Lead Teacher

Human Services Association (HSA) is a private nonprofit agency whose principal mission is to provide families with compassionate and comprehensive care to promote wellness and build strong communities. HSA was founded in Bell Gardens in 1940 and today, HSA serves over 20,000 clients annually on a non-sectarian basis with a range of services that addresses the unique and shared needs of clients of all ages.

Our Early Childhood Education Department provides services to 600 children over three distinct programs (Early Head Start, Head Start and State Preschool) at ten school sites. The California State Preschool Program provides a pre-school experience for children ages 3 to 5 in the cities of South Gate and Huntington Park. The Early Head Start Program is a federally funded program that provides a home based and center based program for pregnant women and children ages 0-3 that reside in zip codes of 90201 and 90280.

The Head Start Program offers a comprehensive child development program for low-income preschoolers ages three to five years old that reside in zip code 90280.

Under the general direction and supervision of the ECE Manager, The Lead Teacher fulfills the role of the person responsible for the site as defined by Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations. Oversees the daily operation of the site where care is given to young children and services are provided to their families. This position is responsible for the daily activities of the center staff, the daily program for children, their families, and interacts with parents and volunteers including center meetings and facilitating interactions among staff.

• Ensures center is in compliance with Title 22, Head Start Performance Standards, Title V, all Licensing regulations and Agency Policies and Procedures
• Reports any site concerns to the ECE Manager immediately
• Ensure center is safe for all children, parents and staff
• Ensures the maintenance of a safe, nurturing, interactive and orderly environment for children.
• Maintains appropriate adult-child ratios, substituting for teachers during breaks and lunch time and as necessary.
• Ensures that all children are signed in and signed out daily.
• Meets with all staff at the site to ensure compliance in all funding source regulations. Documents meetings as appropriate.
• Facilitates site meetings, as needed.
• Ensure all proper documentation requirements are posted appropriately as the site.
• Ensure all lesson plans, DRDP, observations, ASQ, paperwork, etc. is completed by due dates from all teaching staff
• Develops and maintains a plan to ensure the safety of the children when supervising the indoor and outdoor center facilities (Zoning).
• Ensures the health and safety of all children at all times at the site assigned.
• Records and notifies parents and administrative office of illness and accidents of children and staff members immediately.
• Conducts daily health checks of each child.
• Conducts monthly emergency drills and records results.
• Conducts and coordinates small and large group activities.
• Ensures that the daily activities of center staff are in support of best practices.
• Selects and orders appropriate classroom materials as needed.
• Designs and plans the daily program with teaching staff.
• Monitors classroom activities and actively participates in all children activities.
• Individualizes planning and lesson plans per child.
• Implements nutritional and healthy activities for children.
• Implements and plans activities using assigned curriculum that supports school readiness.
• Records and monitors children’s educational files including daily observations and assessments of children.
• Maintains compliant with documentation deadlines (child assessments, observations, parent conferences, etc.).
• Plans and coordinates home visits and parent conferences.
• Makes necessary adaptations in program to meet the individual needs of children including disabilities, cultural backgrounds and home languages.
• Assists children with physical, emotional needs and overall development.
• Attends Individual Education Plan (IEP) or IFSP meetings.
• Attends Multi-Disciplinary Team meetings, as…