Lead Teacher (4875)

Northern Illinois University; DeKalb (IL); On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Northern Illinois University is seeking a Child Development Supervisor to oversee daily classroom operations, ensure licensing and NAEYC accreditation, and guide practicum students in the Child Development and Family Center (CDFC).

The role collaborates with the CDFC Director, faculty, and advisory board to maintain quality care and developmental programming consistent with state and accreditation standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in child development, education, or related fields with 18 semester hours related to child development and/or child care, including 6 hours birth to age six
• Or two years of comparable experience and 18 additional related semester hours
• Courses covering development and care of young children; e.g., curriculum, teaching methods, observation, and safety

Responsibilities

• Attend committee and board meetings and contribute to discussion
• Support licensing and NAEYC accreditation through daily operations
• Mentor practicum students and supervise staff in classrooms
• Coordinate and participate in 490 assignments and orientations
• Maintain health, safety, and developmentally appropriate activities for children
• Engage families and coordinate with Master Teacher and administration

Skills

Supervisory ability

Physical examination

DCFS/NAEYC compliance attributes

Education

Bachelor’s degree in child development/education

18 semester hours in related child development care topics

Alternative: 2 years of related experience + 18 semester hours

Job description

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Position Summary, Requirements, and Qualifications

The Child Development and Family Center ( CDFC ) Child Development Supervisor (lead teacher) will be present at the Child Development and Family Center for the majority of each day to ensure that licensing and NAEYC Accreditation requirements are met and oversee daily operations in the classroom. Job responsibilities will be performed in consultation and collaboration with the CDFC Director, CD Faculty, and the Advisory Board. The Child Development Supervisor is responsible for initiating and facilitating duties and tasks described below.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Child Development & Family Center Responsibilities

• Attends committee meetings
• Attends board meetings as designated
• Contributes to dialogue and discussion and presents insight into solutions to problems
• Exhibits discretion in dealing with parents, children, staff, and the academic progress of practicum students
• Cooperates with students doing observations and faculty conducting research
• Helps recruit and promote faculty research related to the CDFC , networks with staff and faculty in various departments as appropriate or feasible
• Documents own performance and classroom supervision abilities to CDFC Co-Director, per CDFC guidelines
• Participates constructively in the evaluation process
• Participates in occasional evening workshops and CDFC events with practicum students and/or families, as designated
• Continues own professional development through classes and conferences, and/or workshop presentations
• Maintains or initiates activities and critical practices necessary for maintenance of DCFS license and accreditation status
• Supports collegial relationships by engaging in reflection with colleagues and works to resolve conflicts with colleagues in a direct and respectful way
• Follows and uses NAEYC Code of Ethics as a guide to making decisions involving ethical dilemmas
• Maintains Illinois Gateways Registry status, and other personal documentation as necessary or required, annually

Supervision of Students

• Mentors current and pre-practicum students, undergraduate student employees and graduate assistants who are serving as childcare professionals; Examples of mentoring activities include direct instruction, general and specific guidance, constructive verbal feedback, modeling, positive feedback, and out-of-classroom discussions
• Provides specific feedback to current and pre-practicum students in difficult child guidance situations; Provides positive feedback to students as indicated
• Assists Master Teachers in the evaluation of practicum students’ interactions with children, families, staff, and peers
• Provides assessment for 490 assignments as delegated by Instructor
• As needed, plans and facilitates 490 orientation activities related to the operations of the classroom in consultation with Master Teacher each semester
• Engages in ongoing reflective practice, noting situations of concern and/or change
• Keeps Master Teacher, CDFC Administration, and HDFS Faculty apprised of situations in need of address
• Provides feedback to course instructors regarding rubrics and assignments, as assigned or as appropriate
• Assumes leadership role in communicating with families in one’s own room, in consultation with Lead 490 Teacher, Master Teacher, and CDFC administration
• Assumes responsibility for communication, as necessary, in absence of Master Teacher
• Includes current 490 students in this process, as feasible, and models discretion, confidentiality, and positive feedback/active listening techniques

Lead Teaching

• Upholds the mission of the CDFC by supporting the research, service, and teaching functions of the laboratory, as designated or as assigned
• Assures and maintain at all times the health, safety, and supervision of all children in the classroom by maintaining a safe environment, implementing healthy practices, and maintaining records per DCFS and accreditation guidelines
• Uses observation of children’s play to model and implement an emergent curriculum and serves as a model for this practice for current and pre-practicum students
• Facilitates children’s play and uses scaffolding to promote children’s growth and development
• Implements activities that reflect, and maintains a classroom environment that supports and values, diversity in the program
• Uses a variety of documentation methods to show children’s progress and maintains documentation as part of child’s record
• Arranges safe and effective classroom floor, transition, and outdoor play plans in consultation with Master Teacher
• Communicates with other staff regularly about these plans
• Ensures materials and activities provided to children are safe, developmentally and culturally appropriate, and promote independence and hands on exploration

Nutrition and Wellness

• Maintains safety of classroom environment by working with the safety plans for allergy and nutrition needs of each child in accordance with the Child and Adult Care Food program ( CACFP )
• Ensures cooking, nutrition, and wellness activities are integrated into curriculum on a regular basis
• Oversees and helps prepare current and pre-practicum students for these activities.
• Assists in kitchen duties as needed

Minimum Required Qualifications (Civil Service)

• Bachelor’s degree in child development, education, or related fields, including 18 semester hours of credit for course work directly related to child development and/or child care, of which 6 semester hours must be for the period from birth to age six
• OR two years of experience comparable to that gained at the lower level of this series and 18 additional semester hours of credit for college course work directly related to child development and/or child care
• Note: Courses that cover the social, emotional, intellectual, and physical development of young children and/or courses relating specifically to the group care and education of young children; e.g., curriculum, programming, pre-school teaching methods, discipline and child management, observation of children, working with parents, health, nutrition and safety, and supervised teaching experience for which credit is earned (such as student teaching, clinical experience, or practicum).

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) (Civil Service)

• Physical examination as required by Illinois Child Care Act for employees in child care facilities
• Personal attributes required by Illinois Department of Children and Family Services for all child care personnel
• Supervisory ability

Specialty Factors (Civil Service)

None

Preferred Qualifications (Civil Service)

• Bachelor’s degree in child development, early childhood education or related field.
• Knowledge of and prior experiences with the National Association for the Education of Young Children accreditation process.
• One year of teaching experience in a mixed age classroom setting.
• Experience with the Environmental Rating Scales.
• Gateways ECE or Infant-Toddler Credential Level 2 and up.

Appointment and Compensation Details

Appointment and Compensation Details

Anticipated Appointment Start Date

Anticipated Appointment Start Date TBD

Anticipated Appointment End Date

Percent of Staff Year

Percent of Staff Year 1.00

Standard Hours Per Week

Standard Hours Per Week 37.5

Working Hours

Working hours need to be flexible to support center operations. Typical work can be between 7:30 am-4:00 pm, or 9:00 am-5:30 pm

Illinois residency required within 180 days of the hire date.

Employment Condition

• Employment is contingent upon your passing a criminal background investigation.

Equal Opportunity Statement

In accordance with applicable statutes and regulations, NIU is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, religion, age, disability (physical and mental), marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender (identity and expression), political affiliation, or any other factor unrelated to professional qualifications, and will comply with all applicable federal and state statutes, regulations and orders pertaining to nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and affirmative action.

Contact

The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:

Ethics and Compliance Officer, Title IX Coordinator
Health Services Building Room 230
[e-mail]
815-753-5560

ADA Accommodation Statement

NIU remains committed to ensuring that its recruitment and application procedures include full opportunities for applicants with disabilities.