Visual Development Internships Jobs in West Springfield, MA

Ludlow, MA

Job Title: Lead Teacher

Hours: Full-Time; Non-Exempt

Department: Preschool

Reports to: Preschool Director

Salary: range $19.50 - 21.50 commensurate with the experience and education

Benefits: PTO, paid holidays, medical insurance, dental, vision, life insurance, STD, LTD, Retirement plan, employee discount on programs/childcare and free fitness membership.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: The Preschool Lead Teacher is responsible for providing a safe, healthy and educational learning environment for all children and families served in accordance with state regulations. The Preschool Lead Teacher will oversee the operations of the classroom with a focus on creating an environment that encourages children to develop a love of learning and become self-confident, self-motivated and independent explorers of the world. Specific duties include, but are not limited to:

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Prepare Members for Success

• Overall supervision, teaching, and functioning of the classroom in accordance with established standards and goals that support development outcomes:
• Establish Preschool Program objectives consistent with organizational goals and mission.
• Oversee the provision of day-to-day program activities in accordance with established standards and goals.
• Ensure that members are provided and encouraged to participate in a variety of activities and experiences with proper instruction and guidance to develop the skills and foundation for success in Kindergarten and later in life.
• Directly facilitate program activities ensuring communication with children happens at children’s eye-level as often as possible.
• Maintain cleanliness of the preschool classroom.
• Maintain great customer service by greeting all members and visitors in a professional and courteous manner.
• Be a positive role-model at all times.

Program Development and Implementation

• Plan and implement developmentally appropriate activities in line with curriculum standards to nurture, stimulate, and meet the physical, emotional, intellectual, and social needs of the children to promote child growth and development.
• Meet individual children’s needs and challenge all children by adapting and varying instruction and curriculum.
• Ensure activities conducted respond to children’s needs and address their gender and cultural diversity.
• Interact with children to build a positive relationship with respect, trust and care. Provide children with assistance and encouragement.
• Monitor the classroom to maintain a safe and healthy environment. Classroom is well ventilated, well lit and equipment is maintained in good working condition
• Responsible for completing and making sure all reports, forms and notices are done on time.
• Develop and maintain children’s files and reports are done on time.
• Attend staff meetings, professional development, and conferences.
• Communicate to supervisor any pertinent contact from families.
• Communicate problems or concerns to Preschool Director.

Supervision

• Observe, document, and monitor child’s developmental progress.
• Maintain and provide proper record keeping and reporting concerning children’s progress and any problems/issues.
• Maintain visual and auditory supervision of children at all times to ensure their safety.
• Provides guidance and direction to teachers, assistants, substitutes, volunteers and interns assigned to the classroom.
• Promote and participate in open and effective communication and support with teaching staff.
• Works with other teachers in a professional manner and includes them in the responsibilities of classroom routines.
• Allocate and monitor work assigned to teaching staff providing on going feedback and regular appraisal.
• Marketing and Public Relations
• A high level of enthusiasm, energy and commitment is demonstrated in personal contact with children and families.
• Develop and maintain constructive and ongoing rapport with children and families.
• Encourage family involvement.
• Meet with parents/guardians to discuss their children’s progress and needs and suggest ways that they can promote learning and development.
• Maintain liaison with families, schools, business, and agencies within the community.
• Demonstrate a continual commitment to consistent, meaningful, positive parent involvement as well as to the preschool program goals and objectives.

Additional Responsibilities

• Participate in open houses, parent conferences and other special programs as appropriate and/or assigned.
• May be assigned to other classrooms as needed.
• May participate in special programs and/or events (i.e. Annual Auction, Youth of the Year, Award Programs), and/or participate in the implementation of other unit activities as necessary.
• May be required to conduct and participate in various organizational fund-raisers.
• May be required to assist in program areas outside of normal responsibilities.
• May be required to assist with collection activity by responding to inquiries from or directing parent/guardian to the Finance office.

Requirements

Education / Experience: Must hold EEC Lead Teacher Certification

SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE:

· CPR and First Aid Certification

· Knowledge of Early Childhood Development.

· Knowledge of modern office methods working with computers, data entry and with Microsoft Office, email, and internet.

· Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Above average interpersonal skills.

· Honesty, integrity and operating as a team player are critical to this organization.

· Exercise good judgment and maintain confidentiality of critical and sensitive information, records, and reports.

· Understand, interpret, and apply EEC regulations and departmental policies and procedures.

· Ability to work well independently and in a team environment.

· Ability to balance multiple assignments and adjust direction and priorities within fast paced and multi-faceted work environment.

· Report to scheduled shift consistently and on time.

· Follow policies, procedures and rules of the organization.

· Maintain high program standards.

· Be a strong advocate for the Club being a positive place to be.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Work environment is fast paced in a classroom setting; however, outdoor time is scheduled daily based on weather. The noise level is usually moderate. General preschool program conditions may require the ability to sit and stand for an extended periods of time; to enter data into a computer; to see and read a computer screen and printed materials; to hear and understand speech at normal classroom levels; physical agility to lift up to 50 pounds, and to bend, stoop, sit on the floor, climb stairs, walk and reach overhead.