Lead Teacher

DOUGLASS COMMUNITY SERVICES INC; Louisiana (MO); On-site; USD 27,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Free life insurance

401(k) with employer contributions

Generous PTO and 14 paid holidays

Paid inclement weather days

Tuition assistance and professional发展

Job summary

Douglass Community Services is seeking a Lead Teacher to serve as the instructional leader in the classroom, planning developmentally appropriate lessons and ensuring a safe, nurturing learning environment for young children.

You will mentor staff, build strong family partnerships, and participate in ongoing professional development while adhering to Head Start standards and program policies.

Qualifications

• Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Education is required (Head Start Act)
• Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education preferred
• 1–3 years of experience with young children preferred
• CPR and First Aid certifications required
• Reliability Certification must be completed within 3 months of hire
• Strong communication and classroom management skills
• Ability to create lesson plans and deliver engaging instruction
• Computer proficiency in word processing and data entry
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation for trainings and home visits
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team

Responsibilities

• Plan and implement developmentally appropriate lesson plans aligned with Head Start Performance Standards
• Create a safe, nurturing, and engaging learning environment for young children
• Supervise and mentor classroom staff and volunteers
• Support children's growth in social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development
• Build positive relationships with families to support engagement and learning
• Conduct two home visits per child per year
• Incorporate health, nutrition, and self-care routines into daily activities
• Maintain accurate documentation, assessments, and required reporting
• Collaborate with families, staff, and community partners to support outcomes
• Participate in ongoing professional development and training
• Follow mandated reporting for suspected child abuse or neglect
• Maintain confidentiality in all program-related matters

Skills

Communication

Classroom management

Lesson planning

Data entry

Driver's license

Education

Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Education

Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education

Job description

Make a Difference Every Day

Do you have a passion for early childhood education and a heart for helping young children learn, grow, and succeed? Are you looking for a meaningful career where you can make a lasting impact on children and families in your community?

Why You'll Love Working Here

• Competitive Pay
  • $19.49/hour with Early Childhood Education Associate Degree
  • $21.44/hour with Early Childhood Education Bachelor's Degree

• Outstanding Work-Life Balance
  • Full-time schedule: 40 hours per week, 38 weeks per year

• • No evenings, weekends, or overtime required
  • Paid winter/holiday break

• Exceptional Benefits
  • Health, dental, and vision insurance
  • FREE life insurance
  • 401(k) retirement plan with employer contributions
  • Generous Paid Time Off (PTO)
  • 14 paid holidays annually
  • Paid inclement weather days
  • Tuition assistance and professional development opportunities
  • Career growth and advancement opportunities

What You'll Do

As a Lead Teacher, you'll serve as the instructional leader in the classroom by:

• Planning and implementing developmentally appropriate lesson plans aligned with Head Start Performance Standards
• Creating a safe, nurturing, and engaging learning environment for young children
• Supervising and mentoring classroom staff and volunteers
• Supporting children's growth in social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development
• Building positive relationships with families to support engagement and learning
• Conducting two home visits per child per year
• Incorporating health, nutrition, and self-care routines into daily classroom activities
• Maintaining accurate documentation, assessments, and required reporting
• Collaborating with families, staff, and community partners to support child and family outcomes
• Participating in ongoing professional development and training opportunities
• Following all mandated reporting requirements for suspected child abuse or neglect
• Maintaining confidentiality in all program-related matters

What We're Looking For

• Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Education or related field required (per Head Start Act requirements)
• Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education preferred
• 1-3 years of experience working with young children preferred
• Ability to obtain and maintain required certifications, including CPR and First Aid
• Successful completion of Reliability Certification within 3 months of hire
• Strong communication and classroom management skills
• Ability to create lesson plans and deliver engaging instruction
• Computer proficiency, including word processing and data entry
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation for trainings and home visits
• Ability to work independently, take initiative, and collaborate effectively as part of a team

The above description is not a comprehensive listing of all job specific responsibilities, tasks, and duties.

Douglass Community Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) and Drug-Free Workplace.