Lead Teacher

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Lead Teacher 

Family Service Association (FSA)

This position will be based in Riverside, CA. Full-time.

Overview

Family Service Association (FSA) is a large non-profit social service organization.  We have over 25 locations through Riverside and San Bernardino counties. For more than 65 years, FSA has been positively transforming lives.  We are one of the most passionate, mission-driven places you will find. Our teams are passionate about providing child development services, senior nutrition services, counseling and others.  As a living, growing and evolving organization, our team of over 300 employees and hundreds of volunteers are people-focused and people-powered. 
This is more than a job -- it is a calling -- a purpose.  We strive to be a "best place to work."  Our employees are part of a thriving organizational culture that rewards our employees with competitive compensation, company-paid health insurance, dental and vision plans, 403(b) retirement savings plan, paid vacation and other benefits.  

We deeply value our employees. Our full-time, eligible employees receive:

• Competitive wages and salaries; 
• Competitive Health, Dental and Vision Plans;
  
• Employer-sponsored retirement savings plan;
  
• Paid time-off and paid sick leave;
  
• Opportunities to receive gift cards; and
• Company-sponsored social events.

FSA is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe that diversity and inclusion among our colleagues is critical to our success as a force of healing and hope for individuals, families and communities and we seek to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool. EEO

Please note that, in keeping with federal or County mandates and/or FSA's own policies, FSA has a mandatory vaccination policy, requiring all employees to show proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 prior to the start of employment.  

Key Responsibilities of Position

• The Lead Teacher assumes responsibility for the general supervision, development, education, and assessment of children. Supervises one classroom and up to five staff and assumes all duties of the Associate Teachers and Classroom Assistants when necessary. 
• Complete and maintain the following reports and documents including but not limited to: absence logs, health checks, ratios, meal counts, injury reports, unusual mark reports, DRDP, ERS, and learning plans.
• Work with the director on the scheduling of staff. Schedules and regulates staff working hours according to teacher/child ratio and site needs.
• Review and evaluate the performance of the Associate Teacher(s) and Classroom Assistant(s) as assigned on a monthly and yearly basis.
• Responsible for meeting all licensing regulations, agency policies, and procedures.
• Responsible for conducting a DRDP assessment on each child within 60 days of their start date and every 6 months thereafter.
• Responsible for conducting parent-teacher conferences after each assessment, maintain a current group report from DRDP On-line, create a summary of findings twice per year, and incorporate DRDP findings into curriculum planning to address the identified individual and group needs.
• Create lesson plans that specify themes, objectives, activities and learning centers where experiences in art, large and small motor physical development, dramatic play, science, language
  (both receptive and expressive) using Guided Language Acquisition Design (GLAD), nutrition/health, social-emotional, multi-cultural competency, music and cognitive activities are provided based on the needs and interests of each child as determined through the on-going assessment and developmental profiles.
• Lead the classroom team to work with children and families to develop appropriate social skills. When children are unable to participate without harming themselves or others, meet with the Director and Family to develop a plan for the child’s success in accordance with FSA Policy for The Socialization of Prosocial Child Behavior: Preventing & Limiting Expulsion & Suspension.
• Responsible for oversight and compliance with all health and safety requirements of the classroom environment according to Title 22, assigning tasks to Associate Teachers and Classroom Assistants throughout the day as needed to maintain proper standards. Tasks to include washing and disinfecting tables before and after food service, shelves, cubbies, toys and materials, floors, sinks and any areas to ensure a clean, safe and organized environment.
• Plan the educational curriculum utilizing DAP, Desired Results, the Preschool Learning Foundations, the Preschool Curriculum Framework, and current research and techniques to support the early care and education program for children between 2 – 5 years old.
• Create and maintain portfolio assessments for each child enrolled in the class. The portfolio will include DRDP On-line Child Page (child’s information), any IEPs, photographs, and samples of children’s work, parent conferences, along with the anecdotal records from teacher and parent observations and DRDP assessments completed and maintained on the DRDP On-line system.
• Greet each new family with introductions, details on how your classroom operates and ways for parents to participate in their child’s education experience with FSA.
  
• Maintain and encourages professional, positive, constructive communication with staff and families.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's Degree with 3 units of adult supervision.
• At least 3-semester units in Infant Care/Activities.
• At least 2 years of experience working with children in a center-based learning environment. .
• Possess a valid California Child Development Permit at a minimum level of Teacher.
• Knowledge of monitoring program activities for compliance with required guidelines and policies of state and federal government (Title 5 of the California Department of Education and Title 22 California Health and Safety Code).
• Knowledge in developing lesson plans utilizing Developmentally Appropriate Practices, Early Learning Standards, Foundations, Desired Results, GLAD, and Creative Curriculum.
  
• Knowledge of best practices in Early Childhood Education (Desired Results, Developmentally Appropriate Practices.
  
• Knowledge of Clifford and Harms Environmental Rating Scales.
• Must be willing to work flexible hours in order to meet the needs of the program.
  
• Pass a health screening test, Immunized against: Influenza, Pertussis and Measles, TB test and drug screening

Qualities and Traits

• Ability to read and write English and to communicate at the level required for successful job performance.
• Ability to provide leadership and accept responsibilities. 
• Ability to maintain confidentiality in all aspects of the job.
• Ability to work with disabled or challenging children and diverse populations.
• Ability to carry out the physical duties associated with working with young children.
• Responsible individual, sensitive to the needs of children.

Preferred

• At least 1 year of supervisor experience 
  
• BA in ECE or related field with at least one infant/toddler class
• Experience in an infant classroom.

Additional Requirements:

• Background Clearance with a Criminal Record and Child Abuse Index Clearance.
• Exemption-free status with Community Care Licensing for the duration of employment with FSA.
• Current CA Driver’s License
• DRDP Rater Certification must be obtained within one month of hire and remain valid during employment.
• Hold and maintain a current and valid pediatric First Aid/CPR (EMSA) card.
• Professional Self Development totaling a minimum of 21 hours annually - Attend workshops, conferences, college classes, or in-service staff development opportunities as recommended and/or provided that enhances skills and knowledge in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, and as required to maintain the appropriate and required Child Development Permit, Be QRIS compliant, and/or lead to higher degrees.

If you believe you are the right candidate for this role and you can see yourself contributing to FSA's important mission, please apply here:  https://www.fsaca.org/jobs

Give your passion a purpose.  Be part of our dedicated and amazing team.  We look forward to hearing from you.