Position Summary

The Lead Early Childhood Education Teacher is responsible for creating and maintaining a safe, nurturing, engaging, and developmentally appropriate learning environment for young children. The Lead Teacher provides daily leadership within the classroom, develops and implements curriculum, maintains required documentation, communicates effectively with families, and works collaboratively with classroom support staff and program leadership.

The Lead Teacher serves as a positive role model and is expected to demonstrate professionalism, dependability, flexibility, teamwork, and a commitment to providing high-quality early childhood education.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Classroom Leadership & Supervision

Maintain a safe, welcoming, organized, and developmentally appropriate classroom environment.
Provide active supervision of children at all times, including consistent scanning, headcounts, and awareness of classroom ratios.
Maintain required staff-to-child ratios and immediately communicate ratio or coverage concerns to program leadership.
Establish and consistently follow classroom routines and schedules.
Guide classroom assistants, aides, and support staff in daily routines and responsibilities.
Ensure classroom responsibilities are shared appropriately among classroom staff.
Model professional, respectful, and positive interactions with children, families, coworkers, and leadership.
Communicate classroom needs or concerns proactively with the Program Director.

Curriculum & Child Development

Plan and implement developmentally appropriate weekly lesson plans and learning experiences.
Provide opportunities for learning through play, exploration, movement, conversation, and hands-on experiences.
Individualize activities and classroom supports based on children's developmental needs, interests, and abilities.
Observe and document children's development and progress as required by the program.
Complete required assessments, observations, and developmental documentation within established timelines.
Maintain required curriculum materials, classroom documentation, and family communications.
Support children's social-emotional development through positive guidance, redirection, modeling, and age-appropriate behavior support strategies.

Health & Safety

Maintain active supervision and accurate child counts throughout the day.
Follow all licensing, program, health, sanitation, and safety requirements.
Complete required cleaning and sanitizing of toys, high-touch surfaces, changing areas, and classroom materials.
Follow proper diapering, toileting, handwashing, meal, and food-safety procedures.
Be familiar with children's allergies, medical needs, emergency plans, and other individual safety requirements.
Follow established procedures for accidents, injuries, illnesses, medication, and incident documentation.
Participate in emergency drills and follow all emergency and evacuation procedures.
Immediately report suspected child abuse or neglect in accordance with mandated reporting requirements.

Family Communication

Build positive, professional relationships with children and families.
Communicate regularly with families regarding their child's day, development, accomplishments, and concerns.
Address concerns professionally and involve the Program Director when additional support is needed.
Maintain confidentiality regarding children, families, staff, and program matters.
Encourage family involvement and partnership in children's learning and development.

Staff Leadership & Teamwork

Provide appropriate direction, support, and guidance to classroom assistants and support staff.
Help train new classroom staff on routines, expectations, safety procedures, and children's individual needs.
Communicate respectfully and professionally, including during challenging or stressful situations.
Work cooperatively with other classrooms and staff when coverage or program needs arise.
Accept coaching and feedback from program leadership and demonstrate a willingness to make necessary improvements.
Communicate planned absences appropriately and maintain classroom information or substitute plans needed for continuity of care.
Participate in staff meetings, professional development, training, and program activities as required.

Professional Expectations

Lead Teachers are expected to:

Arrive on time and be dependable and prepared for each scheduled shift.
Maintain a positive and professional attitude.
Demonstrate patience, flexibility, and appropriate emotional regulation when working with children and adults.
Remain actively engaged with children rather than relying on passive supervision.
Use positive, developmentally appropriate classroom-management techniques.
Maintain appropriate professional boundaries.
Follow program policies, procedures, licensing requirements, and administrative directives.
Take initiative and communicate concerns before they become larger problems.
Maintain confidentiality and professionalism at all times.

Minimum Qualifications

Candidates must:

Meet all state licensing requirements for employment in a licensed childcare program.
Meet program and state requirements to serve as a Lead Teacher.
Successfully complete all required background checks and clearances.
Complete required orientation, health and safety training, and ongoing professional development.
Maintain current CPR/First Aid certification when required by the position or program.
Demonstrate knowledge of child development and developmentally appropriate practices.
Possess strong communication, organization, classroom-management, and teamwork skills.
Be able to work effectively and professionally with children, families, coworkers, and administration.

Previous experience working in a licensed early childhood program is preferred.

Physical Requirements

The position requires the ability to actively participate in the daily care and supervision of young children. Employees must be able to sit and work on the floor, bend, kneel, stand, walk, and move throughout the classroom and playground; respond quickly when a child's safety requires intervention; and lift or assist children as appropriate for the assigned age group.

Employees must also be able to participate in indoor and outdoor activities and perform routine classroom care, cleaning, and safety responsibilities.

Lead Teacher Accountability

As a classroom leader, the Lead Teacher is responsible for maintaining consistent expectations even when the Program Director or other administrators are not present in the classroom. Lead Teachers are expected to take ownership of their classroom, proactively communicate needs, support their classroom team, and ensure that safety, supervision, curriculum, routines, and program expectations are consistently followed.

The Lead Teacher plays an important role in the overall success of Rising Stars Early Learning Center and is expected to contribute to a workplace culture centered on child safety, quality care, teamwork, professionalism, accountability, and respect.