Lead Teacher

Lead Teacher – Pacific Oaks Children’s School

Lead Teachers at Pacific Oaks Children’s School play a vital role in fostering a developmentally appropriate and inclusive program for young children. They guide and collaborate with their teaching team to implement an emergent curriculum that supports the growth of the whole child, embracing diverse learning styles and promoting anti‑bias education.

• Teach, coordinate home & school communications, build strong parent relationships, and support school‑wide initiatives.
• Mentor associate teachers and practicum students, demonstrating best practices and cultivating a learning environment centered on collaboration, respect, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure effective operation and coordination of programs, working closely with fellow Lead Teachers, Master Teachers, and the broader teaching team to meet developmental needs and uphold educational values.
• Report directly to the Executive Director of the Children’s School.

• Plan, implement, and adapt developmentally appropriate curricula responsive to children’s needs, interests, and learning styles.
• Create and maintain a safe, purposeful learning environment indoors and outdoors, prioritizing health and safety.
• Observe and document children’s development, providing annual summaries and maintaining regular communication with families through notes, newsletters, and progress updates.
• Build respectful, collaborative relationships with parents, honoring cultural differences and diverse family structures; facilitate individual parent conferences at least twice per year and group meetings three times annually.
• Supervise, mentor, and support staff in daily responsibilities, curriculum planning, and classroom management; lead staff meetings, provide feedback, conduct evaluations, and encourage professional growth.
• Mentor practicum students, providing guidance in curriculum planning, classroom management, and child development; facilitate weekly meetings and collaborate with faculty.
• Coordinate daily staffing, monitor classroom and environmental needs, and perform administrative duties as assigned to ensure smooth operations.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Model ethical behavior for children, families, and colleagues with care, respect, and honesty.
• Maintain professionalism and confidentiality in all aspects of the job.
• Demonstrate teaching expertise based on active learning, play, progressive, constructivist, and/or emergent principles.
• Communicate effectively in writing and verbally, conveying information clearly and sensitively.

• Communicate openly, directly, and constructively with staff and families.
• Use appropriate channels for problem‑solving and communication, addressing challenges professionally.
• Engage physically and emotionally with children throughout the day, managing classroom demands.
• Lead by example, mentoring, supervising, and supporting other teachers while fostering a positive work environment.

• Education:
  
  Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or a related field; eligible to earn a graduate degree within two years.
• Experience:
  
  Minimum of 12 months working with young children in an early childhood education setting.

• Experience:
  
  Two years of experience working with young children in an early childhood education setting.

• Work in indoor and outdoor settings with temperatures ranging from the 60s to 90s outdoors, requiring flexibility and adaptability.

Physical Demands:

• Standing, lifting up to 50 lbs., walking frequently, carrying materials and children, hearing, speaking, writing, squatting/kneeling, reaching, climbing, pushing, typing.
• Exposed to noise, heat/cold, fumes/gases, human tissue/fluids, chemicals, dirt.

Mental Demands:

• Reading curriculum materials, frequent interruptions, periods of concentrated attention, detailed work on reports and assessments, frequent contact with people, frequent deadlines, multiple concurrent tasks.

Up to 3% of total time; some…