Preschool Lead Teacher - Child Development Center

Are you passionate about supporting the growth and development of young learners in a preschool environment? Are you inspired about making an impact on young children and their families? If so, Hawkeye Community College has a great opportunity for you!

The Hawkeye Child Development Center is looking for a Preschool Lead Teacher to join our team. Staff collaborate as a team to provide high‑quality early childhood care and education to children while maintaining compliance with DHHS regulations, NAEYC accreditation, IQ4K, Shared Visions Preschool, and Head Start Standards. All staff respect diversity in children, families, and colleagues.

As the Preschool Lead Teacher, you will provide developmentally appropriate, high‑quality early childhood care and education, promoting social, emotional, intellectual, and physical growth. You will guide children toward independence, self‑direction, and self‑control as they move toward their next level, and create an enthusiastic, respectful, and positive work environment for children, staff, students, families, and faculty.

Important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Creates and prepares age‑appropriate lessons and activities in compliance with accreditation and individualized assessments.
• Conducts observations, assessments, and documentation for each child, with awareness of each child's developmental status regarding social, emotional wellbeing, physical health, and cognitive development.
• Partners with the Early Childhood Education Program faculty to supervise, mentor, and evaluate Early Childhood student performance, requirements, and expectations.
• Collaborates with the Coordinator in designing a curriculum that supports the center’s philosophy and meets children's needs to maintain a high‑quality early education program.
• Analyzes and resolves issues with parents, staff, students, or children and reports them to the Coordinator.
• Prepares and distributes communication letters to families, including monthly and weekly newsletters and educational handouts.
• Creates and prepares daily reports for each child.
• Models best practices in the classroom and demonstrates professionalism in the Child Development Center.
• Prepares and conducts parent/teacher conferences with specialists when necessary.
• Supervises and trains work‑study staff and assigns daily jobs and responsibilities within the classroom and the center.
• Works in collaboration with the Coordinator and Assistant Coordinator to meet all required criteria and standards of the state, applicable agencies, and applicable grants.
• Prepares food for scheduled meals and curricular activities and maintains record‑keeping on Child and Adult Care Food Program food forms.
• Collaborates with the Coordinator in overseeing the safety and cleanliness of the classroom.
• Participates in campus committees as assigned.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Unless otherwise approved under Hawkeye’s remote work policy, regular on‑campus and/or onsite attendance is considered an essential function of the position.

• Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education or current enrollment in an Early Childhood Education Program, graduating within six months of hire.
• Six months of experience in a related field.
• Knowledge of compliance and/or accreditation standards used in child care.
• Knowledge of Creative Curriculum philosophy and techniques.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience with young children ranging in age from infants to 5 years old.
• Must hold or have the ability to promptly obtain CPR, First Aid, Mandatory Reporting for Child Abuse, and Universal Precaution certificates.
• Ability to pass National Fingerprinting, DHHS, criminal, and Child Abuse Registry record check.
• Ability to lift 30–50 pounds from floor to a waist‑high table 10–15 times daily.
• Knowledge of day‑care licensing and early childhood education development requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to identify and use appropriate assessments and evaluation instructions.
• Demonstrated ability to work flexible hours.
• Demonstrated ability to work with a wide array of students, faculty, staff, and the general public.
• Abi…