Head Teacher, MPTN Child Development

TVCCA - Thames Valley Council for Community Action, Inc.; Mashantucket (CT); On-site; USD 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

The Head Teacher role at TVCCA - Thames Valley Council for Community Action, Inc. oversees daily operations, safety, and care for center children, and guides age-appropriate curriculum to promote self-esteem and independence.

The position requires licensing compliance, staff supervision, and robust administrative oversight, with emphasis on family engagement and program quality.

Qualifications

• Degree in ECE with 12 ECE credits or CDA with ECE credits as required.
• CT Head Teacher License credentials or path to licensure.
• Must have access to reliable transportation and safety certifications.
• Provide TVCCA Health Statement of Good Health signed within 12 months.

Responsibilities

• Hire, train, supervise, evaluate, and motivate center staff.
• Maintain stimulating, safe classroom and playground environments.
• Communicate with families and maintain progress conferences.
• Ensure compliance with licensing, funding, tribal laws, and accreditation standards.
• Oversee administrative paperwork and data collection for the classroom.

Education

Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree in ECE or related field with 12 ECE credits

Current center-based preschool CDA with 12 ECE credits

Any equivalent combination of education and experience

Head Teacher License credential (Connecticut)

Reliable transportation

CT child care first-aid, CPR, medication administration certification

TVCCA Staff Statement of Good Health

Job description

The Head Teacher is responsible for the day to day operations, care, supervision, and safety of center children. Responsible for developing and implementing age-appropriate curriculum encouraging self-esteem and independence for the social, emotional, cognitive and physical needs of each child while ensuring that health, safety and nutritional education is integrated into the overall curriculum planning. Responsible for keeping classroom and playground clean, safe, and orderly. Must have compassion and understanding of needs of children and families from all backgrounds. Learn, implement and ensure center and staff are in compliance with licensing codes, funding requirements, tribal laws and regulations, and accreditation standards. Responsible for administrating the overall operations of the classroom and supervision of children and staff. Responsible for all required administrative paperwork related to the operation, record-keeping, and data collection conducted in their classroom.

Required Skills

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree in ECE or related field with 12 ECE credits, preferred; or
• Current center-based preschool CDA with 12 ECE credits, and enrolled in a program that will lead to an Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in ECE or related field to be completed within three years of the time of hire; or
• Any equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Have the credentials to obtain a Connecticut Head Teacher License from the Office of Early Childhood.
• Staff solely with an Associate’s Degree are expected to pursue a Bachelor’s degree.
• Have access to reliable, insured transportation.
• Must have or obtain and maintain CT child care first-aid, child CPR, and medication administration certification.
• Provide a TVCCA Staff Statement of Good Health statement signed by a physician, physician’s assistant, or nurse practitioner completed within twelve (12) months before the date of employment, and every thirty-six (36) months for current staff.

Required Experience

• Hire, train, supervise, evaluate, and motivate center staff effectively ensuring that staff are properly oriented and familiar with the center operations.
• Maintain stimulating, safe classroom environment and playground area.
• Familiarize staff, children, and volunteers with emergency procedures and ensure that the procedures are posted in a clearly visible location.
• Ensure that individual needs of children are considered through formal/informal observation, developmental assessment, and inform families of progress by conducting informal conferences as needed and formal family conferences two times per year.
• Apply decision making, problem solving, organizational and leadership skills.
• Conduct staff meetings which include discussions of center concerns, curriculum development, classroom management, business announcements, and information gathered at monthly Head Teacher meetings.
• Maintain appropriate staff coverage to meet regulations while granting time off to staff when operations of center can be maintained.
• Communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Understand, implement and explain to center staff, agency program policies, procedures, philosophies, learned information from workshops, meetings and formal education.
• Prioritize tasks, work with minimal supervision, and apply self as a positive, contributing member of a team.
• Develop and implement lesson plans that are reflective of intentional teaching and that incorporate higher order thinking skills in them, including culturally-focused lessons.
• Maintain and update center records including, but not limited to: Sign-in/sign-out logs for staff and children, staff files, child health records and collection of fees.
• Delegate record keeping duties and the timely submission of necessary reports including, but not limited to: Monthly reports, quarterly reports, monthly attendance sheets for staff, travel reimbursements, time sheets, petty cash reimbursement sheets, receipts, accident reports, educational and non-educational delivery packing slips, daily attendance records.
• Maintain a bulletin board including, but not limited to the following information: curriculum, menu, pamphlets, job availabilities, announcements, home activities, special events, staff chain of command, and complaint procedure.
• Ensure children are developing sound health and nutrition habits in daily routines and in curriculum through modeling.
• Encourage and create opportunities for family to participate in program.
• Submit appropriate requisitions of supplies for the center.
• Perform basic calculations and operate personal office equipment.
• Have the computer skills needed to input information into our database system, prepare newsletters, input observations, prepare family conference forms and complete lesson plans.
• Maintain 100% enrollment and all required enrollment record keeping.
• Work as scheduled; daily attendance and punctuality are required; adhere to TVCCA policies and procedures; follow directions.
• Perform several functions concurrently in a deadline driven environment.
• Take on additional tasks as required to maintain program and agency operations.
• Use effective and developmentally appropriate teaching practices
• Be able to work 35-40 hours/week and 42-52 weeks/year depending on program.
• Maintain an approved plan of study when working towards a degree.
• Continue professional development per funding source and TVCCA requirements; provide evidence of on-going career development as per licensing regulations.
• Have the physical ability and stamina to interact with children for up to 8 hours; e.g. to move and react quickly to ensure the safety of the children, to lift and/or carry a child, to sit on the floor or use child size furniture, participate in field trips and playground activities, etc.