Lead Teacher

Overview: The Lead Teacher at St. Francis Children’s Center serves as the primary educator for infants and toddlers (ages 0–3) in the Early Head Start (EHS) program. This role is responsible for designing, implementing, and evaluating developmentally appropriate curriculum and caregiving practices in alignment with the Head Start Program Performance Standards, the Early Learning Outcomes Framework (ELOF), and St. Francis’s mission and values. The Lead Teacher fosters trusting relationships with children, supports family engagement, supervises classroom staff, maintains compliance and program quality, and participates in continuous improvement efforts.

Essential Functions

Classroom Leadership & Curriculum

• Plan, implement, and continuously refine individualized and group learning experiences that support all domains of development (social-emotional, cognitive, language, physical).
• Use observation, assessment tools, and data to inform planning and measure children’s growth.
• Adapt curriculum and instructional strategies to meet the needs of children with diverse developmental profiles, including those with disabilities or health concerns.
• Maintain a consistent classroom schedule with predictable routines, transitions, and learning opportunities.
• Ensure classroom materials, environment, and layout to support exploration, safety, and developmental progress.
• Uphold appropriate teacher-to-child ratios and maintain group sizes as required by Head Start and state licensing standards.

Health, Safety & Nutrition

• Create and maintain a safe, clean, and organized classroom environment in compliance with health, safety, and licensing regulations.
• Provide responsive caregiving—diapering, toileting, feeding, sleep/rest routines—following program health and safety guidelines.
• Monitor children’s health, nutritional needs, growth, and developmental well-being; collaborate with Health/Nutrition staff.
• Report and document incidents, injuries, and safety issues promptly.
• Stay current in CPR/First Aid, mandated reporting, and health protocols.

Family Engagement & Partnerships

• Develop trusting, respectful relationships with families; engage them as partners in their child’s

learning and growth.

• Conduct home visits and parent-teacher conferences as required by program standards.
• Assist families in setting goals related to child development, health, education, and family well-being; refer to and coordinate with support services.
• Encourage and facilitate family involvement in classroom and center activities.
• Communicate regularly with families (written, verbal, newsletters, documentation) about children’s progress and program events.

Team Supervision, Collaboration & Professional Growth

• Supervise and mentor assistant teachers, aides, substitutes, and volunteers in the classroom.
• Lead regular classroom team meetings; plan together, reflect, and coordinate roles.
• Collaborate with service staff (health, disabilities, nutrition, mental health) and center leadership.
• Participate in professional development, coaching, reflective supervision, staff meetings, and trainings.
• Contribute to continuous quality improvement efforts, program planning, and goal setting.

Compliance, Documentation & Program Support

• Ensure compliance with Head Start Program Performance Standards, state childcare licensing, and St. Francis policies.
• Maintain accurate, current records: lesson plans, assessments, child portfolios, attendance, health/nutrition logs, child files, parent communications.
• Prepare for and support classroom monitoring, audits, licensing visits, and performance reviews.
• Participate in data collection and reporting and support program evaluation and improvement efforts.
• Assist in supply ordering, classroom maintenance, and resource management.

Qualifications Education & Experience

• Required :
  1. Associate’s degree (or equivalent) in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or related field with coursework in infant/toddler development or Infant/Toddler Child Development Associate (CDA) or willingness to obtain within 6 months.
  2. At least two years of experience working with infants/toddlers in a childcare or early education setting.

• Preferred:

  1. Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or a related field.
  2. Previous Head Start / Early Head Start experience.

Licensing & Certifications

• Must meet state licensing requirements for childcare providers.
• CPR/First Aid certification (or ability to obtain).
• Mandated child abuse/neglect reporter training.
• Health clearance (e.g. TB test), drug test and background check prior to hire.

Skills, Abilities & Working Conditions

• Strong knowledge of child development, observation, and assessment.
• Effective communication skills (written, verbal) with children, families, and staff.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team, lead others, and manage classroom dynamics.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs, sit on the floor, crouch, move about to supervise children.
• Flexibility to attend occasional evening/weekend events for families or training.

Core Competencies & Personal Attributes

• Passion for early childhood development and equity
• Culturally and linguistically responsive practices
• Reflective practitioner mindset, openness to coaching
• Leadership, mentorship, and team-building skills
• Strong organizational, planning, and problem-solving capacities
• Commitment to confidentiality, ethics, and professional standards

The mission and philosophy of St. Francis Children’s Center requires this position to perform in both a professional and personable manner. The manner in which the employee relates to fellow employees, clients, and visitors is considered parallel in importance to technical knowledge and ability. Respect and consideration given to the dignity of each client, visitor and fellow employee is a requisite of successful job performance. In addition, strict client confidentiality must be maintained.

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy

St. Francis Children’s Center is in compliance with the equal opportunity policy and standards of the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services and all applicable local, state and federal statutes and regulations relating to nondiscrimination in employment and service delivery.

It is our to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, we will provide reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities. No otherwise qualified person shall be excluded from employment, be denied the benefits of employment or otherwise be subject to discrimination in employment in any manner on the basis of age, race, religion, color, sex, national origin or ancestry, disability or association with a person with a disability, arrest or conviction record, sexual orientation, marital status or pregnancy, political belief, or affiliation, military participation, or use or non-use of lawful products off the employers premises during working hours. All supervisors and managers are expected to support goals and programmatic activities relating to nondiscrimination in employment.