Lead Preschool Teacher

Lead Preschool Teacher

The Lead Preschool Teacher is responsible for creating a safe, nurturing, engaging, and academically rich learning environment where every child is known, challenged, and celebrated. As an instructional leader within Little Promises Preschool, the Lead Teacher partners with families, collaborates with colleagues, and helps cultivate a culture of excellence that prepares children for lifelong learning. Working under the direction of the Assistant Principal/Early Childhood Director and in collaboration with the Chief Program Officer, the Lead Preschool Teacher implements high-quality early childhood instruction that supports each child's academic, social, emotional, physical, and creative development while reflecting the mission and values of Cincinnati Urban Promise. This position is more than classroom management—it is an opportunity to shape young lives during their most important years of development while contributing to an organization committed to educational excellence and community transformation.

Why This Role Matters

At Cincinnati Urban Promise, we believe early childhood education lays the foundation for a child's future. Every interaction, every lesson, every conversation, and every relationship contributes to a child's confidence, curiosity, and love of learning.

The Lead Preschool Teacher plays a critical role in creating an environment where children develop academically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually while families experience genuine partnership and support.

This role is an opportunity to inspire children, strengthen families, mentor colleagues, and contribute to an educational community where every child has the opportunity to thrive.

Primary Responsibilities

Classroom Leadership

• Create and maintain a warm, safe, engaging, and developmentally appropriate classroom environment.
• Foster a classroom culture built on kindness, respect, curiosity, responsibility, and joyful learning.
• Establish consistent routines and positive behavior supports that promote independence and self-regulation.
• Lead classroom staff by modeling professionalism, collaboration, and a commitment to excellence.
• Maintain a classroom that reflects children's learning, interests, creativity, and developmental growth.

Curriculum & Instruction

• Plan and deliver engaging, developmentally appropriate learning experiences aligned with Ohio's Early Learning and Development Standards.
• Differentiate instruction to meet the unique developmental needs of each child.
• Integrate literacy, math, science, social studies, art, music, movement, sensory exploration, and social-emotional learning into daily instruction.
• Utilize play-based, inquiry-based, and hands-on learning experiences that encourage curiosity and creativity.
• Collaborate with the Assistant Principal/Early Childhood Director and Chief Program Officer to ensure curriculum aligns with the broader educational philosophy and programming of Cincinnati Urban Promise.
• Participate in continuous curriculum improvement and contribute ideas that strengthen educational programming across the organization.

Child Development

• Observe, assess, and document each child's developmental progress.
• Develop individualized strategies to support children's academic and developmental growth.
• Prepare accurate developmental reports and maintain assessment records.
• Support children in developing communication, problem-solving, social skills, and emotional regulation.
• Identify concerns early and collaborate with families and leadership to develop appropriate supports.

Family Partnerships

• Build trusting, respectful relationships with families.
• Maintain open, timely, and professional communication.
• Conduct parent conferences and regularly share children's progress, accomplishments, and developmental goals.
• Recognize parents and caregivers as each child's first and most important teacher.
• Support successful transitions into preschool, between classrooms, and into kindergarten.

Collaboration & Team Leadership

• Work collaboratively with assistant teachers and support staff to create a positive classroom culture.
• Mentor and support classroom team members through modeling, coaching, and encouragement.
• Collaborate with Academy, Youth Development, and other Cincinnati Urban Promise staff to promote continuity across programs.
• Participate actively in professional development, staff meetings, and organizational initiatives.
• Contribute positively to Cincinnati Urban Promise's mission-driven culture.

Classroom Environment & Safety

• Maintain a clean, organized, safe, and inviting learning environment.
• Ensure classrooms consistently meet licensing, health, and safety standards.
• Supervise children at all times while maintaining appropriate staff-to-child ratios.
• Participate in outdoor learning, field trips, physical activities, and special events.

Documentation & Compliance

• Maintain accurate attendance, meal counts, developmental records, lesson plans, and required documentation.
• Ensure compliance with Ohio Department of Children and Youth licensing requirements and all applicable organizational policies.
• Complete required screenings, assessments, reports, and documentation in a timely manner.
• Maintain confidentiality of student and family information.

Performance Expectations

Success in this role will be measured by:

Student Growth

• Children demonstrate meaningful academic, social, emotional, and developmental progress.
• Children are actively engaged, curious, and excited to learn.

Classroom Excellence

• Classrooms are welcoming, organized, developmentally appropriate, and reflective of high-quality instruction.
• Curriculum is thoughtfully planned and effectively implemented.

Family Engagement

• Families report strong communication, trust, and partnership.
• Parent participation and satisfaction remain high.

Team Collaboration

• Classroom staff work effectively together.
• Positive relationships are maintained with colleagues across the organization.
• The teacher contributes positively to the overall culture of Cincinnati Urban Promise.

Professional Growth

• Demonstrates a commitment to continuous learning and instructional improvement.
• Seeks feedback and actively implements best practices in early childhood education.

Qualifications

Required

• Minimum age of 21.
• Associate degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, CDA, or related field (Bachelor's degree preferred).
• Previous experience teaching in an early childhood classroom.
• Strong understanding of child development and developmentally appropriate practice.
• Ability to lead a classroom while fostering positive relationships with children, families, and colleagues.
• Current or ability to obtain First Aid, CPR, Communicable Disease, and Child Abuse certifications.

Preferred

• Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education or closely related field.
• Experience supervising or mentoring classroom staff.
• Experience with Ohio Step Up To Quality standards.
• Bilingual abilities.

Leadership Competencies

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Servant leadership
• Relationship building
• Instructional excellence
• Creativity and innovation
• Emotional intelligence
• Strong organizational skills
• Professionalism
• Adaptability
• Collaboration
• Commitment to continuous improvement

What Success Looks Like After One Year

• Established a joyful, engaging, and academically rich classroom environment.
• Built strong partnerships with families.
• Demonstrated measurable developmental growth among students.
• Successfully mentored and collaborated with classroom staff.
• Contributed to curriculum improvements and organizational initiatives.
• Become a trusted educational leader within Little Promises Preschool and Cincinnati Urban Promise.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift and carry children and classroom equipment as needed
• Ability to sit, kneel, bend, and work comfortably at floor level with young children
• Ability to actively participate in outdoor play, physical education activities, field trips, and water activities.