Child Care Lead Teacher

Assist the director/co-directors in the activities of the Child Development Center to ensure the smooth and efficient operation of the Center.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Coordinate curriculum for area served ensuring that the cognitive, social-emotional, and physical development needs of children are met.
• Plan with staff active listening, prepare, implement, supervise and evaluate daily program activities in area served.
• Take a leadership role in facilitating planning and implementation of developmentally appropriate curriculum with staff.
• Coordinate and direct staff in area served.
• Organize and coordinate consistent grouping, assign groups, group teachers and areas, daily groups, assign primary caregivers and maintain mandated ratio for area served.
• Maintain sensitivity to the special needs and interests of children and their families and organize programs to accommodate these needs.
• Establish and support positive Center-family relationships.
• Supervise and maintain daily record keeping and chart changes in schedules, medication administration, feeding times and amounts, diaper changes, infant health and sleeping habits, milestones reached and other information necessary to keep staff and/or parents informed.
• Handle all staff, children, and center information with confidentiality and discretion.
• Observe and maintain observation and evaluation records of children; identify additional staff and outside support as needed.
• Coordinate assessment of infants every three months and pre-school every four months.
• Coordinate equipment and materials, including annual inventories, recording needed additions/replacements, staff requests, sharing in playground assessments, sterilizing infant toys and other activities to maintain equipment and materials.
• Take leadership role in facilitating planning and implementation of developmentally appropriate curriculum with staff.
• Monitor health and safety of children in center.
• Organize classroom, program and equipment to create a safe, warm, nurturing environment that reflects developmentally appropriate practices and promotes a multi-cultural, non-sexist, non-violent philosophy and curriculum.
• Direct volunteers, students and observers in the Center, and other activities as needed, or directed by Director/Co-Director.
• Conduct daily maintenance including but not limited to laundry, floor care, record keeping, and bed maintenance, washing toys and rotating toys.
• Exhibit confidence and responsibility as a member of the team – maintain open communication, contribute to daily routine tasks, while maintaining awareness of overall needs in the area served and while supporting assistant staff. Contributes to newsletters and manuals.
• Work with children in warm, enthusiastic, interested positive manner.
• Encourage and model respect, diversity, and open communication.
• Assist children with meals, snacks, and other nutritional needs.
• Monitors health and safety of children in center.
• Exhibit a personal commitment to continued studies and/or training in Early Childhood Education.
• Take initiative, work independently and maintain self and team motivation. Utilize outside support staff, ex. AEA professionals, Faculty Advisor, etc. when needed.
• Models professional behavior expectations.

Qualifications

• Educational background in Early Childhood is preferred (must meet Department of Human Services licensing requirements). Experience in Early Childhood education in area served.
• Must possess valid driver’s license.
• Current certification in First Aid/CPR.
• Completion of mandatory reporting training.
• Completion of OSHA -Universal Precautions Training.
• Ability to create a developmentally appropriate environment that provides the best, high quality care and education for area served.
• Mature attitude that allows for effective communication, problem solving, and team building.
• Demonstrates a warm, nurturing, and friendly personality. Relates well to children and is sensitive to the needs of children and their families and skillful in communication with them.
• Completion of Mandatory Reporter training, current certification in First Aid/ CPR , completion of OSHA Universal Precautions training (available through NICC Division of Continuing Education).
• Completion of physical exam—with communicable disease screenings and tests as defined in Iowa Code Section 109.9d.
• Successful clearance with DHS and Criminal Records/Child Abuse Registry record check.
• Ability to consistently maintain physical vitality and stamina.

Essential Functions

• Meet weekly with staff in area served.
• Meet biweekly with Director/Co-Director and/or Faculty Advisor.
• Implement the recommendations of the Faculty Advisor or Director/Co-Directors in a timely manner.
• Attend monthly staff meetings, parent meetings, or center meetings as scheduled.
• Maintain a professional attitude and loyalty to the Center and School.
• Follow personnel policies of Child Development Center and dress code recommendations and NICC policies.
• Know (and implement) policies in regard to Center operations as defined in the most current Center policy manual and licensing regulations. These include First Aid and CPR , emergency procedures for tornadoes and fire, child abuse reporting, discipline, terminations and other established policies.
• Coordinate all volunteers during emergency drills and practices.
• Exhibit attention to attendance, punctuality, and dependability.
• Assume responsibilities and duties of Director/Co-Director in his/her absence.

Open Date

03/20/2026

Close Date

Open Until Filled Yes

Special Instructions to Applicants

Posting Specific Questions

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