Lead Teacher - Preschool

Company Description

Background

Since 1976, St. Joseph Center has been meeting the needs of low-income and homeless individuals and families in Venice and throughout Los Angeles County.  The Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community organization that assists people without regard for religious affiliation or lack thereof through 20+ programs in four pillars of service: Outreach and Engagement, Housing Services, Mental Health, and Education and Vocational Training.  St. Joseph Center serves more than 10,000 people each year. 

Brief Description of Principal Activities

Multifaceted intervention, prevention, mental health, and housing assistance is offered through street outreach and 9 service sites throughout Los Angeles County. St. Joseph Center also provides on-site services at five permanent supportive housing developments, and will provide services at an additional six more sites in the coming year.  St. Joseph Center’s total holistic approach to services provide our clients with the help they need to regain their stability.

Job Description

The Preschool Master Teacher will work as a lead member of the classroom team providing a full day program for a classroom of either toddlers or preschool age children. Always adhering to professional conduct while carrying out the mission, vision, and values established by agency’s Executive Leadership and Board Members.  The Lead Teacher will follow the center’s programs, practices, and policies. This position is responsible for providing a stimulating, safe, and developmentally appropriate educational environment where toddlers and preschool children can develop cognitive, social, emotional, and physical skills. Develops and implements daily lesson plans for Early Learning Center classroom. Leads and supervises toddler and/or preschool Associate Teachers and Teachers in curriculum, classroom environment, and parent relationships. Maintains classroom records, including the assessment of children and the collection of data necessary for the evaluation of early childhood educations programs.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Key Areas of Responsibility:

• Work with small and large groups of children in a variety of age-appropriate developmental activities such as creative experiences, perceptual motor skills, science, language, mathematics, environment awareness and social studies, in both an indoor and outdoor environment according to the planned schedule
• Oversee the creation and usage of developmentally appropriate curriculum, blending best practices with the guiding principle of a dual immersion program.
• Always adhere to professional conduct, such as proper tone and language use in the classroom, respectful, proper for children, parents and peers at all times.
• Comply with all State Licensing regulations; provide state mandated reporting, as necessary, to the ELC Director and/or appropriate authorities.

Essential Duties:

• Participate in all staff training and parent/staff meetings during the year, participate in events involving parents and local communities.
• Supervise children and share responsibility for promoting classroom dynamics.
• Write weekly updates to parents based on the upcoming curriculum and upon related events and activities taking place in the classroom.
• Organize and manage décor, appearance and learning environment of the classroom, support school administration in accordance with the program philosophy.
• Leads opening and closing activities; manage sign-in and sign-out sheets.
• Ensure that all classroom teachers are kept updated in all matters concerning the classroom and program (lesson plans, changes in routines, policies and procedures, training received).
• Provide functional training and guidance to staff, interns, substitutes and volunteers assigned to the classroom.
• Conduct on-going assessments and evaluations of children (anecdotal and monthly); complete and develop short- and long-term goals for individual child and overall group.
• Communicate any changes in children’s behavior that might affect their growth and development.
• Report all staffing and classroom concerns to the Director in a timely manner.
• Complete daily health checks regarding hygiene, safety, and overall well-being of children
• Maintain confidentiality of program participants
• Support open communication between parents, volunteers and staff.
• Leads the management of the classroom.  Serve food and participate in meal time activities.
• Assume an equal share of general clean-up responsibilities and end of the day classroom set- up, maintaining a safe and creative environment.
• Work to prepare for Parent/Teacher Conference using a set of observation assessments to create an appropriate