Lead Teacher EHS (Laurel Tree)

MAAC (Metropolitan Area Advisory Committee; Carlsbad (CA); On-site; USD 33,296 - 50,048; Full time

Job summary

MAAC (Metropolitan Area Advisory Committee) is seeking a Lead Teacher for the Early Head Start program in Carlsbad, California. The position focuses on caring for and educating infants and toddlers while partnering with families for their children's growth.

The ideal candidate should possess a High School Diploma or GED along with Early Childhood Education units. Experience with children ages 0-3 is essential, and bilingual (English/Spanish) skills are preferred. The role requires compassionate care and implementation of educational activities.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of Head Start policies and procedures desirable.
• One year experience with children 0-3 years old in a child-care setting.
• Completion of supervised student teaching or experience teaching preschool-age children.

Responsibilities

• Provide care for infants and toddlers.
• Plan and implement education programs.
• Document care and developmental activities.

Skills

Knowledge of early childhood education

Knowledge of local educational resources

Bilingual (English/Spanish)

Education

High School Diploma or GED

AA Degree with emphasis in Early Childhood Education

BA Degree with emphasis in Early Childhood Education

Job description

Hourly - Lead Teacher EHS: $24.17 - $28.72 (DOQ/E)

Hourly - Lead Teacher I EHS: $26.58 - $31.59 (DOQ/E)

Hourly - Lead Teacher II EHS: $30.58 - $36.33 (DOQ/E)

50 Weeks

Department / Program Description

Head Start (HS) and Early Head Start (EHS) are comprehensive federally funded school‑readiness programs for low‑income and special‑needs children that promote parents as the primary educator of the child. MAAC currently serves a diverse group of low‑income children and their families in North County; the majority of the participating families are of Latino/Hispanic ethnicity. These programs ensure that children ages 0‑3 (EHS) and 3‑5 (HS) and their families are provided with comprehensive services to promote optimum physical, cognitive, social and emotional growth. MAAC’s California State Preschool program provides educational and developmental services to qualifying children ages 3 to 5; parents are encouraged to participate with their children and to be involved in their children’s development.

Definition

Under direct supervision, the Lead Teacher provides care for infants and toddlers in the assigned group(s) and plans, supervises, and implements the education program within the classroom in accordance with policies, procedures, and the philosophy of MAAC Child Development Program’s Early Head Start.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Serves as a primary caregiver to assigned infants/toddlers providing respectful, individualized care including feeding, diapering, and holding.
• Assists with assigning children to primary care group and planning of individualized transitions into care.
• Partners with parents to provide consistent and culturally sensitive care through daily communication, scheduled home visits, and parent conferences.
• Implements age‑appropriate individual and small group activities, both indoor and outdoor.
• Set‑up, tear down, and clean‑up of indoor and outdoor play spaces.
• Maintains cleanliness and safety in classroom and outdoor play areas, sanitizing toys, equipment, and assisting with laundry.
• Prepares and serves meals and snacks according to individual feeding plans.
• Accurately documents care and developmental activities, attendance, and meal counts.
• Lift, carries, and holds children weighing 25‑50 lbs.
• Schedules and completes home visits, develops Individual Child Plans and Family Development Plans at Phase In, and updates them at least three times during the school year.
• Attends mandated trainings, programs, conferences, and meetings.
• Assists with personalized services for special‑needs children (training and equipment provided as needed).
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Skills

• Knowledge of early childhood education, child development, and anti‑bias education.
• Knowledge of local educational and community resources and the ability to use them in the classroom.
• Knowledge of bilingual language acquisition.
• Knowledge of Head Start policies and procedures desirable.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) speaking, reading, and writing preferred.

Education/Experience/Certification

Lead Teacher

• High School Diploma or GED.
• Twelve (12) units in Early Childhood Education (ECE), including core units, and three (3) units in infant/toddler coursework.
• One (1) year experience with children 0‑3 years old in a child‑care setting.

Lead Teacher I

• AA Degree with an emphasis in Early Childhood Education or Child Development, minimum of twenty‑four (24) units in ECE and three (3) units in infant/toddler coursework.
• One (1) year experience with children 0‑3 years old in a child‑care setting.

Lead Teacher II

• BA Degree with emphasis in Early Childhood Education or Child Development, minimum of twenty‑four (24) units and three (3) units in infant/toddler coursework.
• One (1) year experience with children 0‑3 years old in a child‑care setting.
• Completion of supervised student teaching or experience teaching preschool‑age children.

Additional Requirements for All Lead Teachers

• Must have and maintain a State of California Child Development Associate Level Permit or a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential.
• Valid CPR, First Aid, and Food Handlers certifications must be obtained within the first two months and maintained throughout employment (paid training available through MAAC).

Value‑Based Behaviors

• Listens attentively to others and asks clarifying questions.
• Works effectively in a team environment and actively participates in problem solving.
• Identifies and takes advantage of opportunities for personal and professional development.
• Attends work consistently and punctually, honors commitments, and meets deadlines.
• Honors the private and confidential matters of co‑workers and protects proprietary information.
• Follows rules, regulations, and policies; positively contributes to implementing changes.
• Deals with issues directly in a respectful and timely manner without criticism.

Health Status

Must have a physical examination, TB clearance, and a drug screen by a doctor/clinic designated by MAAC, as well as immunization records for influenza, pertussis, and measles, as required by state and federal regulations prior to the first day of employment.

Physical and Mental Demands

Physical Demands: Stand, walk, sit, talk or hear in person or by telephone, use hands to handle or feel objects, reach with hands and arms, stoop, kneel, bend, crouch or crawl, climb or balance, and lift up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, color vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

Mental Demands: Use written and oral communication skills; read and interpret information; analyze and solve problems; observe and interpret people and situations; use basic math; learn and apply new information or skills; work under intensive deadlines and interact with MAAC management, administrators, staff, teachers, parents, family members, children, and others encountered in the course of work.

Background Clearance

All positions are subject to a background/education check, DMV check, NSOR, exclusion and debarment checks prior to hire and periodically throughout employment as required by various funding sources.

Transportation

Must have and maintain a valid California Driver’s License, daily use of a personal, insured vehicle, and a motor vehicle driving record acceptable to MAAC’s insurance carrier. Incumbents will be enrolled in the California DMV Pull Program.