Lead Teacher - Preschool

Join to apply for the Lead Teacher - Preschool role at Catholic Charities Serving Central Washington.

This range is provided by Catholic Charities Serving Central Washington. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Base pay range: $19.75/hr - $23.00/hr

The Lead Teacher is directly responsible for the overall care and planning for the classroom and individual children, including the learning environment and other staff and volunteers. The Lead Teacher provides and implements a developmentally and culturally appropriate early childhood education experience for children. The Lead Teacher must demonstrate competency to observe and assess children’s developmental needs and interests, and build positive relationships with children, families, and staff.

The Lead Teacher position will supervise the assigned classroom Teacher Assistants.

• Through the use of Creative Curriculum and Teaching Strategies, plan and provide activities and experiences supporting children’s health, education, and social emotional development.
• Establish a learning environment according to the Creative Curriculum and Early Achievers quality standards, and ECEAP if applicable.
• Implement the Second Steps Personal Safety Curriculum in preschool classrooms.
• Provide activities and opportunities that encourage an individualized approach to the developmental level and learning style of each child.
• Prepare daily activity plans and ensure progress toward individual child goals.
• Submit weekly lesson plans to the Early Learning Content Specialist.
• Support ongoing assessment by observing and documenting daily individual and group needs, interests, and skills based on Teaching Strategies assessment process.
• Foster a positive emotional climate in the classroom: provide guidance and support through positive interactions between children and adults.
• Maintain an atmosphere that encourages open communication with children and adults through back‑and‑forth conversations, warm, nurturing tones, and being down at the child’s level.
• Provide opportunities and support for children to understand, acquire and use verbal and non‑verbal means of communicating thoughts and feelings.
• Create a partnership with families that encourages engagement according to ECEAP and/or Early Achiever quality standards: complete quarterly parent/teacher conferences; document conferences; communicate with parents through various platforms and methods; communicate with parents regarding classroom transitions.
• Maintain records: complete and submit accurate counts and attendance reports; supervise and delegate duties to classroom staff, initiate training and encourage teamwork among adults; approve timesheets and time‑off requests; complete performance evaluations; meet regularly for supervision check‑ins.
• Create and maintain a safe and healthy environment: maintain inventory and upkeep of classroom supplies and materials; report needed repairs and maintenance; provide a safe, developmentally appropriate indoors and outdoor learning environment; apply health standards and care for the children and classroom according to licensing and ECEAP standards.
• Professional Development: participate in required training; participate in scheduled supervision meetings, lead teacher meetings, teacher learning groups; assist in orienting and training new employees; participate in center activities and other duties as requested.

• Education:
  
  Bachelor’s degree in early childhood development or early childhood education, preferred.
• Associate degree in early childhood education or related field required, or on a DCYF approved professional development plan.

• Experience:
  
  3 or more years’ experience in teaching in an early childhood program.

• Special
  
  Skills:
  • Demonstrate professional and effective verbal and written communication.
  • Use of good judgment.
  • Basic computer skills.
  • Supervision of adults, classroom planning and management skills.
  • Maintain confidentiality of children, families, and staff.
  • Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred, but not required.

• Licensure, Registration, Certification:
  • Valid First Aid and CPR.
  • Valid Food Handlers…