Pre-K/Infant Toddler Lead Teacher

Job Description

Job Description

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Position Title:                    Lead Teacher

Department:                      Early Learning Center at Kaune

Job Classification:          Regular, Full-Time

FLSA Status:                      Non -Exempt

Reports to:                          Director of Early Learning at Kaune

Revision Date:   06/03/2022

Rate:                                       Base rate of $51,000 - $70,000 annually; salary negotiable based on education,       experience, certifications.

Growing Up NM provides a very comprehensive total compensation package including a great work environment, competitive salaries and benefits including those listed.

• • • • • • Paid Time Off
          • Medical, Dental, Vision Insurances
          • Employer Paid Short term disability.
          • Employer Paid Group Term Life and AD&D Insurance
          • Dependent Life Insurance
          • Employer Matched Savings Plan (403b)
          • 10 Paid Holidays
          • Bilingual Differential
          • Sign on Bonus
            

For more information and to complete an application please go to call View phone number on ziprecruiter.com, or visit us at 440 Cerrillos Road, Santa Fe, NM

Summary:   

The Growing Up New Mexico Early Learning Center at Kaune is a state funded Program that seeks to strengthen families and the community through an interconnected network of early intervention, education, economic development, and family support programs. Growing Up New Mexico is comprised of programs and services including Home Visiting PLUS; Early Learning Programs; Bridges to Opportunity; and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library programs.

The Lead Teacher is responsible for creating a joyous environment that gives children a respected space to develop their own inquiries and negotiate the social emotional terrain. The Lead Teacher is also expected to participate in a reflective and analytical process with colleagues in order to support and develop the understanding of, and work with, children and their families. The  Early Learning Center at Kaune follows the standards set forth by ECECD regulations, New Mexico PreK standards, and the NAEYC quality rating system. The Early Learning Center at Kaune is a Reggio Emilia-inspired program and draws much of its philosophical roots from that approach.    

Growing Up New Mexico is a 501(c)3 organization located in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Inherent in our mission are guiding principles that center on the belief that all families are capable of success if given the right opportunities and resources at the right time. The focus of our work is to demonstrate and implement effective and proven early childhood and family support strategies, prenatal to age five, focused on quality, equity, and access. Growing Up NM utilizes two parallel, mutually informed strategies in all we do: a local programmatic approach and a state-wide policy approach, with each continually informing the other.

Key Areas of Responsibility

• Support learning through a Reggio Emilia approach; support children’s research through an analytical and inquiry-based process; engage in dialogue around the Reggio Emilia principles and work toward implementing them in the classroom.
• Create a learning environment that supports learning in all areas: self, family, and community; social and emotional; literacy and language; physical; scientific inquiry; mathematical; and approaches to learning and creativity.
• Maintain a safe, clean, and organized environment in the classroom and, alongside the rest of the Kaune team, throughout the school.
• Manage the classroom through a democratic and respectful process.
• Ensure that all ECECD regulations for childcare including those pertaining to health and safety are met for each child at all times, including knowledge of and participation in emergency evacuation procedures.
• Create and maintain a classroom environment that supports all children, including but not limited to, children from diverse cultures and languages and children needing special developmental support.
• Prepare and share weekly lesson plans based on research questions grounded in the Reggio Emilia approach, ongoing assessment and observation of children’s learning and development. Share these with the supervisor, then post them for families to read.  Display areas of focus prominently in the classroom.
• Assess children’s development and learning through recorded classroom observations, based on Early Learning Guideline’s essential indicators.
• Participate in weekly staff Collaborative Curriculum Meetings, All-Team Meetings, Monthly Team Meetings and Individual Meetings with supervisor and co-workers.
• Be prepared to share and present documentation, as required by the Director of Early Learning at Kaune, for staff Collaborative Curriculum Meetings and Team Meetings; documentation must focus on child or teacher provocations that support curriculum and teacher understanding of children and their ideas.
• Prepare panels and documentation reflecting children’s project work and studies in the classroom.
• Prepare findings from assessments, written documentation, and discussions for three family conferences a year.
• Ensure ongoing supportive communication with families: share community resources, communicate about delicate and challenging situations, and ensure completion of all family paperwork (children’s files, incident reports, child abuse reports, etc.). Complete home visits and conferences in a timely manner.
• Exhibit professionalism, tact and patience when communicating with children, families, employees, and staff at all levels of the organization.
• Respectfully communicate and mentor the Assistant Teacher and other school staff when giving directions and sharing ideas and information regarding their behavior/actions in the classroom. At the same time, allow a space for listening to the assistant teacher’s ideas and reflections and incorporate them into the classroom, as appropriate.
• Respond positively to feedback provided by the Director of Early Learning regarding observations, direction, and interventions regarding behavior in the classroom, attendance and tardiness using the Growing Up NM policies and procedures, protocols and ECECD licensing/program standards as guidelines; proactively take steps to meet any agreed upon goals.
• Establish a Professional Development Plan (PDP) by actively completing all degree requirements for Lead Teacher, as required by New Mexico licensing, and NAEYC. Attend all required trainings.
• Comply with all Growing Up NM policies/procedures, Early Learning Center at Kaune protocols and ECECD licensing/program standards.
• Always represent Growing Up New Mexico in a professional manner at special events or programs connected with the Early Learning Center. Please note: you must be flexible as events may be held outside regular work hours (evenings/weekends).
• Perform within the prescribed limits of Growing Up NM ethics and compliance policies and in adherence to the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct.
• Follow program, discipline, and confidentiality policies and procedures for the Early Learning Center at Kaune.
• Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor and/or Director of Early Learning at Kaune.
  
• Adapt to flexible day-to-day schedule to ensure appropriate responsiveness to infant/toddler needs (ex. Eating, sleeping, diapering, etc.).

Qualifications:

• Minimum of associate degree in Early Childhood Education with commitment to work towards a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education according to the ECECD and NAEYC requirements. Additionally, New Mexico licensure must be obtained according to the timetable determined by Growing Up NM. Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education preferred.

• Experience working with infants and toddlers. At least three years’ work experience with zero- to five-year-olds preferred.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) is preferred. English writing proficiency required. Ability to read and write in Spanish is preferred, but not required. 
• Practical knowledge of child development and developmentally appropriate practices, with the willingness to engage in dialogue related to, but not limited to Reggio Emilia Principles.
• Sensitivity with children and families who represent a wide range of socio-economic and risk factors.
• Ability to work well in culturally diverse settings and knowledge of local population served.
• Ability to maintain accurate and up-to-date records using both paper files and computer software such as MS Word.
• Effective and accurate interpersonal communication skills, both oral and written.
• Professionalism, tact, and patience when communicating with children, families, employees, and staff at all levels of the organization.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw conclusions.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality at all times.
• Function effectively with teaching staff as a team member and work independently when required.
• Ability to pass a mandatory background clearance required of all childcare workers in the State of New Mexico.
• CPR certified within first 90 days of employment.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to walk, stand, drive, sit for long periods of time and use computer equipment and cell phones. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee must be able to lift 50 pounds.
• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of things an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
  • Environmental stress may occur.
  • Exposure to chemicals in the workplace environment may occur.
  • Exposure to infectious diseases in the workplace environment.
  • Noise level in the environment is usually moderate to loud.