Summary

The Head Teacher is responsible for the care, supervision, day to day operations, and safety of center/classroom children. Responsible for ensuring staff files are up to date with physicals, CPR/First Aid, and continuing education. Responsible for developing and implementing age-appropriate curriculum encouraging self esteem and independence for the social, emotional, cognitive and physical needs of each child while ensuring that health, safety and nutritional education is integrated into the overall curriculum planning. Responsible for keeping classroom and playground clean, safe, and orderly. Must have compassion and understanding for the needs of children and families from economically and culturally diverse backgrounds.

Learn, implement and ensure center and staff are in compliance with State of CT licensing codes, funding requirements, federal, state, and local laws and regulations, and NAEYC standards. Head Teachers in collaborative classrooms (HS and LL) will ensure CLASS domains and dimensions are in compliance. Responsible for administrating the overall operations of the Little Learners Early Education Program and supervision of Little Learners Early Education Program children and staff. Responsible for all required administrative paperwork for the classrooms.

Duties

• Interact with children for up to 8 hours; e.g. to move and react quickly to ensure the safety of the children, to lift and/or carry a child, to sit on the floor or use child size furniture, participate in field trips and playground activities, etc.
• Interview, hire, train, supervise, evaluate center staff effectively ensuring that staff is properly oriented and familiar with the center operations.
• Coach, motivate, and develop staff.
• Maintain Confidentiality.
• Take corrective action when needed, including writing and implementing performance improvement plans, warnings, or other disciplinary action.
• Hire and terminate staff, upon approval from program management and Human Resources.
• Maintain stimulating, safe classroom environment and playground area.
• Create and implement weekly, age-appropriate lesson plans.
• Ensure that individual needs of children are considered through formal/informal observation, developmental assessment, and inform families of progress by conducting informal conferences as needed and formal family conferences two times per year.
• In collaborative classrooms (HS and LL), CLASS scores will be maintained at or above the Head Start National Averages.
• Conduct data entry and maintain classroom files on Teaching Strategies GOLD, including lesson plans, monthly child observations, Individual Child Profiles, checkpoints, and Family Conferences.
• Ensure children are developing sound health and nutrition habits in daily routines and in curriculum through modeling.
• Create and/or maintain NAEYC Classroom Portfolio.
• Participate in the NAEYC Accreditation process.
• Develop activity files, and obtain resource materials from the community for the curriculum development according to the needs of the children.
• Maintain and update center records including, but not limited to: sign-in/sign-out logs for staff and children, staff files, playground safety checks, supervision of children logs, child health records and collection of fees.
• Maintain and update children's Education Files, center staff files, staff professional development files, Parent Involvement Binder, and staff medication log book.
• Familiarize staff, children, and volunteers with emergency procedures and ensure that the procedures are posted in a clearly visible location.
• Conduct staff meetings which include discussions of center concerns, curriculum development, classroom management, business announcements, and information gathered at monthly Head Teacher meetings.
• Attend monthly Head Teacher meetings/trainings, building meetings, and other meetings, as required.
• Maintain appropriate staff coverage to meet regulations in the classroom and/or kitchen, while granting time off to staff when operations of center can be maintained.
• Communicate effectively.
• Understand, implement and explain to center staff agency program policies, procedures, philosophies, learned information from workshops, meetings and formal education.
• Prioritize tasks, work with minimal supervision, and apply self as a positive, contributing member of a team.
• Develop and implement lesson plans that are reflective of intentional teaching and that incorporate higher order thinking skills in them.
• Apply decision making, problem solving, organizational and leadership skills.
• Delegate record keeping duties and the timely submission of necessary reports including, but not limited to: monthly reports, quarterly reports, monthly attendance sheets for staff, travel reimbursements, time sheets, petty cash reimbursement sheets, receipts, accident reports, educational and non-educational delivery packing slips, daily attendance records.
• Maintain a bulletin board including, but not limited to the following information: curriculum, menu, pamphlets, job availabilities, announcements, home activities, special events, staff chain of command, and complaint procedure.
• Take on additional tasks as required to maintain program and agency operations.
• Encourage parents to participate in program while organizing and facilitating parent meetings.
• Submit appropriate requisitions of consumable, educational, and non-food related supplies for the center.
• Perform basic math skills and operate personal office equipment.
• Have the computer skills needed to input information into our database system, prepare newsletters, input observations, prepare family conference forms and complete lesson plans.
• Work as scheduled; daily attendance and punctuality are required.
• Provide evidence of on-going career development as per licensing regulations.
• Continue professional development per funding source requirements.
• Behave in a professional and appropriate manner at all times, including workshops, formal course offerings and training programs, including actively participating in these programs.
• Adhere to TVCCA policies and procedures.
• Have a strong commitment to a quality early education program.
• Assist, when needed, at other Little Learners Early Education centers.
• Follow directions.
• Perform several functions concurrently in a deadline driven environment.
• Adhere to agency & program dress code(s); be neat, clean, and well-groomed.
• Demonstrate and maintain a positive attitude, establish good working relations with staff and co-workers.
• Take initiative, be motivated, and work as a team member.
• Have a strong commitment to a quality Early Education program.
• Have the personal qualities to work with children and the ability to relate to parents, staff, and the community in which the children live.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree in ECE or related field with 12 credits in Early Childhood Education
OR
Associate's Degree in ECE or related field with 12 credits in Early Childhood Education
AND

• Have access to reliable, insured transportation.
• Must have or obtain and maintain CT child care first-aid, and infant and child CPR, and medication administration certification.
• Provide a TVCCA Staff Statement of Good Health signed by a physician, physician's assistant, or nurse practitioner completed within twelve (12) months before the date of employment, and every twenty-four (24) months for current staff.
• Provide a written report of negative tuberculin test completed within twelve (12) months prior to the date of employment, or for a known prior reactor, no evidence of active tuberculosis on a chest x-ray.
• Must be able to lift and/or carry a child up to 50lbs.
• Have the credentials to obtain a Connecticut Head Teacher License from the Department of Public Health.
• Minimum of 18 years of age.
• Be able to work 35-37 hours/week, 52 weeks/year.
• The TVCCA Little Learners Early Education Program requires staff to be available from 7:00AM - 5:00PM to cover center operational hours on a rotational basis.
• Continue professional development per funding source requirements.
• Strong Computer and ability to effectively communicate with children, parents, staff and volunteers

Benefits

Benefits are offered to Full-time & Part-time employees

Benefits Offered after 30 days of employment include the following:

Retirement Plans
11 Paid Holidays
2 Paid Floating Holidays
Accrued Vacation/Sick Time
Vacation Leave
Sick Leave
Mileage Reimbursement
Secondary Auto Insurance
Employee Assistance Program
Jury Duty
Military Duty for Active Service
Emergency/Discretionary Leave
Leaves of Absence without Pay
Leave from Employment for Victims of Family Violence

Additional Benefits Offered based on employment includes the following:

Group Health & Life Insurance
Short-term Disability
Long-term Disability
CT Family & Medical Leave
Educational Leave

About Us

TVCCA provides services and partners with other organizations to address the social determinants of health housing, food security, employment needs, education, and basic needs of lowincome and vulnerable households in Eastern Connecticut, with a focus on building the community's self-sufficiency and resiliency.