Lead Teacher

Description

Pay: $25.00 - $26.00 

Position Summary

The Lead Teacher provides primary leadership for the day-to-day instructional program, classroom environment, child supervision, assessment activities, and classroom team. The Lead Teacher is responsible for planning and implementing high-quality, developmentally appropriate learning experiences while ensuring consistent compliance with applicable Title 5, Title 22, licensing, funding, and HBMPAA program requirements.

The Lead Teacher establishes classroom expectations, provides daily direction to assigned classroom staff, and is accountable for maintaining a safe, organized, inclusive, and developmentally appropriate environment that promotes children's learning, development, health, and well-being.

Minimum Qualifications and Requirements

Essential Duties and Responsibilities Teaching and Curriculum

• Plan and implement developmentally appropriate curriculum, lesson plans, learning centers, activities, and daily schedules consistent with program standards.
• Establish and maintain an inclusive, culturally responsive, engaging, and developmentally appropriate classroom environment.
• Individualize learning experiences based on children's developmental levels, interests, abilities, observations, and assessment results.
• Ensure instructional materials and classroom activities are prepared and implemented consistently.

Child Supervision, Health, and Safety

• Maintain and reinforce active supervision requirements at all times.
• Ensure classroom staff understand their assigned supervision responsibilities and positioning.
• Monitor classroom ratios, transitions, routines, environmental conditions, and other factors affecting children's health and safety.
• Implement positive behavior guidance strategies consistent with HBMPAA policies and developmentally appropriate practices.
• Immediately report and appropriately respond to injuries, incidents, suspected abuse or neglect, safety hazards, supervision failures, and other serious concerns.

Assessment and Documentation

• Complete required child observations, developmental assessments, portfolios, and other documentation within established timelines.
• Complete and maintain DRDP documentation when applicable.
• Use assessment and observation data to individualize curriculum and instructional strategies.
• Collaborate in the implementation of IEPs, IFSPs, accommodations, and individualized supports when applicable and within the scope of the position.
• Maintain accurate classroom records and ensure required documentation is completed and properly maintained.

Family Engagement

• Establish and maintain professional, respectful, and collaborative relationships with families.
• Provide regular communication regarding classroom activities, children's development, and program information.
• Conduct parent conferences as required.
• Encourage family participation in classroom and program activities.

Classroom Team Leadership

• Provide daily direction, guidance, and support to Co-Teachers, Assistant Teachers, Aides, Volunteers/Interns, and other assigned classroom personnel.
• Clearly communicate classroom assignments, supervision responsibilities, routines, and expectations.
• Monitor classroom staff performance and address immediate operational or safety concerns.
• Provide coaching and feedback to classroom team members and promptly elevate ongoing performance, conduct, safety, or compliance concerns to the Site Supervisor or appropriate leadership.
• Promote teamwork, professionalism, accountability, and effective communication among classroom staff.

Compliance and Program Accountability

• Maintain working knowledge of applicable HBMPAA policies, procedures, licensing standards, and program requirements.
• Ensure classroom practices comply with applicable Title 5, Title 22, licensing, health and safety, and program requirements.
• Maintain required classroom documentation and ensure records are accurate, current, and available for review.
• Participate in licensing visits, program reviews, audits, monitoring activities, training, and corrective action processes as required.
• Immediately notify leadership of circumstances that may create a licensing, safety, supervision, or compliance concern.
• Take appropriate action within the scope of the position to correct identified classroom deficiencies and prevent recurrence.

Key Competencies

• Curriculum and lesson planning
• Child development knowledge
• Active supervision and child safety
• Classroom management
• Positive behavior guidance
• Assessment and documentation
• Regulatory and program compliance
• Classroom team leadership
• Coaching and staff development
• Family engagement
• Professional communication
• Organization and accountability

General Expectations for All Teaching Positions

All HBMPAA teaching staff are expected to:

• Place the health, safety, supervision, and well-being of children as a primary responsibility.
• Comply with all applicable laws, regulations, licensing requirements, funding requirements, and HBMPAA policies and procedures.
• Maintain required qualifications, permits, certifications, clearances, and training throughout employment.
• Immediately report suspected child abuse or neglect in accordance with mandated reporter requirements.
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries and confidentiality.
• Attend required meetings, training, professional development, and compliance activities.
• Follow established procedures for documenting and reporting incidents, injuries, safety concerns, supervision concerns, and policy violations.
• Cooperate with licensing reviews, investigations, audits, inspections, and corrective action processes.
• Perform other related duties as assigned based on program and operational needs.

Note: Job duties and assignments may be modified based on program needs, regulatory requirements, funding requirements, licensing standards, or changes in HBMPAA operations. Employees are responsible for maintaining the qualifications applicable to their assigned position and classroom.

Requirements

• Must possess a valid Child Development Master Teacher Permit, Site Supervisor permit or higher, as required for the assigned position.
• Must meet all education and experience requirements established by the applicable permit matrix and program requirements.
• Must maintain all required permits, certifications, professional development, and continuing education requirements.
• Must complete and maintain current CPR/First Aid certification and Mandated Reporter training, as required.
• Must satisfy applicable background clearance, health screening, immunization, and other employment or licensing requirements.
• Must possess a minimum of three (3) semester units of Infant/Toddler coursework when required for assignment to an Infant/Toddler classroom.