Lead Teacher Classroom C

Reports to:

Center Manager Department:
Early Childhood Services

Classification:
Full-time Status:
Exempt

The Lead Teacher for ages 3–5 is responsible for ensuring high-quality, developmentally appropriate services for children and families in alignment with Head Start Performance Standards and state childcare guidelines. This role provides leadership and supervision to classroom staff, fosters a positive and nurturing learning environment, and oversees curriculum planning and implementation. The Lead Teacher collaborates with families and community partners to support school readiness and social-emotional development, manages compliance with program policies and licensing requirements, and ensures accurate data reporting.

Additional responsibilities include conducting home visits and conferences, supporting staff through training and reflective supervision, and maintaining health, safety, and emergency preparedness standards.

• Provide daily leadership, supervision, and modeling of best practices for center staff and volunteers.
• Offer regular supervision and support through reflective supervision, training, and performance appraisals.
• Directly supervise Assistant Teacher and Aide positions and cross-train for all center roles.
• Facilitate and plan classroom team meetings, guiding problem-solving and ensuring service delivery.
• Serve as the first line of communication with classroom staff.

• Promote excellence and ensure daily program operations that support quality services for children and families, while fostering a thriving environment for all staff.
• Implement and maintain Policies and Procedures and Programs which include the following:
  Head Start Performance Standards, KDHE Licensing, Child and Adult Care Food Program, Personnel Manual, Social/Emotional strategies, Reflective Supervision, ERSEA, APRICOT, Frog Street, Cognitive Toy Box, and recruitment plans to ensure compliance.
• Responsible for requesting, ordering, or purchasing items needed for classroom through database.
• Support management decisions both in actions and words.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Utilize Social/Emotional strategies to prevent and reduce challenging behavior.
• Model for staff and families the appropriate ways to engage with children 3-5 years old.
• Obtain and share knowledge of theories and techniques regarding Early Childhood development.
• Basic care for the needs of children including but not limited to toileting, family style meals, and daily routines.
• Engage with children in ways that support their language development, learning, and overall growth.
• Demonstrate patience and understanding based on each child s developmental level.
• Ensure active supervision of children using indoor/outdoor zoning.
• Participate in and guide children through mealtime routines, including family style meals and cafeteria transitions.
• Create and implement developmentally appropriate weekly lesson plans individualizing for children’s needs by using observations and information from Cognitive Toy Box.
• Set up a developmentally appropriate classroom based on Head Start Performance Standards-using Frog Street, Social/Emotional supports and other identified strategies identified by Center Manager, Center Supervisor and Head Start Management Team as needed.
• Screen and observe the developmental level of each child by making appropriate referrals to the local Special Education Services.
• Individualize teaching to enable children to attain school readiness and social emotional goals with the assistance of families.

• Conduct two educational home visits and two parent teacher conferences throughout the program year.
• Work cooperatively with Family Services and other professionals.
• Be responsible for ensuring communication between early childhood resources and the families that we serve (Examples: Nutrition, health, and special services).
• Lead teacher works directly with Family Advocate to ensure recruitment hours are being achieved and any volunteer hours are documented.
• Model for staff appropriate ways to engage…