Head Teacher

ABOUT THE CITY: The City of Cambridge is a diverse and vibrant community that people of different ethnic, racial, religious, national, and other backgrounds call home. We take pride in our city's diversity and strive to create a workplace that is reflective of the community we serve. The city is also deeply committed to creating an environment in which all our employees are treated equitably and feel included. We seek to hire, develop, and advance individuals who value antiracism, diversity, equity, and inclusion (ADEI), and are committed to embedding ADEI best practices and tenets in all aspects of our work. ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT: The Department of Human Service Programs (DHSP) creates and coordinates services that enhance the quality of life for Cambridge residents. Driven by the needs of residents, DHSP's extensive services and programs touch almost every sector in the city: from newborns to senior citizens, from school-aged children to homeless families, from non-profit organizations to local employers. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Under the supervision of the Afterschool Manager, the Head Teacher will: Design a developmentally sound curriculum to enhance the social, physical, academic, intellectual wellbeing of children in his/her care. Curriculum should emphasize the development of social skills, increase children's self-esteem, recognize the children's interests, and build a sense of community within the group. Plan and implement activities to achieve curriculum goals in an informal, secure, and loving atmosphere appropriate to after-school hours. Design and arrange classroom space to allow for a variety of activities that promote children's independence in using the classroom. Supervise Teacher, Assistant Teacher, and any other support staff, conduct weekly team meetings for planning and supervision and keep logs of such meetings. Conduct regularly scheduled individual supervision meetings with Teachers and Assistant Teachers. Provide ongoing support and direction to staff. Ensure that all teachers are creating links with public school classroom teacher regarding children's academic, social, educational, and physical needs. Perform regular school day classroom observations. Create opportunities for collaborations/partnerships with other Department of Human Service Programs' youth serving divisions in order to better serve Cambridge children and families. Have a working knowledge of EEC licensing regulations and adhere to those regulations as well as DHSP policies and procedures. Maintain regular communications with parents through daily contacts and conversation and periodic parent meetings/conferences. Solicit parent input on their child in order to individualize behavioral and instructional approaches. Host three parent nights per school year. Perform written progress reports of each child twice yearly. Maintain a neat classroom environment, including daily cleaning of the classroom (sweeping, vacuuming, mopping of spills, etc. and periodic major clean up). Build in children's regular participation in the cleanup and maintenance of the classroom into the program structure. Do a general safety check of the facility daily including locking doors and setting alarm (if necessary). Maintain a safe classroom environment, free from hazardous materials or equipment. Inform the Afterschool Manager when repairs are needed. Complete and submit to Afterschool Manager for approval, prior to distribution of monthly program calendars, monthly parent newsletter, and parent notices. Participate in meetings called by Division Head or Afterschool Manager as curriculum meetings, training workshops, or policy review sessions or required DHSP orientation training. Participate in other available workshops and training programs as schedule permits. Participate in program-related meetings: parent meetings, meeting with Afterschool Manager, meetings with program consultants. Participate in and help to lead ongoing program quality improvement efforts, including classroom observations, debriefs of observations, action planning, and participation in a peer learning community. Participate in hiring and training new staff, when appropriate. Conduct onsite orientation for new staff. Plan and coordinate arrangements for field trips. Coordinate the pick-up of children from bus stops, kindergarten classrooms, and/or other locations. Order food, plan and serve a nutritious afternoon snack each day. Prepare menus and documentation for the nutrition program, according to the Bureau of Nutrition guidelines. Perform written evaluations of Teacher, Assistant Teacher, and any additional support staff twice yearly. Respond to children's academic needs by providing homework help and linking school-age curriculum to day school curriculum whenever possible. Maintain a working knowledge of program expenditures, keeping such expenditures in accordance with program budgets. Order curriculum materials and other classroom supplies. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: Be 21 years of age or older. Minimum of bachelor's degree with 6 months half-time experience, associate's degree and 9 months half-time experience, or HS Diploma/GED and one year of related experience. Be first Aid and CPR trained within 6 months of hire. Additional training and experience preferable. PHYSICAL DEMANDS: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, talk, walk, and hear. The employee is occasionally required to run, during play or responding to an emergency. Employees are frequently required to engage with children on the floor and at their eye level. Employees are frequently required to use their hands and arms to handle and manipulate objects as well as reach. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move a child. Vision abilities are required for supervision of children. WORK ENVIRONMENT: The noise level in work environment is moderately to very loud. The work environment includes classroom and outdoor playgrounds and occasional field trips. APPLICATION PROCEDURE: Apply directly to our career center by uploading a resume and cover letter. Applications requested by 10/31/23, but will be accepted after this date. We are an AA/EEO Employer. Link to career center below: https://phe.tbe.taleo.net/phe02/ats/careers/v2/viewRequisition?org=CAMBRIDGEMA&cws=37&rid=536