Lead Teacher

Amalyah's Playground Childcare Center; Killeen (TX); On-site; USD 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Amalyah's Playground Childcare Center is seeking a Lead Teacher to create a safe, engaging, and developmentally appropriate classroom environment that supports each child's growth in cognitive, language, social, and physical development.

The role leads curriculum planning, supervises assistants, maintains licensing compliance, and partners with families to promote a nurturing learning environment and kindergarten readiness.

Qualifications

• Minimum one year working in a licensed childcare center or preschool.
• Experience planning lessons for young children.
• Experience supervising groups of children.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily classroom operations.
• Supervise Assistant Teachers.
• Plan and implement daily learning activities.
• Maintain licensing compliance and family communication.
• Foster positive relationships with families and ensure kindergarten readiness.

Skills

1 year licensed childcare

Lesson planning experience

Group supervision

Education

CDA

Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Education

Texas licensing coursework

Job description

Employment Status: Full-Time, Non-Exempt

Work Schedule: Monday–Friday. Hours assigned based on classroom needs.

Position Title: Lead Teacher

Employment Status: Full-Time, Non-Exempt

Work Schedule: Monday–Friday. Hours assigned based on classroom needs.

Position Summary

The Lead Teacher is responsible for creating and maintaining a safe, nurturing, engaging, and developmentally appropriate learning environment that supports each child's cognitive, social, emotional, language, and physical development.

The Lead Teacher serves as the instructional leader of the classroom and is responsible for planning and implementing curriculum, supervising classroom staff, maintaining licensing compliance, fostering positive relationships with families, and ensuring every child receives high-quality care and education.

Lead Teachers are expected to model professionalism, teamwork, creativity, patience, and a genuine love for children while upholding the mission and values of Amalyah's Playground.

Mission of the Position

To inspire a lifelong love of learning by providing meaningful, play-based educational experiences that promote curiosity, confidence, independence, and healthy development in every child.

Core Responsibilities

The Lead Teacher is responsible for excellence in five key areas:

Classroom Leadership

• Lead daily classroom operations.
• Supervise Assistant Teachers.
• Delegate classroom responsibilities.
• Maintain classroom routines.
• Ensure classroom organization.
• Model professional teaching practices.

Curriculum & Instruction

• Plan weekly lesson plans.
• Implement developmentally appropriate curriculum.
• Create engaging learning experiences.
• Differentiate instruction.
• Observe children's development.
• Support kindergarten readiness.

Child Development

Promote growth in:

• Language & Literacy
• Mathematics
• Science
• Social Studies
• Fine Motor Skills
• Gross Motor Skills
• Social-Emotional Development
• Creative Arts
• Problem Solving
• Independence

Classroom Management

• Establish consistent routines.
• Use positive behavior guidance.
• Encourage self-regulation.
• Build respectful classroom communities.
• Foster independence.
• Support emotional development.

Family Partnership

• Build trusting relationships.
• Maintain daily communication.
• Share developmental progress.
• Encourage family involvement.
• Support home-school partnerships.

Essential Job Duties

The Lead Teacher shall:

• Supervise children at all times.
• Maintain active supervision.
• Plan and implement daily learning activities.
• Complete weekly lesson plans.
• Prepare classroom materials.
• Maintain organized learning centers.
• Conduct daily attendance.
• Monitor children's developmental progress.
• Document observations.
• Complete required assessments.
• Maintain classroom cleanliness.
• Ensure classroom safety.
• Communicate with families.
• Supervise Assistant Teachers.
• Participate in staff meetings.
• Participate in professional development.
• Maintain licensing compliance.
• Perform additional duties assigned by administration.

Curriculum Responsibilities

Develop and implement lesson plans that promote:

Language & Literacy

• Vocabulary development
• Storytelling
• Reading readiness
• Letter recognition
• Phonological awareness
• Print awareness

Mathematics

• Counting
• Number recognition
• Sorting
• Patterns
• Shapes
• Measurement
• Problem-solving

Science

• Nature exploration
• Observation
• Weather
• Animals
• Plants
• Experiments
• Discovery learning

Social Studies

• Family
• Community
• Culture
• Diversity
• Holidays
• Citizenship
• Responsibility

Creative Arts

• Painting
• Music
• Dance
• Dramatic play
• Building
• Sculpting
• Open-ended creativity

Physical Development

Support:

• Large motor skills
• Balance
• Coordination
• Strength
• Fine motor development
• Outdoor exploration

Classroom Environment Responsibilities

Maintain a classroom that is:

• Safe
• Clean
• Organized
• Inclusive
• Welcoming
• Stimulating
• Child-centered
• Literacy-rich
• Developmentally appropriate

Learning centers should be intentionally arranged to encourage exploration, independence, and meaningful play.

Child Supervision Responsibilities

The Lead Teacher is responsible for ensuring children are:

• Actively supervised at all times.
• Accounted for through regular head counts.
• Protected from hazards.
• Safely transitioned between activities.
• Properly supervised outdoors.
• Safely released only to authorized individuals.
• Never left unattended.

The Lead Teacher is responsible for maintaining required teacher-child ratios at all times and immediately notifying administration if additional support is needed.

Health & Safety Responsibilities

The Lead Teacher shall:

• Conduct daily health observations.
• Follow illness exclusion policies.
• Practice proper handwashing procedures.
• Follow diapering and toileting procedures.
• Sanitize classroom materials.
• Maintain food safety standards.
• Report injuries immediately.
• Complete incident reports.
• Participate in emergency drills.
• Identify and remove hazards.
• Administer medication only in accordance with center policy and licensing regulations.

Positive Guidance & Behavior Management

The Lead Teacher shall use positive discipline strategies that:

• Promote self-control.
• Encourage empathy.
• Teach conflict resolution.
• Reinforce positive behavior.
• Support emotional regulation.
• Build problem-solving skills.
• Protect children's dignity.

The following are prohibited:

• Physical punishment.
• Yelling.
• Humiliation.
• Threats.
• Food as punishment or reward.
• Isolation beyond licensing standards.
• Any form of emotional abuse or neglect.

Family Engagement Responsibilities

The Lead Teacher shall:

• Greet every child warmly.
• Communicate respectfully with families.
• Share daily updates.
• Document milestones.
• Encourage family participation.
• Address concerns professionally.
• Respect family diversity.
• Maintain confidentiality.

Classroom Administration Responsibilities

Maintain accurate:

• Attendance records.
• Daily reports.
• Incident reports.
• Developmental observations.
• Lesson plans.
• Supply inventory.
• Classroom schedules.
• Child portfolios.
• Parent communication logs.

Professional Expectations

The Lead Teacher shall:

• Demonstrate professionalism.
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Dress appropriately.
• Arrive on time.
• Model positive attitudes.
• Collaborate with coworkers.
• Accept constructive feedback.
• Continue professional growth.
• Promote the mission of Amalyah's Playground.

Required Qualifications

Education

One of the following:

• Child Development Associate (CDA)

OR

• Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Education or related field

OR

• Completion of coursework that meets Texas Child Care Licensing requirements.

Experience

• Minimum one (1) year working in a licensed childcare center or preschool.
• Experience planning lessons for young children.
• Experience supervising groups of children.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education.
• Texas School Ready experience.
• Texas Rising Star experience.
• Experience mentoring Assistant Teachers.
• Bilingual (English/Haitian Creole or English/Spanish).

Required Certifications

• Pediatric CPR & First Aid Certification.
• Background Check Clearance.
• FBI Fingerprint Clearance.
• Annual licensing-required professional development.
• Food Handler Certification (if involved in food service).

Physical Requirements

The employee must be able to:

• Lift up to 50 pounds.
• Sit on the floor for extended periods.
• Bend, kneel, squat, crawl, and reach frequently.
• Carry classroom materials.
• Supervise outdoor activities in varying weather.
• Quickly respond during emergencies.

Performance Standards

Performance will be evaluated based on:

• Classroom quality.
• Child engagement.
• Licensing compliance.
• Lesson plan implementation.
• Classroom organization.
• Child developmental progress.
• Parent satisfaction.
• Professionalism.
• Teamwork.
• Reliability.