Head Start/GSRP Preschool Lead Teacher - Full-Time with Benefits

Job Responsibilities: - Be familiar with and adhere to the Head Start Program Performance Standards, State of Michigan licensing requirements, Education and Children's Services (ECS) policies and procedures and agency personnel policies and procedures. - Maintain an open, friendly, professional relationship with all staff and families, to include respect for culture, diversity and ethnicity. - Assist families as needed to ensure quality, comprehensive services. - Maintain confidentiality at all times. - Attend training, planning and regular meetings as needed/required. - Foster communication among staff and families to promote strong, supportive teams and resolve conflict in an appropriate problem-solving manner. - Maintain accurate documentation and complete written reports as required by position. - Be familiar with and adhere to child/elder abuse and neglect reporting laws. - Encourage volunteerism and maintain accurate documentation of In-Kind contributions. - Must be able to maintain consistent and regular attendance and punctuality based on designated work schedule. Compliant with Agency's Mission and Culture Statements. General Essential Functions: - Demonstrate general essential knowledge of early childhood growth and development, and DAP expectations of children. Follow classroom guidelines and rules regarding the health and safety of children. - Follow the ECS service plans for job specific functions Promote a positive social-emotional classroom environment, utilizing the ECS Child Guidance Policy and Procedure. Model appropriate adult child interactions at all times. - Coordinate and assist in planning, preparing, and caring for the classroom indoor and outdoor environment. - Maintain classroom inventory, and request replacement/repairs as needed. - Encourage experimentation, exploration, problem solving, cooperation, socialization, and choice making in the classroom and outdoors. - Interact with all children with dignity and respect, ask open-ended questions, listen carefully to their answers, be aware of non-verbal cues and understand each child's individual communication style. - Share information and assist other classroom staff in maintaining accurate written records; including anecdotal observations and records on each child. - Responsible for daily evaluation of children's health status, hygiene, social-emotional and physical well-being. - Follow a consistent schedule, which includes small and large group experiences, choice time, music and movement, large and small motor activities, skill development, and effective transition between activities. Position Specific Essential Functions: Create and utilize lesson plans, based on Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP), Creative Curriculum and HSPPS, that reflect parental/cultural influences, and promote the children's social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development. In advance of classroom experiences, prepare materials to support lesson plans and the curriculum. Establish daily and weekly goals, which promote individual and group educational plans and include parental involvement. Work in collaboration with special needs staff to meet children's needs as specified on the Individual Education Plan. Share information regarding child progress with team members, gather information on home issues and make referrals to Family Workers for emergency family support. Assist other classroom staff in providing a variety of ways to ensure frequent and consistent contact with families, such as newsletters, telephone contacts and face to face conversations.