Lead Teacher Early Head Start (0-3 year-olds)-Bachelors Required 22.50+/hr

Job Description

Job Description

About This Role

$22.50/Hr

• This position is eligible for the Sunbeam's Teacher Investment Program

POSITION OVERVIEWThe Lead Teacher provides daily care to children in a Head Start / Early Head Start (HS/EHS) classroom using appropriate child guidance techniques and building responsive relationships with classroom teachers, staff, children and families. The Lead Teacher ensures that all regulations and mandates for federal, state, and local licensing are met and works with a team of classroom teachers and family members to achieve positive outcomes for children of all abilities.All employees and volunteers are expected to be sensitive to our clients’ cultural and socioeconomic characteristics, reflect Sunbeam Family Services core values and to perform at Sunbeam’s standards of excellence at all times.

What You'll Do

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Promote, encourage and display examples of leadership for the agency in accordance with the agency mission.
• Support and individualize the physical, social-emotional, and cognitive development of each child in the classroom.
• Demonstrate capacity for providing developmentally sensitive, evidence based, hope centered and trauma informed services and leadership.
• Serve as a leader of the Early Childhood Services (ECS) program and effective role model for developmentally-appropriate practice, for the values expected within the program, and for the mission of the organization.
• Perform the functions of this position with a strong understanding of the Head Start Performance Standards.
• Ensure compliance with Head Start Program Performance Standards, federal and state regulation, and DHS Child Care Licensing requirements.
• Plan and provide a comprehensive program, including implementation of EHS/HS curriculum and Head Start /Early Head Start Program Performance Standards
• Maintain record keeping and reporting systems to ensure accurate information, with timely completion and follow-up.
• Plan and implement ECS developmentally-appropriate curriculum and assessment for the classroom. Order supplies and materials as needed for effective service delivery.
• Oversee supervision and management of children in the classroom in order to ensure a safe, clean, and healthy learning environment.
• Conduct home visits and parent-teacher conferences in accordance with Head Start Program Performance standards to share each child’s progress with parents.
• Work cooperatively with other staff assigned to classroom as a team to involve all parents with the children and to encourage the active participation of all parents in the program.
• Observe children to detect signs of illness, injury, emotional disturbances, learning disorders, speech problems, or other special needs and reports those signs immediately to supervisor for required or necessary follow-up.
• Work with supervisor to ensure child-staff ratio is maintained at all times.
• Encourage and model language expansion, extended learning, and problem-solving strategies throughout the day.
• Regular, reliable attendance is required.
• Participate in and attend all staff meetings, trainings, and certification courses as required.
• Travel locally as required in the performance of responsibilities.
• Perform other appropriate and related responsibilities as assigned by supervisor or member of Executive Team.

Requirements

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

Minimally Required

Preferred

Education

Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education (ECE), Child Development (CD),), or Early Childhood Special Education (EC SE) (transcripts required)

• OR -

Bachelor’s degree or higher in any discipline with at least 36 college credit hours in ECE, CD, or EC SE (transcripts required)

• OR -

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in elementary education, family studies, human development, nursing, psychology, social work, nursing, or psychology (transcripts required) AND at least 12 college credit hours in ECE, CD, EC SE or current certification as CDA® (Infant/Toddler) AND one (1) year experience teaching children

Master’s degree in ECE or a related discipline

Certification

CPR/First Aid Certification (or within 30 days of hire), maintained throughout employment

Experience

Three (3) years of experience in Early Childhood Education or Head Start/Early Head Start Effective experience in childcare as well as training and supervising teacher assistants

Skills Knowledge

Abilities

Caring and compassionate attitude when interacting with and caring for children and families.

Knowledge and understanding of state and local childcare licensing requirements.

Excellent command of English language and grammar, both verbal and written

Intermediate knowledge of Microsoft applications and the ability to master other software as needed

Good organizational and time management skills.

Must work independently and collaboratively in a team environment.

Exercise independent judgment.

Communicate in a professional manner, demonstrating dignity, respect for our internal, external, and community members.

Process, protect and exercise discretion in handling confidential information and materials.

Sustained concentration to detail and accuracy, along with the ability to prioritize workload.

Willingness to work with high-risk, low-income communities.

Must be able to travel and work some evenings and weekends as required by the job.

Local travel required and must have valid Oklahoma driver’s license and insurance as required by the position.

Knowledge and understanding of Head Start/Early Head Start

Knowledge and understanding of Child Plus

Knowledge and understanding of NAEYC

Advanced computer database and Microsoft Office software skills

Bilingual Spanish/English speaking – ability to interact with children and families from multilingual homes.

Benefits

Teaching at Sunbeam is unlike anywhere else.

Why teach at Sunbeam?

• A Low Student to Teacher Ratio of 2:8
• No out-of-pocket cost for school supplies
• Classroom planning and prep is included in your schedule.
• Calm, inviting, and fun environment
• Training and educational best practices
• A team of experts partners with you to support children's families (i.e. Family Partner to provide support and resources, Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health, Inclusion Specialist, and more)
• 21 agency closure holidays
• Paid Vacation Time

About Us

Sunbeam's Mission: Building brighter futures with all children and families. When all families can build a strong foundation for their children, we all have a brighter, healthier life.

Sunbeam continually aspires to be a recognized leader in early childcare and education, with specialized support for entire family systems. We consistently strive to strengthen the social service ecosystem in our communities. We seek to be advocates of the highest-quality services and ensure the sustainability of our work.

"Hope is the belief that tomorrow will be better than today, and that you have the power to make it so." - Chan Hellman, Ph.D.

Our Culture

Sunbeam is an employee-first organization to serve the community best. Employees are valued, respected, and encouraged to grow. We believe when employees are inspired, motivated, and treated well, they provide great service to our families.

"Best Places to Work"

At Sunbeam we are in the "people development business", developing the people we serve as well as our staff. That's one of the reasons we're voted The Journal Record's "Best Places to Work" for the seventh year in a row.

Benefits

Sunbeam Family Services is committed to maintaining a benefits program that meets the needs of its employees and their families. The benefits package includes medical, dental, life, and disability insurance. In addition, employees have access to Sunbeam's confidential counseling services through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and a 403(b) retirement savings plan, paid holidays, paid sick leave, paid time off (PTO), flexible spending account, and education reimbursement. In addition, employees have access to Sunbeam's confidential counseling services through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Childcare is also available for children up to age three.

Family Positive Workplace

Sunbeam is proud to be recognized as a Family Positive Workplace by the Potts Family Foundation and the OK25by25 Coalition. This award recognizes businesses throughout the state who intentionally help their employees balance work and family responsibilities.

*Sunbeam requires COVID vaccination or an approved exemption based upon medical or religious reasons prior to starting employment.

Sunbeam Family Services is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We are committed to fair and equal in all its employment practices for persons without regard to race, ethnicity, color, creed, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, religion, disability or degree thereof, national origin, domestic/marital status, political affiliation or opinion, veteran status, HIV status, AIDS status, genetic information, and any characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws