Lead Teacher

Overview

The Organization: Founded in 1846 to care for the children of sailors in the Port of New York, Seamen's Society for Children and Families ("Seamen’s Society”) is a nonprofit organization offering foster care and adoption services, mental and behavioral health care services, prevention/family stabilization services, domestic violence intervention services, a health home care management program, education financial support, a childcare center, and a youth tutoring program.

The agency serves over 1,250 children and over 500 families in New York City with trauma-informed programs that embrace community diversity.

Role: Lead Teacher

Department: Child Care Center

Reports to: Education Director

Location: Staten Island, NY (on-site)

Compensation: $31.11 per hour

Employment Type: Full Time

The Lead Teacher is responsible for general administrative duties as assigned, supervision of subordinate staff, planning, preparing, and implementing daily activities, monitoring children’s progress, and maintenance of related records for the assigned classroom. The Lead Teacher promotes the center’s philosophy and educational objectives.

• Supervising a given group of children
  • Supervise the planning and execution of a program to provide day care for children which takes into account the educational, social, developmental and health needs of the group, as well as that of the individual child.
  • Take responsibility for keeping equipment and material accessible and in good condition to encourage maximum constructive use by the children.
  • Take responsibility for removing or reporting any damaged or hazardous equipment to the director or other designated person so that necessary action may be taken.
  • Plan and supervise an appropriate arrangement of classroom furniture to promote optimal program functioning.
  • Share in the overall planning for the best use of shared space in relation to the total center program.
  • Plan the use of community resources to enrich the educational content of the children's program.
  • Develop a program of sound educational goals appropriate to the age and developmental level of children that will enable them to make the most of future educational opportunities.
• Promoting the professional growth of classroom associates
  • Share with classroom associates their mutual knowledge and understanding of the sponsoring agency and the community that their center serves.
  • Take responsibility for the professional growth and development of the classroom associates through regularly scheduled individual and classroom group conferences based on daily observation of the associates' performance and their applications of new skills.
  • Assist in the annual evaluation of the job performance of the classroom associates.
  • Ensure equitable sharing among all classroom personnel relating to all areas of the program.
• Promoting sound parent relationships
  • Develop a plan for sharing information concerning the children and program with parents, teachers, and associates.
  • Attend and participate in group parent meetings.
  • Respect the confidential nature of all information about parents and children.
• Maintaining objective staff relationships
  • Maintain good working relationships and objective attitudes with other staff members.
• Conducting regular group conferences
  • Plan and conduct regular group conferences with classroom associates, encouraging attendance and participation in workshops and conferences that foster professional growth.
• Cooperating in self-evaluation
  • Discuss personal professional performance in regularly scheduled supervisory conferences with the director and use feedback for guidance.
• Record writing
  • Write, keep, use, and share with appropriate staff members as required for effective center administration, program development, work with individual children, students, and volunteers.
• Accepting administrative responsibilities
  • Accept responsibility for fulfilling the overall administrative function in the director's absence.
• Other related duties, as assigned, consistent with the above.

Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities:

• Supports the professional growth of colleagues by sharing materials and information and providing helpful feedback and encouragement
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Strong teaching abilities
• Adaptable

• At least a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and valid certification by the State Education Department
• Valid driver’s license preferred
• Bilingual preferred