ABOUT CHILDHAVEN

Mission: We partner with parents and community to strengthen families, prevent childhood trauma and its damaging effects, and prepare children for a lifetime of well-being.

Vision: All children are safe and healthy; flourishing physically, socially, emotionally, and educationally; well-nurtured by family and community.

Values and Commitment: Childhaven serves families from diverse communities and are committed to racial equity in our programs and services. We also value diversity and inclusion in our workforces and we are committed to recruiting candidates.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Lead Teacher provides infants and toddlers with a positive learning environment and varied experiences that will help them develop in all domains in a manner appropriate to their age and stage of development. The Lead teacher works in collaboration with the assistant teacher and site team to enhance the parent’s role as the principal influence on the child’s education and development.

Typical duties include:

Team Player: Contributes to the development of communication mutual respect, mutual support, competence, and creativity among all members of the Head Start & ECEAP staff
Leadership: Provides leadership, mentorship and support to assistant teacher(s)
Recruitment: In collaboration with other site staff, supports and participates in ongoing recruitment efforts to ensure full enrollment
Curriculum Planning: Plans and develops a daily schedule of classroom routines and activities Prepares and implements lesson plans in accordance with the ECEAP program performance standards and program service plans. Provides an integrated, child centered, comprehensive curriculum and multicultural environment, which meets the needs of every child, including those with disabilities
Guidance: Interacts positively with all children to support their individual learning and meets their emotional needs
Classroom Preparation: Collaborates with Assistant Teacher to prepare and organize the classroom and classroom materials in accordance with the planned classroom program
Communication/Family Support: Communicates regularly and respectfully with families and involves them in the educational program. Encourages and supports families in working toward goals they have set for themselves. Collaborates with site team in planning and facilitating family events/meetings. When working with diverse populations, accesses interpreters.
Educational Planning Meetings: Conducts four hours of educational planning meetings annually with each child’s family.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

Record Keeping: Completes written observations of individual children throughout the year. Develops a learning plan for each child within 90 days of school entry. Maintains complete confidential records on each child.
Screenings: Administers standardized screening tools on every child within 90 days of school entry. Re-screens and refers as necessary
Family-Style Meal Service: Assists with planning, preparation and serving of snacks and meals; participates in and facilitates mealtime service, and joins children at the table for support and conversation
Health Supervision: Teaches and oversees health habits in the classroom, i.e. handwashing, toothbrushing, etc. Administers first aid as needed. Checks indoor and outdoor environment for safety hazards. Works in collaboration with Mental Health Professional and Nurse Consultant as needed
Supervision: Supervises, trains and supports preschool teaching assistants. Assists with recruitment and training of family/community volunteers to participate in the classroom
Interdisciplinary Staffings: Participates in interdisciplinary planning for children and families to include staffings, multidisciplinary teams, individual education plans and other cross-component coordination efforts
Professional Development: Participates in inservice staff trainings, staff meetings, and other education opportunities to gain knowledge and skills throughout the year
In collaboration with Assistant Teacher, families and site team ensures smooth transitions for children and families to before- and after-school.
Responsible to keep informed of ongoing program changes and updates
Complies with Childhaven policies and procedures
Performs other duties as assigned

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge of developmentally appropriate practices for infants and toddlers
Ability to communicate effectively and relate positively to students, parents, staff and volunteers in a diverse environment
Ability to adjust to varied situations, demands and new instructional concepts
Ability to perform basic clerical tasks such as record keeping, filing, typing, copying, etc.
Ability to attend occasional evening meetings and to occasionally visit parents in their homes
Ability to occasionally lift up to 50lbs.

Minimum Qualifications:

An associate or higher degree with the equivalent of 30 college quarter credits in early childhood education. These 30 credits may be included in the degree or in addition to the degree. May have a CDA credential or a state-awarded certificate that meets or exceeds the requirements for a CDA credential with a focus on infant and toddler development
Minimum 3 years experience working with infant, toddler or preschool children in a group setting.
Experience working with low-income families, diverse cultures and ethnic backgrounds
Fingerprinting and cleared background check through DCYF.
Completion of a one-step Mantoux tuberculosis (TB) skin test, unless there is written proof of one of the following:
- A negative Mantoux TB test in the 12 months prior to hiring.
- Medication therapy to treat TB.
- A recent negative chest X-ray and a statement from a health care provider that the individual does not pose a risk to others.

Preferred Qualifications:

Prior ECEAP/Head Start experience or former ECEAP/Head Start parent
Multi-lingual
Experience working with children who have experienced trauma and/or adverse childhood experiences
Fingerprinting and background check.
Completion of a one-step Mantoux tuberculosis (TB) skin test, unless there is written proof of one of the following:
- A negative Mantoux TB test in the 12 months prior to hiring.
- Medication therapy to treat TB.
- A recent negative chest X-ray and a statement from a health care provider that the individual does not pose a risk to others.

*C-5 College Credit

When college credit is required for ECEAP staff, the following applies:
College credit must be earned from an accredited institution of higher education.
One college semester credit equals 1.5 college quarter credits.
Staff may replace up to 1/3 of required college credits with workshop hours related to the job description, at the rate of ten classroom hours to one college credit. This does not apply to requirements for a college degree. Acceptable workshop hours are Washington State Training and Registry System (STARS) approved training, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) approved clock hours, in service training, conferences, or training provided by agencies specializing in professional development.
Credit counted for staff qualifications, such as specific 12 or 30 credit requirements for teachers and family support specialists must be directly related to the job description.
Early childhood education (ECE) credit is coursework with content closely related to the Washington State STARS Core Competencies and predominantly addresses children ages birth to eight.
Staff requirements for an associate degree allow any “two-year” community or technical college degree of 90 quarter credits or more, including degrees designated as AA, AAS, AAS-T, ATA, or AD.
Equivalent degrees and credentials from other states and countries are accepted.

We strive to make Childhaven a great place to work by living our values: Teamwork, Equity,

Excellence, Dedication, and Respect. Here’s a little bit about what we offer our staff:

We believe in fully transparent hiring process. The salary range for this position is $37,440 – $50,419.20 dependent upon relevant
We offer a comprehensive benefit package including medical, dental and vision insurance. Expanded benefits include a flexible spending account, healthcare reimbursement account, a 403(b) savings program with employer A full listing of benefits is available.
Opportunities to attend a wide variety of trainings on clinical and education topics, advocacy and more.
We’re dedicated to serving the full range of cultural diversity in our community, and to providing families with care that’s relevant to them and their As a member of Childhaven staff, you’ll be encouraged to contribute to community engagement strategies and to serve on our Racial Equity Team, which makes ongoing recommendations to ensure that our programs and protocols are doing their part to dismantle systemic racism.

Equal Opportunity Employer, including disabled and veterans.

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