Lead Teacher

Location : Berea
Job Type: Full-Time
Division: Provost
Department: Child Development Lab
Opening Date: 03/16/2026
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Salary Grade: 5
Labor Supervisor?: No

Please note that references provided at the time of application for staff positions will not be contacted until the applicant has been offered the position.
Description:

The Berea College Child Development Laboratory (CDL) serves as a training facility for professionals who work with young children and their families. The CDL is a democratic, early learning environment that seeks to make the learning of children visible to others. The Lead Teacher facilitates child-led, inquiry-based learning, acting as a co-learner and researcher who observes, documents, and plans emergent curriculum based on children's interests, fostering critical thinking and collaboration within a rich, stimulating environment (the "third teacher").

Key duties involve creating provocations, documenting learning through photos/stories, communicating with families, mentoring and collaborating with a teaching team (including aspiring professionals), and maintaining a safe, respectful space that honors the child's "hundred languages" of expression.

Teachers are expected to adhere to CDL policies and procedures, program philosophy, state childcare regulations, and NAEYC and KY ALLSTARS standards. Teachers will engage in research with college faculty to develop new and innovative classroom methods. Teachers are expected to participate in ongoing professional development and have the disposition of a lifelong learner and researcher. Teachers are also expected to view children as competent, capable beings and commit to revealing and supporting children's competence.
Your Key Responsibilities:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Regular and predictable attendance is essential. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Serve as a model of ethical and best practices in the early childhood profession.
• Engage with children in intentional ways.
• Intentionally observe and write documentation about children's play and development, continually assessing children, and developing and implementing emergent curriculum to engage children.
• Organize and maintain a safe, clutter-free, and stimulating learning environment appropriate for children of diverse ages and ability levels.
• Plan, implement, and evaluate a daily schedule of activities appropriate for young children.
• Utilize positive guidance strategies and best practices.
• Maintain a portfolio on each child that includes copies of required documents, ongoing documentation and work samples as a record of the child's development.
• Perform housekeeping tasks as necessary for all indoor and outdoor play spaces.
• Manage day-to-day operations of the classroom. This includes providing leadership and oversight to Assistant Teachers, Teacher Aides and Labor Students.
• Keep up to date records on attendance, accidents, incidents, etc., in accordance with licensing regulations and program policies.
• Practice open, respectful communication with families, co-workers, and supervisors at all times.
• Work collaboratively and respectfully with children, families, all classroom support staff, college students, and CDL administration.
• Inform and engage families in curriculum and decision-making regarding children.
• Participate in IFSP/IEP team meetings.
• Meet regularly with classroom team to develop weekly classroom plans and appropriate curriculum and to confer about classroom issues and concerns.
• Participate in mentoring, constructive feedback, and evaluation to classroom support staff and college students.
• Supervise and assist college students in completing assignments and requirements for coursework, including reading and providing feedback on documentation and planning.
• Attend and present at various conferences, trainings and workshops to continue professional development.
• Assist faculty in evaluating college student performance for…