EARLY HEAD START/HEAD START TEACHER(3) CLOSES 10/30/2026

Alamo Navajo School Board; Alamo (NM); On-site; USD 36,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Alamo Navajo Early Childhood Center seeks a Lead Teacher to guide a Head Start/ Early Head Start classroom and promote school readiness. You will plan and implement developmentally appropriate learning experiences while mentoring the Co-Teacher and staff, ensuring a high-quality educational program.

You will use assessments to tailor instruction, maintain safe environments, and ensure compliance with Head Start standards and tribal policies. Strong family engagement is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education or related field with coursework equivalent to an ECE major.
• Experience teaching preschool-age children or infant/toddler coursework preferred.
• Must have positive work history verifiable by reference checks.

Responsibilities

• Plan and implement developmentally appropriate learning experiences.
• Ensure fidelity to the approved curriculum and use assessment data to individualize instruction.
• Lead classroom staff and mentors, ensuring safe and engaging learning environments.
• Maintain required ratios and health/safety compliance.
• Build respectful partnerships with families and conduct parent conferences.

Skills

Head Start standards

Classroom management

Family engagement

Assessment data use

Education

Bachelor's in Early Childhood Education

Bachelor's in related field + ECE coursework

Tools

ChildPlus

Job description

Alamo Navajo Early Childhood Center

Division: Early Childhood Position Title: Lead Teacher

Department: Head Start/Early Head Start Reports To: Program Director

Pay Range: Grade F, ANSBI Pay Scale with CDA appropriate to age level

Grade H, ANSBI Pay Scale with appropriate AA Degree

Grade J, ANSBI Pay Scale with appropriate BA/BS Degree

Working Hours: 10 hours per day Lunch Hour: 1 Hour (Flexible)

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt Employment Status: Full-Time

Supervises:

Co-Teacher, Classroom Volunteers, classroom Practicum Students, Assigned Substitutes

Position Summary

The Lead Teacher is responsible for planning, implementing, and evaluating a comprehensive, developmentally appropriate educational program that promotes school readiness and supports the physical, cognitive, language, social-emotional, and creative development of children enrolled in the Head Start or Early Head Start program. The Lead Teacher provides instructional leadership within the classroom, supervises and mentors the Co-Teacher and assigned classroom staff, and ensures compliance with the Head Start Act, Head Start Program Performance Standards, Tribal policies, program procedures, and the ANSB Personnel Manual.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Instructional Leadership

• Plan and implement developmentally appropriate learning experiences.
• Ensure fidelity to the approved curriculum.
• Individualize instruction using child assessment data.
• Develop weekly lesson plans.
• Integrate school readiness goals into daily instruction.
• Provide leadership to classroom staff.
• Maintain organized, engaging learning environments.

Classroom Management

• Maintain safe classroom environments.
• Implement positive behavior supports.
• Ensure active supervision at all times.
• Maintain required ratios.
• Ensure classroom compliance with health and safety requirements.

• Oversees child assessment processes and ensures assessment data are used to individualize instruction.
• Ensures developmental screenings are completed within required timelines.
• Monitors school readiness data and develops improvement plans based on program outcomes.

Child Assessment

• Complete developmental screenings within required timelines.
• Conduct ongoing observations.
• Complete child assessments accurately and timely.
• Analyze assessment data.
• Develop individualized learning plans.

Family Engagement

• Build respectful partnerships with families.
• Conduct parent conferences.
• Share child progress.
• Encourage family participation.
• Support transition planning.

Compliance

• Maintain complete classroom documentation.
• Ensure confidentiality.
• Follow all program policies.
• Report suspected abuse immediately.
• Participate in monitoring and federal reviews.

Family Engagement

• Promotes meaningful family engagement.
• Supports teachers in developing partnerships with families.
• Encourages family participation in school readiness activities.
• Participates in parent meetings and family engagement events.
• Supports smooth transitions into and out of the program.

Data Management

• Reviews education reports regularly.
• Uses ChildPlus and other approved systems.
• Ensures accurate documentation.
• Uses data to guide decision making.
• Maintains confidentiality of records.

Collaboration

• Collaborates with program management staff.
• Participates in multidisciplinary staffing meetings.
• Coordinates with community agencies.
• Supports interdepartmental communication.
• Assists during federal reviews and monitoring visits.

Health and Safety

• Ensures classrooms comply with health and safety requirements.
• Supports active supervision practices.
• Ensures emergency procedures are implemented.
• Reports suspected child abuse or neglect in accordance with law and program policy.
• Immediately reports incidents affecting child health or safety.

Fiscal Responsibility

• Assists in developing education budgets.
• Monitors educational materials and equipment.
• Ensures appropriate stewardship of grant-funded resources.
• Recommends purchases supporting program goals.

Professional Expectations

• Models ethical leadership.
• Demonstrates professionalism at all times.
• Maintains confidentiality.
• Follows all Personnel Manual requirements.
• Maintains regular attendance and punctuality.
• Perform other duties assigned by the Program Director.

Minimum Qualifications

Head Start Preschool

• Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education or
• Bachelor's Degree in a related field with coursework equivalent to a major in Early Childhood Education and experience teaching preschool-age children, consistent with 45 CFR §1302.91.
• Must have a positive work performance history at ANSBI or wherever previously worked verifiable by reference checks

Early Head Start

• Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education with infant/toddler coursework preferred.
• Must have a positive work performance history at ANSBI or wherever previously worked verifiable by reference checks

Preferred Qualifications

• Teaching license.
• CLASS training.
• Creative Curriculum experience.
• GOLD experience.
• ChildPlus experience.
• Bilingual preferred.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Head Start Performance Standards
• Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework
• Child development
• Curriculum implementation
• Assessment systems
• Positive behavior support
• Trauma-informed practices
• Family engagement
• Active supervision
• Confidentiality
• Classroom health and safety
• Written and oral communication.
• Computer proficiency

Physical Requirements

• Ability to move throughout classrooms and playgrounds.
• Lift up to 40 pounds.
• Bend, kneel, stoop, and sit on the floor.
• Use computers and office equipment.
• Travel between program sites.
• Occasional evening meetings.

Required Certifications

• CPR/First Aid (or obtain within required timeframe)
• Background Check
• Child Abuse and Neglect Reporter Training
• Food Handler Certification (if required)
• Valid Driver's License
• Defensive Driving (if transporting or traveling for program business)

SPECIAL CONDITIONS:

• This position is subject by law to finger printing and must pass a rigorous criminal/character background investigation.
• Must provide documentation of immunity or immunization against tetanus, diphtheria, and measles/rubella and of tuberculosis status by skin test or x-ray, within thirty (30) days of hiring, and at such additional intervals as may be determined by the immediate supervisor or the ANSB Executive Director.
• Must always ensure a safe and secure environment for clients and fellow employees.

INDIAN PREFERENCE:

Preferential consideration for employment will be given to persons of documented Navajo, American Indian or Alaskan Native Tribal membership who meet the qualifications above, in accordance with the requirements of N.P.E.A. P.L. 93-638 and the Navajo Nation Tribal Code.

ADDITIONAL PREFERENCE:

• Working knowledge of the organization and functions of the Alamo Navajo School Board, Inc.
• Demonstrable ability to use common public relations problem-solving and conflict-resolution techniques and procedures.
• Demonstrable leadership capabilities to follow, and to require others to follow, established rules, regulations and guidelines.
• Possession of a New Mexico Teacher’s license or with the ability to receive reciprocity of a New Mexico teaching license.

EVALUATION:

Will be evaluated in accordance with the Alamo Navajo School Board, Inc., policies and procedures.

Performance Standards Alignment

This position supports compliance with, at a minimum:

• 45 CFR §1302.31–1302.35 – Education and Child Development Services
• 45 CFR §1302.33 – Child Screenings and Assessments
• 45 CFR §1302.34 – Parent and Family Engagement in Education
• 45 CFR §1302.50–1302.53 – Family and Community Engagement
• 45 CFR §1302.61–1302.63 – Services for Children with Disabilities
• 45 CFR §1302.70–1302.72 – Transition Services
• 45 CFR §1302.90–1302.92 – Human Resources Management, Staff Qualifications, and Professional Development
• 45 CFR §1302.100–1302.102 – Program Management, Ongoing Monitoring, Continuous Quality Improvement, and Reporting
• 45 CFR Part 1301 – Program Governance (providing information and reports to Program Director, Policy Council, and Governing Body as requested)

Revised July 20, 2026