Lead Teacher bei WHEDco Careers Page

Lead Teacher

Title: Lead Teacher

Location: Urban Horizons Early Childhood Development Center Early Learn/Head Start

Reports to: Center Director/Education Director

About Us:

The Women’s Housing and Economic Development Corporation (WHEDco) is a community development organization founded on the radically simple idea that all people deserve to live in healthy, vibrant communities. We build award-winning, sustainable, affordable homes – but our work is not over when our buildings are complete. WHEDco believes that to be successful, affordable housing must be anchored in strong communities of which residents can be proud. WHEDco’s mission is to create and bridge access to resources in the South Bronx that support thriving neighborhoods – from high-quality early education and after-school programs, to fresh, healthy food, cultural programming, and economic opportunity. See www.whedco.org for more information.

Job Summary:

WHEDco seeks a Lead Teacher to head a classroom in the Urban Horizons Early Childhood Discovery Center, a year-round Early Learn NYC and Head Start program for three-and four-year-old children. The Center serves 111 pre-school students from over 20 different countries. WHEDco’s full-day program offers a nurturing environment that allows children to develop confidence, think creatively, analyze information and communicate effectively. Each year 100% of the students graduate prepared for kindergarten, ensuring that they begin their school careers ready to succeed. The Lead Teacher has primary responsibility for classroom operation including planning, carrying out activities, maintaining the classroom environment, and supervising children. The Lead Teacher also conducts parent/teacher conferences, supervises teacher assistants and classroom volunteers.

Responsibilities:

• Plans and maintains a safe and clean learning environment, and assures the well-being and safety of children in her/his care.

• Supervises the planning and execution of a program that takes into account the educational, social, developmental and health needs of the group as well as the individual child.

• Develops activities that are appropriate to the age and developmental level of the children.

• Uses community resources and a multicultural approach in planning a program to enrich the educational experience of children.

• Along with the Educational Director, supervises, leads and directs the Assistant Teachers and volunteers assigned to the classroom.

• Engages Assistant Teachers in lesson planning and implementation.

• Develops plans by which information concerning the child and the program can be shared with the parent.

• Conducts two home visits per year in collaboration with the family services team. 

• Uses Teaching Strategies Gold (TSG) to plan daily lessons and to assess children daily.

After 60 days of employment, Center Staff working 15 hours or more per week are represented by Local 95, DC 37, AFSCME, and are covered by a collective bargaining agreement.

WHEDco affords all qualified applicants equal employment opportunities without discrimination because of race, creed (religion), color, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, military status, age, disability, predisposing genetic characteristic, marital status or domestic violence victim status, or any other category protected by law.  WHEDco follows the requirements of the New York Human Rights Law with regard to non-discrimination on the basis of prior criminal conviction and prior arrest.

WHEDco is an E-Verify employer. E-Verify is an Internet-based system that compares information entered by an employer from an employee’s Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to records  available to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration to confirm  employment eligibility.

Qualifications

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education with New York State Teacher Certification preferred; Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education or Child Development with early childhood teaching experience required.
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, verbal and written communications skills.
• Proven ability to read, write, and speak clearly in English required; Fluency in a language common among participant families is a plus.
• Familiarity with and a commitment to Incredible Years teaching strategies and/or Mindfulness in Education philosophy a plus.
• Satisfactory completion of medical examinations as well as other required pre-employment screenings.
• Must be able to lift up to 30 pounds as well as the ability to conduct home visits using public transportation which involves climbing stairs.
• Previous work experience in low-income communities preferred.