Head Start Lead Preschool Teacher

SALARY:

$37,451 annually, with progressive increases to $49,121.50 annually

Snohomish County, Washington

Every child deserves a strong foundation, and as a Head Start Lead Teacher, you will be the driving force behind a vibrant full‑day preschool classroom of 19 bright, curious three‑to‑five‑year‑olds.

In this role, you aren’t just teaching—you are leading a dedicated classroom team, partnering with families, and fostering a supportive community. We seek an empathetic educator who honors individual differences, celebrates diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, and meets families exactly where they are with compassion and respect.

This is a classified position reporting to the Education Site Manager.

• In the Classroom (75%): Lead, plan, and implement a developmentally appropriate curriculum that embraces dual language learners and children with disabilities. Use the Pyramid Model Framework to cultivate social‑emotional development, maintain safe staff‑to‑child ratios, and provide inspiring direction to your Assistant Teacher, Food Service Workers, aides, and volunteers. Step into the classroom during desk time when needed, ensuring children always have familiar, smiling faces guiding them through staffing shortages.
  
  Collaborate with fellow educators to maintain ideal staff‑to‑child ratios and proactively assist other Early Head Start or Head Start classrooms to ensure a safe, well‑covered, seamless environment for everyone.
• Family & Community Collaboration (15%): Engage parents as their child's primary teacher through home visits and conferences. Within 90 days of enrollment, complete Family Needs Assessments and establish goals, partnering with Health, Mental Health, and Disabilities teams to connect families with vital community resources.
• Documentation & Excellence (10%): Keep your classroom data up to date by performing daily data entry into assessment and child file databases. Conduct developmental screenings within 45 days of enrollment and maintain Inter Rater Reliability via Teaching Strategies Gold to track quarterly milestones with fidelity.

We are looking for a collaborative, organized leader who brings the following to our program:

• Cultural Humility: Deep respect and sensitivity when working with families from all racial, ethnic, and socio‑economic backgrounds.
• Team Leadership: A reliable team player who builds a positive working environment and can navigate priorities flexibly according to program needs.
• Problem‑Solving: The ability to handle sensitive and confidential information tactfully and professionally.
• Reliability: Comfort using computers for data entry and reporting, along with a commitment to maintaining a 95% attendance rate on an established work schedule.

• An associate, baccalaureate, or advanced degree in child development or early childhood education, or equivalent coursework.
• Two (2) years of experience working directly in a preschool classroom.
• A valid Washington State Driver’s License and personal automobile insurance and the ability to transport yourself to home visits, off‑site trainings, and meetings.

(See Conditions of Employment section for additional requirements.)

Work is typically performed in a classroom setting, onsite/in‑person. Must be able to climb stairs and walk over uneven surfaces, walk or run quickly, kneel or sit on the floor, lift approximately 50 pounds (on an emergency, as‑needed basis), sit in a child‑sized chair, and move quickly from multiple positions and levels. Excellent communication skills are essential, including the ability to speak clearly and fully comprehend written and spoken English and will include communication with people for whom English is not their first language.

Those who are multilingual are strongly encouraged to apply.

Salary range 48. Beginning salary is $2,203 semi‑monthly (17 semi‑monthly pay periods per year), with progressive increases to $2,889.50 semi‑monthly. Work is performed from September through May each year. This position carries a full state benefits…