Job Details

Lead Teacher Position

Westbury Methodist Day School is seeking a dedicated, caring, team-oriented individual to serve as Lead Teacher in a three-year-old classroom. In this role, the teacher makes a difference in the lives of young children and families by providing a stimulating, safe, and developmentally appropriate educational environment that fosters physical, cognitive, emotional, social, and spiritual development.

Ideal candidate is able to communicate effectively, follow state licensing and school guidelines, meet accreditation standards, be able to create and follow a developmentally appropriate curriculum, and most importantly bring passion to working with young children and understand the importance of building relationships with their families. All teachers are expected to work with love, patience, confidence, compassion, and creativity to provide meaningful experiences throughout the day.

Responsibilities

• Must demonstrate effective communication and interpersonal skills to actively listen to the needs of both parents and children, as well as to provide clear written and verbal reports of children's development daily.
• Work well with children. Practice patience and understanding when taking care of children and assessing their needs.
• Uphold and fulfill all requirements established by the TDFPS Minimum Standards for Child-Care Centers.
• Uphold and fulfill all requirements established by NAC Accreditation Standards.
• Supervise and provide a safe environment for all children at all times.
• Employ developmentally appropriate classroom management tools and methods.
• Plan and execute an educational program in accordance with the policies and philosophies of the school, as outlined in the handbook and program description.
• Daily planning and executing of all classroom and outdoor activities.
• Keep written daily plans, weekly topic plans, daily schedules, and on-campus field trip plans.
• Purchase classroom supplies within the budgetary guidelines.
• Build, cultivate, and maintain positive relationships with children, parents, and colleagues.
• Provide materials and resources for children to use and explore in a center-based classroom that values learning through play and discovery.
• Demonstrate qualities of excellence and creativity in planning, both to provide engaging developmentally appropriate lessons for children and to develop solutions that help age-level teams work well together.
• Adapt teaching methods and materials to meet the interests and learning styles of children in your care.
• Arrive thirty minutes before class begins to prepare the learning environment.
• Stay with the children at dismissal time until all have been released to parents, Extended Care staff, or to a member of the office staff.
• Protect the welfare, health, and safety of the children in the group while on school and church property and while participating in on-campus field trips.
• Manage mealtime activities with the children.
• Assist with toileting, as needed.
• Perform cleaning and sanitizing tasks for classroom and materials routinely and throughout each day.
• Host a Meet & Greet prior to each child's entrance into school.
• Keep up-to-date records and documentation of the development and progress of each child.
• Keep daily attendance reports.
• Plan and execute at least two formal parent conferences during the school year.
• Write class monthly newsletter and submit the article in completely edited form by the due date and time.
• Maintain displays on the classroom bulletin boards, as well as post children's work at their eye level on a regular basis.
• Participate in staff meetings and in-service trainings.
• Train and provide constructive utilization of the assistant teacher.
• Allow the assistant teacher to assist in the planning and execution of daily classroom curriculum.
• Recognize children's birthdays.
• Include daily prayers and spiritual development in the classroom.
• Provide sufficient plans and training for the Assistant Teacher to assume Lead duties when you are absent.
• Notify the Assistant Director as promptly as possible if a substitute is needed.
• Maintain professional, positive relationships with the following: children in the school, families of enrollees, prospective students and families, all staff members of school and church, professional staff from other agencies and the community.
• Demonstrate friendliness and desire to work as a team in a rewarding, fast-paced environment.
• Submit the following to the Director for a personnel file: employment application, resume, TB Tine Test results, and proof of trainings attended. (Complete list of required documents is found in the handbook.)
• Abide by the charter, bylaws, and personnel policy of the school as well as the Minimum Standards outlined by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.
• Attend all required school events.
• Report to the Day School Director, who will evaluate work performance and ensure appropriate lesson planning and curriculum.
• Care of school and church property, reporting to the school's Director any necessary repairs, additions, or needed equipment.
• Document learning experience through displays and pictures
• Maintains positive informal and formal communication with families on a daily basis
• Maintains a safe, comforting and stimulating environment for toddlers
• Facilitates and maintains childcare licensing standards
• Friendly and a desire to work as a team in a rewarding, fast-paced environment

Qualifications

• High-school diploma or high-school equivalent
• Reliable transportation to and from work
• Consistent attendance
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment
• Flexibility with tasks and assignments
• Friendly and desire to work as a team in a rewarding, fast-paced environment
• Ability to meet the physical requirements of the job, including ability to stand for long periods of time, hand dexterity, ability to lift up to 50 pounds, ability to bend, and ability to move and think quickly in response to an emergency
• Willing to commit a minimum of one full school year
• Clear background check and fingerprint check
• Negative TB test
• Professional references
• CPR and First Aid certified (can be completed upon hire)
• Minimum 24-hours professional development training annually (a portion is included in regular staff meetings throughout the year)
• Demonstrate competency, good judgment, and self-control in the presence of children and when performing assigned responsibilities
• Relate to children with courtesy, respect, acceptance, and patience
• Recognize and respect the uniqueness and potential of all children, their families, and their cultures
• Ensure that no child is abused, neglected, or exploited while in the care of the center
• Report suspected abuse, neglect, and exploitation to TDFPS as specified in the Texas Family Code