Reporting to the Director of ECE or Director of ECE, the Infant/Toddler Lead Teacher will provide the highest caliber of instruction to infants and toddlers. The Lead Teacher will design, drive, and support enriching and engaging learning environments for their students in a highly collaborative, developmentally appropriate, outcomes-driven environment.

Duties & Responsibilities:
Leadership of Classroom Instruction

·       Lead on the implementation of evidence-based, responsive, intentional, and developmentally appropriate curriculum, instruction, and teacher-child interactions

·       Implement high-quality developmentally-appropriate curriculum and learning activities aligned to DC Early Learning Standards including but not limited to the Creative Curriculum

·       Implement education plans and other required documentation for children and the classroom, ensuring that all reports are accurate and complete

·       Create and maintain a classroom space that offers children an attractive, engaging environment for learning based on best practices

·       Manage and direct the activities of teacher’s assistants and other adults working with students in the classroom

Assessment, Data, and Individual Support:

·       Support student mastery of developmental and learning standards by analyzing student data and working with colleagues to respond to the data with targeted teaching

·       Implementation of developmental screenings on all children including but not limited to Ages and Stages

·       Refer students suspected of having a learning disability to the Director or Assistant Director

·       Implement IFSPs (Individual Family Service Plan) or IEPs (Individualized Education Plan) as needed and participate in the process of creating these documents

·       Provide ongoing observation and authentic assessment of individual children and maintain a comprehensive portfolio assessment for each child

Professional Learning:

·       Attend and at times, plan and implement, targeted professional development sessions and trainings for teachers with a focus on infants and toddlers

·       Respond to regular, direct instructional coaching feedback as well as feedback from rigorous, widely-accepted program evaluation tools

·       Meet with the Academic Coach/Specialist on a weekly basis to discuss the classroom, instruction, and the needs of individual students

Wrap-around Supports:

·       Develop effective communication and partnership with families

·       Conduct a minimum of three parent conferences a year to discuss child development with parents and/or guardians

·       Collaborate with the Infant and Toddler Parent Specialist to promote individual students’ goals related to early communication and development, fine and gross motor skills, and the development of social and self-care skills

·       Guide and support students’ acquisition of social skills including eating meals with children and helping them develop self-help skills

·       Support and provide Continuum of Care to help children develop secure relationships

·       Be responsible for children’s safety always and in all settings

·       Complete all required reports involved in compliance and instruction

·       Perform other duties as assigned

Experience:

·       2-3 years of early childhood program experience preferred

·       Infant and toddler focus preferred

·       Knowledge OSSE compliance and DC Early Learning Standards preferred

·       Knowledge of NAEYC standards preferred

·       Teaching experience in multicultural environments serving vulnerable or underserved populations preferred

·       Proficiency in multiple software applications including most Microsoft Office products

·       Experience using assessment data to inform teacher experience

·       Excellent interpersonal communications skills (oral and written)

·       Able to partner with families in support of a child’s growth and development