"Lead Early Childhood Teacher"

Job Description

Schedule: Full-Time, Academic Year (44.5 weeks/year)

As a Lead Teacher, you will develop, implement, and evaluate the classroom curriculum and be responsible for providing a high-quality educational program that reflects the goals of our laboratory nursery school for children ages 2-5. Lead teachers will exhibit excellent written and oral communication skills and collaborate with families, colleagues, therapists, and specialists, as well as support students and interns. Lead teachers must have knowledge applying a constructivist approach to learning with experience in play-based education and emergent curriculum design.

Lead teachers guide the school culture and mentor and supervise assistant teachers, student teachers, and interns. The ideal candidate will be able to articulate an early childhood educational philosophy and describe: the rights of children, the rationale for inquiry-based education, the value of play, the essential materials and classroom design for preschool, the significance of care rituals, and the importance of outdoor experiences.

Responsibilities

• Develop trusting relationships with children and families
• Have a well-articulated philosophy regarding child social-emotional development, discipline, and guidance, and understand the principles of responsive caregiving
• Plan and implement a daily curriculum in accordance with developmentally appropriate practices.
• Meet with parents regularly, assess and document child progress
• Organize and arrange the classroom environment and materials with care
• Manage and lead reflective team meetings
• Mentor and supervise others, and support a positive team teaching approach
• Participate and help plan school events such as parent night and teacher reflections
• Teach outside in all seasons and weather.
• Participate in reflective practice, documentation, and ongoing professional growth opportunities

Required knowledge, skills, and abilities

• Bachelor's degree in early childhood education or equivalent degree type that meets OCFS requirements for being a lead teacher.
• Minimum 2 years of experience working within a team approach.
• Ability to act as a leader in modeling collaborative communication, dialogue, and feedback for reflective teaching and mentoring in the classroom and throughout the school.
• Demonstrated understanding and practice of the Code of Ethics for Early Childhood Educators (NAEYC) as guidelines for responsible and professional behavior with children, colleagues, employer, and families.
• Ability to perform emotional labor for children who are discovering their feelings and navigating new social contexts, and care for children's physical needs.
• Experience with guidance/social coaching and conflict resolution for young children.
• Experience with child assessment and parent-teacher conferences.
• A willingness to grow and increase knowledge in the field and seek innovative approaches.
• Exhibit joy in working with children and families.
• Embrace the school's mission and practice WNS values
• Must be fingerprinted and cleared with a background check through the NY State Office of Children and Family Services.
• Must be able to interact with children on their level; frequent bending, squatting, reaching, and sitting on the floor is expected as well as the ability to lift 30 pounds.
• Must remain alert and productive for ongoing active supervision of children and must be able to see and hear children at all times.

Preferred knowledge, skills, and abilities

• 5 years of experience managing and leading a teaching team
• Master's degree
• Ability to take on multi-year projects, such as but not limited to curriculum leadership, professional development coordination, and committee work

Compensation: The starting annual base salary range for this position is $42,000-48,500(USD). When extending an offer, Vassar College considers factors such as scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, budget, and other market and organizational considerations.

To apply, visit https://vassar.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Vassar-External/job/Poughkeepsie-NY/Lead-Early-Childhood-Teacher_R00032253.