Lead Teacher

Positions Available Throughout Franklin County!

A Lead Teacher serves as the classroom’s pedagogical leader by advocating and enforcing First Start Partnership’s mission to partner with families, schools, and communities to ensure that each child arrives ready for Kindergarten.

Essential Job Responsibilities: Consistently demonstrate the indicators of high-quality early childhood classrooms outlined in the NAEYC Accreditation Standards for early learning programs, including but not limited to:

• Intentionally planning and implementing developmentally appropriate instruction that involves culturally responsive and integrated service delivery.
• Creating a classroom culture of respect, kindness, encouragement, and acceptance with and among children.
• Keeping children safe and healthy at all times by effectively implementing active supervision and positive classroom management practices.
• Building relationships with children and families through sustained positive communication and interactions.
• Differentiating learning based on each child’s needs, skillsets, and interests to promote individual development and learning.
• Demonstrating knowledge and understanding of objective assessment of each child’s learning to guide individualized school readiness progression and classroom planning.
• Recognizing families as each child’s first and forever teacher and working collaboratively with families to actively engage them in their child’s educational journey.
• Providing ongoing support, mentoring, and supervision that builds upon assessed strengths and develops professional competencies for Assistant Teachers, community agency staff, and volunteers.
• Being a representative of NAEYC’s Code of Ethical Conduct and a model of professionalism.
• Model being a reflective and continuous learner that seeks out knowledge and uses data to grow in the profession and as an individual.
• Other duties as assigned, when necessary to meet the needs of children and families.

Minimum qualifications for this position are:

• Available to work Mon-Fri during school year.
• A Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education (ECE) or equivalent.
• 2-years' experience working in an early childhood setting with some supervisory experience.
• Valid PA Teaching Certification (PK-4, previously N-3) (or actively pursuing the certification at time of hire).
• Strong knowledge of theories and practices of Early Childhood.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to build positive, professional relationships with diverse populations.
• Valid driver’s license/proof of auto insurance/required.

Physical Requirements:

• The ability to lift up to approximately 50 lbs.
• The ability to walk/run, squat/kneel, push/pull, bend/twist, sit on the floor, and see/hear/speak with children to ensure the child’s safety and health.
• The ability to reach up/lift items overhead, to floor level and back up.
• The ability to engage in outdoor play.
• The ability to assist with serving lunch.
• The ability to assist children with bathroom needs, including changing diapers/soiled clothing.

WHY JOIN FIRST START PARTNERSHIPS?

• Uplifting mission-driven work culture
• Growth and professional development opportunities
• Great benefits package: health, dental, and vision insurance, company paid life insurance and short term disability, retirement benefits, Personal Time Off (PTO) and up to 19 paid holidays per year
• Opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of children and families within your own community!