Lead Teacher​/ECDS

Job Summary

Lead Teacher/ECDS position will assume complete responsibility for the classroom, supervise all Classroom Technicians, and manage all patients served. The role also serves as the Early Childhood Developmental Specialist, ensuring all required documentation, including the annual Individualized Treatment Plan, is timely and accurate, and providing habilitation services across multiple developmental domains.

• Adhere to all policies and procedures outlined in the Arkids Pediatric Day Centers’ Employee Handbook and Management and Medical Policies and Procedures Manuals
• Familiar with requirements set forth by regulatory agencies including Arkansas Minimum Licensing, Division of Provider Services & Quality Assurance (DPSQA), Arkansas Health Department, etc.
• Maintain visual supervision of the patients at all times, ensuring appropriate adult‑to‑child ratios
• Know how many children are in their care at all times
• Speak in a pleasant, positive, and caring voice to patients, parents, and personnel
• Represent the program to parents/guardians, visitors, colleagues, and the public in a positive attitude and approach
• Actively involve with patients to promote gross and fine motor development during periods of physical activity
• Maintain familiarity with health and safety guidelines, including standard precautions and daily operating procedures
• Ensure a positive emotional climate by showing respect to children and adults and willingness to help others
• Immediately report any information regarding health and safety concerns to the Center Nurse or other appropriate staff
• Display concern for the rights of patients and families served by the Center
• Ensure that each patient’s Individualized Treatment Plan (ITP) is implemented and assist with development of goals/objectives
• Review lesson plans with Classroom Techs in advance
• Ensure Tally Sheets are being completed as scheduled and checked for accuracy weekly, but at a minimum monthly
• Ensure each patient’s ITP is implemented and develops goals/objectives
• Ensure classroom billing in Aspyre is completed and reviewed daily to ensure correctness and obtain appropriate signatures
• Provide guidance and supervision of classroom planning and activities
• Ensure children are signed in/out of the classroom by the appropriate staff or by those designated on the pick‑up list
• Ensure patients receive 1 hour of outdoor play time per day (weather permitting)
• Ensure at least one walkie‑talkie is available when on the playground
• Ensure a playground sweep is completed prior to re‑entering the building from the playground
• Ensure there is a Lead adult and Caboose adult any time you are transitioning more than 2 patients
• Ensure transition policies and procedures are followed, including proper head counts, and visually sweeping the area before exiting
• Utilize Conscious Discipline techniques with the patients served
• Maintain open communication with parents/guardians, families, visitors, all Arkids Pediatric Day Centers’ personnel, and outside contacts
• Attend and actively participate in job‑related functions, parent meetings, and staff training sessions
• Display concerns for the rights of patients and families served by the Center
• Create a clean, safe, healthy, and sanitary learning environment
• Perform some housekeeping/janitorial functions
• Assist other classrooms if needed
• Give lunch breaks to various classrooms as assigned
• Participate in parent/guardian meetings, staff training sessions, and other job‑related events
• May help with unloading/loading vans
• Assist with light housekeeping duties
• Other duties as assigned

• BSE in Early Childhood Education or a bachelor's degree and at least one of the following:
  Current Certification in Arkansas For Early Childhood, Early Childhood Special Education, child development associate's certificate, birth‑to‑pre‑K credential, or documented experience working with children with special needs and twelve (12) hours of completed college courses in early childhood, child development, special education, elementary education, or child and family studies
• Clear Criminal Record Check, Arkansas Child & Adult Maltreatment Regulatory Checks, FBI Regulatory Check, including National Sex Offender Registry
• Five (5) years of experience in Early Childhood Education or related field preferred
• May be asked to complete New Director Orientation or related course
• Pass a drug screen (upon hire, annually, and/or randomly)

• Communicate effectively with co‑workers and supervisors
• Work with children
• Handle multiple tasks in a very busy environment
• Carry out instructions
• Clean efficiently and timely
• Lift up to 50 lbs.
• Perform bending, stooping, standing, walking, pulling, and reaching for several hours per day
• Demonstrate basic computer skills

Medical, Dental, Vision, Paid Time Off, Life Insurance, 401K

Lead Teacher/ECDS