Community Action Head Start Jobs in Decatur, GA (NOW HIRING)

The Lead Teacher is responsible for creating and maintaining a high-quality learning environment that fosters the social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development of children, while supporting their families as partners in their education. This role ensures compliance with Head Start Program Performance Standards, NAEYC accreditation standards, and other regulatory requirements. The Lead Teacher plays a critical role in implementing developmentally appropriate practices and promoting cultural responsiveness to meet the diverse needs of children and families.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Classroom and Curriculum Management:

• Develop and implement developmentally appropriate lesson plans aligned with Head Start goals, addressing core learning areas such as language, literacy, math, science, social studies, and motor skills.
• Conduct regular developmental screenings and assessments to individualize learning experiences.
• Maintain a classroom environment that is clean, safe, and conducive to learning, adhering to safety procedures and quality standards.
• Ensure classrooms are well-equipped to meet the needs of children and promote a high-quality program aligned with NAEYC, Quality Rated, Bright from the Start, and Head Start standards.
• Help ensure full participation of children in all classroom activities, providing necessary adaptations and supervision
• Foster nurturing and responsive interactions with children and support their social-emotional, cognitive, and physical development.
• Provide child assessments and documentation using approved tools (e.g., Teaching Strategies GOLD).
• Supervise children at all times, ensuring safety and well-being both indoors and outdoors.
• Help maintain a clean and organized classroom in compliance with health and safety standards.
• Communicate regularly and effectively with families to support parent engagement and participation.

Child and Family Engagement:

• Involve parents in their child’s education through parent-teacher conferences, surveys, and other feedback mechanisms.
• Establish strong partnerships with families to support family well-being and promote children’s learning and development.
• Engage families in the transition process to ensure continuity of care and education from Early Head Start to Head Start, and from Head Start to kindergarten.
• Promote culturally responsive practices to support diverse family and community needs.
• Serve as a subject matter expert to support families in identifying and addressing barriers to service access, including transportation or cultural/language needs.
• Ensure a trauma informed approach is implemented in the classroom lesson plans and interactions including providing supports as recommended through the Pyramid Approach

Program Compliance and Quality Assurance:

• Ensure the implementation of high-quality early education by implementing rules, regulations, and performance standards as dictated by Head Start, Early Head Start, Quality Rated and NAEYC
• Monitor and maintain accurate documentation for all classroom activities, child progress, and family engagement efforts.
• Support program enrollment goals by collaborating with staff to recruit and enroll eligible children.
• Collaborate with the Site Director and Curriculum Manager to maintain a continuous feedback loop, including surveys, focus groups, and closing-the-loop meetings with families.

Professional Development and Leadership:

• Participate in ongoing professional development opportunities and apply best practices in early childhood education.
• Provide mentorship and support to other classroom staff to foster professional growth.
• Serve as a resource for colleagues by sharing expertise on early childhood education and development.

Disclaimer: This job description is not an exclusive or exhaustive list of all job functions that an employee in this position may be asked to perform. Duties and responsibilities can be changed, expanded, reduced, or delegated by management to meet the business needs of Our House.

Qualifications:

Education

• Minimum of a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential or state equivalent in Early Childhood Education required.
• Preferred: Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Child Development, or a related field preferred.
• For Georgia Pre-K Lead Teacher roles, a Bachelor’s Degree in one of the above fields is required at minimum, in accordance with Bright from the Start guidelines.
• Must meet all credentialing and qualification standards required by state and program regulations.
• Additional certifications or endorsements in early childhood education are a plus.

Experience

• At least two years of teaching experience in early childhood education required.
• Experience with developmental assessments, curriculum implementation, and family engagement strategies.
• Prior experience in early childhood education or a Georgia Pre-K setting strongly preferred.

Schedule Requirements:

• Onsite, 40-hour workweek, Monday through Friday during standard business hours.
• Occasional overtime may be required during peak periods.
• Occasional travel to other sites for professional development and/or to work collaboratively with other teachers.

Skills:

• Strong understanding of Head Start Program Performance , NAEYC and QR standards, and culturally responsive practices.
• Strong working knowledge of the Department of Early Care and Learning: Rules and Regulations
• Ability to create developmentally appropriate lesson plans and adapt them to meet the diverse needs of children.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills to handle multiple responsibilities.
• Proficiency in child observation tools and data management systems.
• Collaborative Team Player: Values interdisciplinary collaboration and fosters teamwork.
• Positive “Can-Do” Attitude: Maintains an optimistic and proactive approach.
• Emotional Intelligence: Demonstrates a high level of emotional awareness and empathy.
• Innovative Problem Solver: Proactively identifies opportunities and proposes effective solutions.
• Self-Motivated: Independently driven and capable of completing tasks with minimal supervision.
• Strong Communication Skills: Exhibits above-average verbal and written communication skills.
• Interpersonal Proficiency: Highly developed interpersonal skills.
• Solution-Focused Mindset: Actively seeks opportunities for improvement, offering thoughtful ideas and suggestions to support broader organizational goals.
• Commitment to Growth: Embraces lifelong learning and demonstrates a consistent desire for personal and professional development.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with integrity and discretion.
• Preferred: Proficient ability to implement Creative Curriculum, TSG Gold, and ASQ screening tools

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to sit on the floor, kneel, bend, squat, and get up and down frequently throughout the day to engage with young children at their level.
• Ability to lift and carry children weighing up to 40 pounds, as well as classroom materials and supplies.
• Ability to move quickly and respond to children's needs or emergency situations.
• Adequate vision and hearing to ensure child safety and effective communication.
• Ability to push, pull, or maneuver strollers, cribs, or carts when needed.
• Manual dexterity to assist with dressing, feeding, diapering, and other care routines as required.
• Tolerance for working in a busy, sometimes noisy, and physically demanding environment.

Health Requirements:

• Proof of Tuberculosis (TB) test clearance required prior to employment.
• Must comply with any additional health screenings or vaccinations required by Our House or other regulatory agencies.

Work Environment:

• Work is primarily performed in a classroom, childcare center, or early learning setting with frequent outdoor supervision during playtime or field trips.
• Environment can be noisy, busy, and fast-paced, with frequent interruptions and changing priorities.
• May be exposed to cleaning and sanitizing products, bodily fluids, and common childhood illnesses.
• Must be comfortable working at low heights (e.g., child-sized furniture, floor play) and in close physical proximity to young children.
• May involve occasional evening or weekend hours for family events, parent conferences, or professional development.
• Requires the ability to maintain emotional composure and professionalism while managing classroom behaviors, parent concerns, and unexpected situations.
• Must adhere to all safety protocols and licensing requirements set by state and local regulatory bodies.

Compensation Statement:

The estimated salary range reflects an anticipated range for this position. The actual salary offered is determined by considering each candidate's knowledge, skills, abilities, years of relevant experience, specific and unique skills, level of education attained, and certifications or other professional licenses held.