Lead Teacher

Essential Duties & Responsibilities: Include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Develop and teach a well-rounded curriculum by YMCA guidelines and State Licensing requirements with the assistance of other staff members.
• Supervise and evaluate staff regularly, reviewing staff effectiveness and individual performance and recommending any annual wage increase to the Child Care Director.
• Work directly with the Child Care Director in implementing the program and its policies. Make appropriate referrals of suspected instances of child abuse or need for special education.
• Gear the program to the needs of individual children with concerns for their interests, handicaps, special talent, diversity, individual style, and pace of learning.
• Keep abreast of the trends and needs in child care and plan for ways to meet those needs. Treat children with dignity and respect. Help children to become aware of their roles as integral members of a group.
• Provide supervision and demonstrate the ability to set and maintain limits for children using positive reinforcement.
• Conduct parent/teacher conferences on children’s school adjustment and classroom behavior.
• Develop a plan for parental involvement in the program. Responsible for maintenance of equipment, supplies, and snack inventory.
• The candidate will report to the Child Care Director. Be responsible for the ordered arrangement, appearance, décor, and classroom learning environment.
• Responsible for maintaining the necessary records involving attendance and sign-in and sign-out sheets. When releasing the child(ren), ensure that the proper release procedures are followed and appropriate identification is shown.
• Maintain good public relations with parents. Understand that you represent the YMCA and maintain a cheerful disposition, demeanor, and attire.
• Attempt to answer parent concerns or make appropriate referrals to your supervisor. Work harmoniously with the staff, volunteers, and YMCA members. To ensure the health and safety of all the children, i.e., caution regarding unsafe practices and conditions and perform rescue/first aid when necessary.
• Report accidents and injuries and complete incident reports. Responsible for attending staff meetings/events.
• Demonstrate and teach the character development values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility. Participate in recommended training programs, conferences, courses, and other aspects of professional growth. 
• Supervisory Responsibilities Directly supervise 1-4 employees in the Child Care Department. Carries out supervisory responsibilities following the YMCA Guidelines and State Licensing requirements.  

Qualifications To perform this job successfully.

• Individuals must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements below represent the required knowledge, skill, and/or ability.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. Requires considerable attention and alertness with frequent periods of concentration. Usually, the work is complex.
• Frequent to constant external contacts on matters requiring above-average tact. Human relations skills are very important.  

Education and/or Experience

R.I. Certificate in Early Childhood Education; or Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education or Child Development from an accredited or approved institution or higher education, and have a minimum of three months supervised teaching experience. Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited or approved institution of higher education and have met the course work and experience requirements defined in the Rhode Island Early Childhood certification standards.  

Reasoning Ability:

• Ability to anticipate, identify and address members' needs to ensure safety and enjoyment.
• To accurately complete all required paperwork.  To professionally handle and or get help to resolve conflict. Ability to follow instructions as given and/or directed by supervisor. Ability to solve practical problems and deal with concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
• Ability to interpret various instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Certifications / Training:

• Within the first two months of employment: CPR/ First Aid Certification Listen First Child Abuse Prevention Obtain a chauffeur’s license or MA 7D certificate Meet RI DCYF or MA OCCS requirements Participating in ongoing education in early childhood development.
• Must complete 20 hours of training per year, i.e., attendance at Early Childhood Conference, Child Care Symposium, and Y’s Way to Child Care program offerings.
• Hazard Communications Training It is the Employees responsibility to maintain all certifications and renew them promptly by Certifying Organization.

Physical Demands:

• The physical demands described here represent those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands; balance, stoop, kneel or crouch; and talk or hear.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 100 pounds.  

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here represent those an employee encounter while performing this job's essential functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. The position has exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens, and the incumbent will be educated and prepared to do so.   The noise level in the work environment is usually loud. The employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions.