Lead Teacher - Brucker Preschool

Saginaw Intermediate School District; Birch Run (MI); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Saginaw Intermediate School District seeks a Lead preschool teacher to plan and implement a safe, developmentally appropriate learning environment for children birth to five, promoting kindergarten readiness in line with Head Start standards.

The role requires collaboration with staff, families, and community partners; supervision of aides and volunteers; and maintaining confidentiality and data for program planning.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or advanced degree in Early Childhood Education or equivalent.
• Willingness to obtain administrative training within six months.
• Knowledge of Head Start philosophy and practices, and related licensing requirements.
• Experience in preschool education and child development assessment.

Responsibilities

• Plan and implement a safe, healthy, developmentally appropriate learning environment.
• Supervise and collaborate with Associate Teacher, aides, and volunteers.
• Engage families and communities to support child development and school readiness.
• Maintain confidentiality and comply with FERPA/HIPAA requirements.
• Screen, observe, and assess child development; use data for planning.
• Participate in recruitment, transportation, and program activities as needed.
• Ensure compliance with Head Start standards and program procedures.
• Assist with kitchen and bus duties as required.

Skills

Early childhood development

Active supervision

Word/Excel

ChildPlus knowledge

Teaching Strategies Gold

Supervision principles

Regulatory knowledge

Patience and tact

Professionalism

Family partnerships

Cultural responsiveness

Team collaboration

Education

ECE degree

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Email tools

ChildPlus

Teaching Strategies Gold

Job description

Overview

This position serves as the Lead of a teaching team in a classroom of preschool children. The role plans and implements a healthy, safe, and developmentally appropriate learning environment that promotes developmental gains toward kindergarten readiness skills as defined in the Head Start Program Performance Standards, the Child Development and Early Learning Framework, and Kindergarten Readiness Goals. The incumbent models excellence in behavior and interactions with families, the community, and staff. Additionally, the position acts as a social‑service referral point and supports parent involvement in the program. The role may be reassigned to various classrooms or centers as needed for program operations and may serve as program director for child‑care licensing purposes.

Professional Development

1. Attend all required training and workshops, including online training and cluster meetings as required by Head Start and Michigan state licensing.
2. Remain up‑to‑date on information pertaining to the needs of the children in the program, including Head Start Performance Standards, Michigan child‑care licensing regulations, and other applicable regulations and practices.
3. Keep current knowledge of Developmentally Appropriate Practice.
4. Maintain knowledge of regulations related to the prevention of occupational disease and injury, including universal precautions and contamination prevention.
5. Work effectively with children at all levels of development.
6. Maintain professional certification earned at hire or obtained to meet Head Start and ISD standards.
7. Successfully complete and maintain Basic First Aid, CPR certification and required licensing training.
8. Actively participate in opportunities for continuous professional development.

Preschool Program Implementation

1. Participate in delivery of Head Start services as defined by Head Start Performance Standards and Saginaw ISD Head Start operational procedures.
2. Establish a safe, healthy, stimulating, and developmentally appropriate learning environment for children birth to five and children of all abilities.
3. Ensure learning environments are safe from hazards, free from clutter, and allow visibility of children by using the Daily Health and Safety Checklist.
4. Maintain strict confidentiality regarding Head Start children, families, and staff in accordance with FERPA, HIPAA, and other legal requirements.
5. Foster self‑esteem, self‑direction, self‑control, and school‑readiness skills with preschool children through positive methods and by modeling and participating in curriculum development and implementation.
6. Comply with program curriculum, supplemental curriculum, state licensing requirements, and the Head Start Program Performance Standards.
7. Screen, observe, and assess children’s development regularly, analyze data, and make tailored plans or referrals.
8. Participate in recruitment activities and transportation services.
9. Assist with kitchen duties as required (e.g., warming food, portioning, monitoring temperatures, cleaning refrigerator and warmer).
10. Assist with bus aide duties as needed (e.g., riding the bus, completing bus paperwork, securing children in seats).
11. Supervise feeding activities, model good nutrition, social skills, and language stimulation in a family‑style environment as outlined in the Head Start Performance Standards.

Record Keeping

1. Submit weekly/monthly paperwork and progress reports to supervisor as scheduled.
2. Supervise or order supplies as needed and perform inventory as requested.
3. Maintain child records in cooperation with Family Advocates.
4. Gather and maintain individual, family, and classroom data for documentation, screening, ongoing assessment, evaluation, and record keeping for successful planning.
5. Understand, generate, and document in‑kind and other allowable costs toward the non‑federal share requirement.

Parent Involvement and Community Relations

1. Support monthly Parent Club meetings at center.
2. Schedule and arrange meetings, document parent‑teacher conferences and home visits as required.
3. Model, mentor, and supervise all classroom volunteers, including parents.
4. Work closely with local school systems for shared activities, registration, and smooth transitions.
5. Utilize virtual communication when needed.

Supervision

The Lead plans, supervises, and collaborates with Associate Teacher, Program Aide, and other staff on all aspects of classroom implementation.

Positions Supervised

• Associate Teacher
• Program Support Aide in classroom (if applicable)
• Substitutes (while working in classroom)
• Classroom Volunteers (if applicable)

Knowledge and Abilities

• Extensive knowledge and skills in early childhood development.
• Use Active Supervision strategies to maintain child safety (e.g., environmental setup, visual monitoring, anticipating behavior, redirecting).
• Proficiency with Word, Excel, e‑mail; knowledge of ChildPlus and Teaching Strategies Gold and willingness to learn additional programs.
• Understanding of basic supervision principles.
• Knowledge of regulations regarding child‑abuse reporting and child‑care licensing.
• Displaying patience and tact when communicating with children, families, staff, and the public.
• Professionalism in daily activities.
• Basic food preparation, serving, and sanitation procedures.
• Ability to follow directions and take initiative.
• Build respectful, goal‑oriented partnerships with families to promote parent‑child relationships and family well‑being.
• Respect and respond appropriately to families’ culture, language, values, and structures.
• Enhance parent‑child relationships and support parents as first, lifelong educators.
• Collaborate as part of a comprehensive services team for coordinated family services.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

• Noise level may be moderate to loud.
• Travel by car, bus, airplane, or train may be required for conferences or other duties; occasional overnight travel possible.
• Some evening and weekend work may be required for events such as home visits, parent‑teacher conferences, Parent Club meetings, community events.
• Riding the bus may be required.
• Work involves sitting in child‑sized chairs and on the floor, bending, stretching, walking, stair climbing, kneeling, crouching, reaching, fine and gross motor coordination, visual and auditory discrimination, reading, writing, judgment, decision making, and lifting up to 75 pounds.
• Position covered by OSHA Final Rule Blood‑borne Pathogens Act, Category A, with potential exposure to communicable disease and pests such as head lice.
• Mandated reporter of child abuse/neglect and requirement for Department of Human Services child‑abuse clearance.

Qualifications and Requirements

• Bachelor’s or advanced degree in Early Childhood Education or Bachelor’s with coursework equivalent to a major in Early Childhood Education and experience teaching preschool.
• Willingness to obtain administrative training within six months of employment.
• Knowledge and experience of Head Start philosophy and practices, early childhood education, and developmentally appropriate practice.
• Willingness and ability to obtain and maintain Basic First Aid and CPR certification.
• Acceptable tuberculosis and drug screening results, clear criminal records check, and initial health exam required after job offer and prior to employment.
• Current and former Head Start employees, students, and parents receive preference for qualified vacancies.

Personal Qualifications

Emotional maturity; willingness to cooperate with program aims; respect for children and adults; flexibility; patience; good personal hygiene; physical and mental health that does not interfere with responsibilities; education or experience in collaborating with parents in their children’s education.

Notice of Non‑Discrimination

Saginaw Intermediate School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, disability, age, or national origin in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. For inquiries regarding non‑discrimination policies, contact the Executive Director of Human Resources at Saginaw Intermediate School District, 3933 Barnard Road, Saginaw, MI 48603, Telephone: (989) 799‑4733.