Newport News, Virginia

Hiring Range

$16.20 - $21.08/Hourly Actual pay is determined based on job-related factors such as relevant experience, education, credentials, skills, internal equity, and business needs.
Overview
The Lead Teacher is responsible for developing a cohesive teaching team, implementing the center curriculum, and managing the day-to-day operational activities of the classroom. Oversees overall classroom management to include, but not limited to high-quality interactions, learning, care, and behavior guidance. Demonstrates knowledge of child development in a stimulating, engaged, supportive classroom environment. Ensures compliance with Virginia State Licensing regulations.

What you will do

• Maintain sight and sound supervision of children at all times. Oversee the complete daily care of all children in their assigned classroom to ensure children are safe, organized, happy, and engaged in age-appropriate activities. Responsible for overall safety and cleanliness in compliance with center policies and Virginia State Licensing regulations. Ensure that children’s daily needs are met, and caregiving events are attended to in a timely, consistent manner; to include diapering/toileting needs, clothing changes as applicable, preparing and serving of meals, resting, cleanliness, and safety/prevention of injuries. Ensure attendance is taken daily, proper paperwork is posted, accurate, and updated as necessary.
• Continuously support and monitor children's physical, mental, social, emotional, and academic development. Encourage understanding of others and positive self-concepts. Distribute, administer, and complete all required assessments and progress reports regarding development, as applicable for each age group. Identify signs of emotional, behavioral, or developmental problems in children and bring them to the parents’ attention after discussing with management. Implement a plan of action when necessary, utilizing center resources.
• Serves as the main point of contact for parents regarding their child. Keep records on individual children, including daily observations, daily caregiving events, and information about activities, including meals served, and medications administered. Provide ongoing communication as necessary about daily activities, behaviors and related issues, needs or concerns as they relate to the center or the children. Communicate consistently with parents through the electronic parent communication app, email, by phone, or in person. Provide at least 2 opportunities per year for Parent/Teacher Conferences, in addition to class events and programs as applicable to each child’s age group.
• Effectively manage and maintain a welcoming, comfortable, and clean learning environment. Ensure that Learning Centers and playground areas have adequate, age-appropriate toys, equipment, and supplies available to children and the toys and materials are organized in a way that maintains order in activity areas. Ensure the classroom environment reflects the current curriculum themes through various learning materials, decorations, and displaying of children’s artwork at their eye level. Ensure daily learning activities encourage growth in all aspects of child development; physical (fine and gross motor), mental, social, emotional, and academic development. Ensure lesson plans offer experiences in science, technology, reading, engineering, art, and math as appropriate for each assigned age group.
• Maintain commitment to high-quality interactions. Implement the center goals and philosophy regarding high-quality interactions with children, parents, and employees. Participate in, observe, and monitors children's play activities and provide age-appropriate behavior guidance. Focus on children learning the core skills; relate, regulate, think, communicate, and move. Demonstrate flexibility, reliability and a positive, supportive attitude towards children, parents and employees. Maintain open communication, with proper tone and body language, with all children, parents and employees.
• Serve as a coach/mentor and positive role model to new employees, employees who have been promoted to Lead Teacher and to Teacher Assistants with whom they work. Supervise Teacher Assistants, Volunteers, and Students and effectively delegates tasks and duties. Build authentic connections with their teacher assistants, recognize strengths and weaknesses, earn trust, sets goals, solicits feedback, and hold them accountable. Provide proper guidance and counseling as appropriate. Provide an overall sense of teamwork, giving clear instructions, promoting a positive culture, and encouraging assistants to be a vital role in each child’s development. Exhibit a professional attitude at all times and maintain respect and cooperation when working with others.  
• Work independently to meet deadlines and completes mandatory requirements to include but not limited to monthly lesson plans & newsletters, weekly attendance, annual training hours, certifications & renewals, and staff meeting attendance.

Qualifications

Education

• High School Diploma or GED, (Required)
• Bachelors Degree, Early Childhood Education or Related (Preferred)

Experience

• 1 year Programmatic experience in a Child Care setting (Required)
• 1 year Early childhood education experience in a professional setting (Required)
• 1 year Supervisory experience (Preferred)

Licenses and Certifications

• CPR/BLS Certification - American Heart Association/American Red Cross/American Safety and Health Institute (AHA/ARC) within 30 Days(Required)
• Certified Medication Administration Training (MAT) - Medical Home Plus Inc   within 90 Days(Required)
• Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential - Council for Professional Recognition within 1 Year(Required)

To learn more about being a team member with Riverside Health System visit us at https://www.riversideonline.com/careers.