Early Learning Center - Lead Preschool Teacher 2026-2027

Marist School Early Learning Center (Marist ELC) offers a childcare facility to teachers and staff to enable them to be more effective as a teacher knowing that their own children are being cared for in a safe, nurturing, and healthy environment. This program is designed to promote the child’s well-being spiritually, mentally, and physically. Our program is designed to meet the individual needs of each child in our care. We believe that the time a child will spend at the ELC is an important part of his or her growth and development. We strive to have the best staff available so that the ELC operates under the same values and standards that are an integral part of the greater school community.

SUMMARY

The Lead Teacher in the Preschool classroom in the Early Learning Center is hired by, and reports to, the Director of ELC. This is an exempt, professional position.

SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITY

A Lead Teacher is responsible for creating an educational atmosphere where students have the opportunity to fulfill their potential for intellectual, emotional, physical, spiritual and psychological growth, establishing effective rapport with students, motivating students to develop skills and knowledge needed to provide a good foundation for future learning and relationship building.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• The Teacher has the primary responsibility for all classroom activities, as well as the management, organization and discipline of the classroom.
• Cooperate with licensing staff and other appropriate agencies in maintaining compliance with requirements and in providing a high quality of care.
• Maintain all records as required by the ELC and BFTS.
• Obtain the required training hours annually to meet BFTS requirements.
• Greet children and parents warmly and with enthusiasm each morning, and ensure that each child is gradually assisted to become a part of the group upon arrival.
• Implement instructional activities that engage children in meaningful and developmentally appropriate learning experiences.
• Translate the lesson plan into learning experiences to effectively and actively engage students.
• Utilize planning time effectively to prepare necessary materials for use during lessons.
• Share in the responsibility of maintaining a clean and safe environment, including upkeep of equipment and supplies, and general cleanliness of the room and playground.
• Submit a written lesson plan weekly to the Director for approval.
• Supervise the children at all times to ensure safety.
• Provide positive guidelines and support of children through relationship building, redirecting, positive language, and positive reinforcement; and interact with children in a way that conveys respect and nurturing. Training in the Conscious Discipline approach is desirable.
• Use a variety of teaching techniques, including modeling, observing, and questioning. Knowledge in curricula such as Handwriting without Tears, Heggerty, Creative Curriculum, Project Approach, and Reggio Emilia Approach is desirable.
• Conduct ongoing informal assessments of the children using documentation and child portfolios.
• Work collaboratively with the teaching team and other ELC teachers on behalf of the students and seek feedback or advice of colleagues as an integral part of effective planning.
• Attend promptly to children's personal hygiene needs.
• Prepare meals as directed, help with all clean-up, assist children with eating if necessary, and assist at nap time.
• Develop rapport with children, parents, and co-workers.
• Work with parents to promote understanding of their child’s growth and development.
• Maintain good communication with parents on daily basis through the use of Tadpoles, emails, and conducting parent conferences twice a year.
• Attend staff meetings, parent orientations, and other meetings as scheduled by the ELC Director.
• Maintain appropriate communication with the Director as to parental, child, or teacher concerns.
• Participate in the performance evaluation process.
• Help provide guidance, not supervision, to part-time staff and substitutes.
• Demonstrate behavior that is professional, ethical, and responsible.
• Adhere to all school policies and procedures.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Director.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Responsible for the constant supervision of the children.

RISK MANAGEMENT STANDARDS

Specific abuse risk management standards are as follows:

• Adhere to boundaries with students
• Attend required abuse risk management training
• Report suspicious and inappropriate behaviors
• Follow mandated abuse reporting requirements
• Adhere to job-specific abuse management responsibilities.

QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Ability to maintain a high degree of motivation to retain focus on providing the highest levels of client satisfaction.
• Ability to build strong bonds with employees to foster open, honest, and candid communication.
• Ability to multitask and maintain organization in a fast-paced, changing environment.
• Ability to manage change.
• Ability to create and maintain the highest levels of confidentiality when dealing with proprietary information and sensitive situations.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE & SKILLS

• Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education preferred.
• CDA or Diploma from an accredited vocational college may be considered.
• Bachelor’s degree in a field other than Early Childhood Education and three months of experience in a preschool setting
• Experience working in a Reggio Emilia environment.

Must be 18 years of age. Must pass Marist School’s background check and drug screening. Must have CPR/First Aid training.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to touch, handle, or feel.
• The employee frequently is required to walk, sit, and talk or hear.
• The employee is occasionally required to stand; climb or balance; bend; stretch; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• The employee must be able to push emergency equipment with up to 40 lbs of weight.