timelines.
• Maintain classroom materials, equipment, and learning environments that support children's development.
• Demonstrate regular, reliable, and punctual attendance.

Leadership

• Lead the daily operation of the classroom through professionalism, accountability, organization, and positive relationships.
• Build respectful, collaborative relationships with children, families, coworkers, and leadership.
• Provide day-to-day guidance, support, and direction to Assistant Teachers, substitutes, volunteers, and classroom support staff.
• Delegate responsibilities appropriately while maintaining overall responsibility for classroom quality.
• Support the onboarding of new employees through modeling, collaboration, and encouragement.
• Accept coaching while modeling continuous learning and professional growth.
• Participate in staff meetings, required trainings, coaching, and continuous quality improvement activities.
• Demonstrate the Credit Union’s core values of Driven by Care, Invested in Community, Commitment to Curiosity, and Do What's Right.

Member Experience

• Build nurturing relationships that promote each child's learning, confidence, independence, and well-being.
• Recognize families as children's first and most important teachers through respectful communication and collaborative partnerships.
• Serve as the primary classroom contact for daily family communication.
• Plan individualized learning experiences based on child observations, assessment data, and family input.
• Maintain child portfolios through observations, documentation, work samples, and developmental assessments.
• Utilize developmentally appropriate practices and Pyramid Model strategies to support positive behavior and social-emotional development.
• Plan and facilitate family conferences that support children's growth and development.
• Create a welcoming, inclusive classroom where every child and family feels valued and respected.

Commitment to Culture

• Support the mission, vision, and values of Little 1's Learning Center.
• Demonstrate professionalism, integrity, accountability, and ethical behavior.
• Build a respectful, collaborative, and solution-focused classroom culture.
• Implement Learn & Grow, NAEYC Best Practices, Creative Curriculum, Teaching Strategies GOLD (TSG), Pyramid Model practices, and other continuous quality improvement initiatives with fidelity.
• Support the professional growth of coworkers through collaboration, modeling, and encouragement.
• Represent the Learning Center professionally within Credit Union 1 and the community.

Professional Qualifications & Growth

• Be at least 18 years of age.
• Be able to read, write, and speak English sufficiently to communicate effectively and complete required documentation.
• Meet all Alaska Child Care Licensing requirements, including required background checks and health requirements.
• Obtain and maintain current Pediatric CPR and First Aid certification.
• Successfully complete required onboarding, orientation, and mandatory training.
• Maintain an active Alaska SEED Registry membership and meet the qualifications for SEED Career Ladder Levels 6-7, including a Child Development Associate (CDA) or a minimum of 6 Early Childhood Education (ECE) specific college credits.
• Complete a minimum of 24 hours of annual professional development and participate in required Learning Center training, coaching, and quality improvement activities.
• Responsible for abiding and complying with the policy for compliance with the Bank Secrecy Act and anti-money laundering laws and regulations (BSA/AML) and the policy for compliance with office of foreign assets control laws and regulations (OFAC).

Essential Physical Functions

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

Lead Teachers regularly:

• Lift and assist children up to 40 pounds.
• Sit, kneel, squat, bend, crawl, reach, and transition frequently between floor and standing positions.
• Participate in active indoor and outdoor play in varying weather conditions.
• Walk and stand for extended periods.
• Respond quickly to children's needs and emergency situations.
• Perform routine classroom cleaning, organization, and preparation.
• Use fine motor skills for lesson planning, documentation, assessment, classroom materials, and technology.
• Maintain continuous visual and auditory supervision of children.

Success in This Role

• Lead a safe, organized, and engaging classroom where children thrive.
• Build strong relationships with children, families, and coworkers.
• Implement high-quality curriculum, assessment, and documentation practices.
• Support and develop classroom team members through positive leadership and collaboration.
• Demonstrate professionalism, reliability, accountability, and continuous learning.
• Maintain high-quality practices that support children's success and Learning Center expectations.

Additional Duties

This job description outlines the primary responsibilities and expectations of the Lead Teacher position and is not intended to be an exhaustive list of duties. Employees are expected to demonstrate flexibility while supporting the evolving needs of the Learning Center and contributing to the success of children, families, coworkers, and the program as a whole.

BENEFITS AT CU1:
At Credit Union 1, we believe in life balance, which means supporting our employees both at work and when away. Eligible positions enjoy a comprehensive benefits package designed to promote overall wellbeing- financially, professionally and personally.

Health & Wellness
Credit Union 1 offers employees multiple medical plans to choose from, including PPOs and HSA-qualified plans, as well as dental, vision, and services to support overall mental and physical health.

Financial Security
Employees and their families are supported in life planning with employer-paid life insurance, disability coverage, and AD&D coverage. Voluntary plans are offered to cover critical illness, accidents, and hospital indemnity expenses. Employees participate in 401(k) retirement plan with company matching contributions and profit-sharing contributions.

Additional benefits support our employees' lifestyle and family, with generous paid time off, access to CU1's accredited early learning center in Anchorage, Alaska, employee loan and mortgage discounts, education assistance, volunteerism and community engagement opportunities within the communities we serve.

To be eligible for this position, applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without restriction. Credit Union 1 does not provide visa sponsorship.

Only applicants who meet the minimum requirements for the position will be considered for an interview. This position is open until filled.

Thank you for your interest in the opportunity with Credit Union 1!

Background Screening Statement: Candidates selected for a position at Credit Union 1 will be subject to a criminal background check prior to their employment. An offer of employment may be rejected or terminated based on receipt of an unacceptable background screening.

EEO Statement: Credit Union 1 provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment, prohibiting discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identify or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

E-Verify Statement: Credit Union 1 participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, Credit Union 1 is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before Credit Union 1 can take any action against you, including terminating your employment. Employers can only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer an completed the Form I-9. For more information on E-Verify, or if you believe that Credit Union 1 has violated its E-Verify responsibilities, please contact DHS at 888-897-7781 or dhs.gov/e-verify.com

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights (https://www.eeoc.gov/poster) notice from the Department of Labor.