Early Childhood Lead Teacher (Birth to 3 yrs old)

Early Childhood Lead TeacherEvery Student. Every Dream. Every Day. At Battle Creek Public Schools, we believe every child deserves to be seen, supported, and nurtured from the very beginning. To deepen that commitment, we've expanded our services to include high quality early care and education for children birth to age three. Dudley Early Learning Center (formerly Dudley STEM Elementary) now offers a full birth-to-preschool experience, providing nurturing, developmentally appropriate care that lays the foundation for lifelong learning. Powered by a historic investment from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, our early childhood team is essential to our district's transformation, ensuring our youngest learners experience safety, belonging, and joyful growth every day.We are seeking a compassionate and dedicated Early Childhood Lead Teacher to join our team, providing care and support for children from birth to three years of age. This role involves creating a safe, nurturing, and stimulating environment where children can thrive and develop their skills and abilities.Position Responsibilities:Curriculum Development and Implementation: Learn and implement the designated age-appropriate, developmentally-focused curricula for infants and toddlers, ensuring a stimulating and engaging learning environment.Child Observation and Assessment: Conduct regular observations of children's development, identify individual needs, and develop individualized plans to support their growth.Classroom Management: Maintain a safe, clean, and organized classroom environment that promotes learning and development.Staff Collaboration and Training: Supervise classroom staff and collaborate with other teachers to ensure high-quality care and education across the center.Parent Communication and Collaboration: Maintain open communication with parents, providing updates on their child's progress and collaborating on their child's development goals.Community Resource Knowledge: Possess a working knowledge of available community resources for families of young children and be able to connect families with needed services.Professional Development: Stay current with best practices in early childhood education through ongoing professional development and training.Administrative Tasks: Assist with administrative tasks such as record-keeping, scheduling, and inventory management.Qualifications:A relevant degree in early childhood education, child development, or a related field is preferred.A minimum of 2 years experience working with infants and toddlers in a classroom or childcare setting is highly desirable.CPR and First Aid certification preferred.Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:Strong understanding of child development theories and practices, as well as knowledge of relevant regulations and standards.Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills are essential.Ability to work effectively as part of a team, ability to adapt to changing situations, and ability to handle challenging situations with patience and professionalism.Patience, empathy, and a genuine love for working with young children.Ability to work independently and as part of a team.Upon Hire: Negative TB Test MI Registry Health and Safety CoursesSalary: $21.00-23.50/hour Contract: 12 months SCHOOL SAFETY CLEARANCE: The successful candidate will be subject to a fingerprint and background check as a condition of employment. All fees required for this check (estimated $73.00) will be the responsibility of the successful applicant. The Battle Creek Public School District is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, handicap, sex, age, religion, national origin, weight, height, or marital status in its employment practices.