Team Leader (Early Head Start)

The Team Leader works in collaboration with the Family Service Teacher and the classroom team to ensure the infant/toddler classroom provides an educational environment that is developmentally and linguistically appropriate and accommodates children's individual rates of development as well as individual interests, temperaments, cultural backgrounds and learning styles. Team Leader promotes parent involvement through collaboration partnerships, which encourage the educational, social and emotional development of all Head Start families. All work is done in accordance with the Head Start performance standards, USDA requirements, state licensing requirements and agency policies and procedures.

Responsibilities:

Communicate and model EPIC's mission, values, policies, and coaching philosophy in daily interactions with staff, children, and families. Foster a positive, professional, and collaborative work environment while maintaining confidentiality and effective communication. Teach in the assigned classroom daily and provide mentoring and support to teaching staff in developmentally appropriate practices. Plan and implement classroom programs, lesson plans, and family engagement activities in compliance with program standards and component plans. Create classroom schedules, orient staff and volunteers, and ensure classrooms are appropriately staffed and equipped. Conduct parent conferences and home visits in collaboration with Family Services staff. Maintain accurate documentation, including lesson plans, child progress reports, referrals, home visit logs, and individualized plans for children and families. Collaborate with Mental Health and Special Services Consultants to support children with special needs and follow through on recommendations. Promote and implement policies related to child safety, behavior management, active supervision, child abuse prevention, and neglect reporting. Maintain a safe, healthy, and sanitary classroom environment while supervising children indoors and outdoors at all times. Respond appropriately to emergencies by providing first aid, CPR, and accessing emergency services when necessary. Participate in staff meetings, trainings, conferences, parent meetings, and other program activities. Analyze child progress data and adjust lesson plans and instructional strategies to support developmental outcomes. Generate and document In-Kind contributions in accordance with program requirements. Demonstrate professionalism, accountability, consistency with program standards, and timely reporting of concerns through appropriate channels.

Working Conditions/Physical/ Mental Abilities and Processes:

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions. Work requires daily standing, sitting, walking, stooping, kneeling, lifting, twisting, turning, pushing, pulling, speaking, hearing, seeing and the ability to articulate clearly; use of hands to finger, bending and reaching. Ability to feel or operate objects and equipment; reach with hands and arms. Ability to work with personal computer for long periods of time. Some travel to and from main office and training sites

Benefits:

Medical/Dental/ Vision Plans Sick Leave (5 hours per payroll) Paid Holidays (9) Education Scholarship Available Employee Assistance Program Basic Life Insurance 403 B (Employer match after 1 year or 1,000 hours) As an employee of an Early Learning Non-Profit organization, you may be eligible for student loan forgiveness and childcare subsidy benefits. Additional information will be provided upon hire.

Conditions of Employment:

Prior to employment, complete a pre-employment drug screen, Tb skin test by an EPIC approved healthcare provider at no cost to the employee. Pre-employment basic physical by an EPIC healthcare provider (obtain within (30) days of employment and no cost to the employee). Must pass an initial and periodic background check through the Washington State Department of Children, Youth & Families (DCYF) in Merit. Provide proof of MMR vaccination and/ or resistance to Measles, Mumps & Rubella. Current Food Handlers card Current First Aid/CPR card Prior to first day complete Health & Safety training certificates through DCYF student training portal. Complete Childcare Basics 30 hours STARS training within 3 months of hire Meet the minimum education requirements within the timeframe as stated in the performance standards. Complete Child Abuse and Neglect training and all other mandated training. CEO Approval. 1. AA, BA, or advanced degree in Early Childhood Education or Development, or in a related field (Preschool Team Leader). Infant/Toddler Child Development Associate and/or Infant/Toddler State Certificate (Infant/Toddler Team Leader). 2. Childcare Basics 30 hours STARS training. 3. Demonstrated work experience of at least two (2) years lead teaching experience in a preschool, infant or toddler age group. 4. Documental work experience in the training and mentoring of classroom staff. 5. Demonstrated effective oral and written communication skills, ability to work very closely with other team members, ability to grasp a team-centered approach to delivery of services for children and families.

Preferred Qualifications:

BA in Early Childhood Education (Preschool Team Leader)/ AA in Early Childhood Education (Infant/Toddler Team Leader)