Lead Teacher EHS (Westlake)

MAAC (Metropolitan Area Advisory Committee; San Marcos (CA); On-site; USD 33,062 - 39,950; Full time

Job summary

MAAC is seeking qualified Lead Teachers for Early Head Start and Head Start programs in the Westlake/San Marcos area. You will provide direct care to infants and toddlers, plan developmentally appropriate activities, and collaborate with families to support each child’s growth.

Positions require state licensing credentials, relevant ECE education, and experience with 0–3 age groups. This on-site role emphasizes safety, documentation, and family engagement in a federally funded setting.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• 12 ECE units including core units and 3 infant/toddler units.
• One year experience with children 0–3 years old in a child care setting.
• AA Degree with 24 ECE units including core units and 3 infant/toddler units; Lead Teacher I qualification.
• BA Degree with 24 ECE units including core units and 3 infant/toddler units; Lead Teacher II qualification.

Responsibilities

• Serves as a primary caregiver to infants/toddlers with respectful, individualized care.
• Plans and implements age-appropriate activities and group transitions.
• Partners with parents through daily communication, home visits, and conferences.
• Sets up and cleans indoor/outdoor play spaces and ensures safety and cleanliness.
• Documents care and development on daily records and maintains attendance and meal counts.
• Assists with meals per individual feeding plans and maintains records.

Skills

Knowledge of early childhood education

Knowledge of child development

Bilingual English/Spanish

Anti-bias education

Knowledge of Head Start policies

Education

High School Diploma or GED

12 ECE units including core units and 3 infant/toddler units

One year experience with children 0-3

AA Degree in ECE or Child Development (Lead Teacher I)

BA Degree in ECE or Child Development (Lead Teacher II)

Job description

Location: Westlake, San Marcos
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

MAAC STORY

Since 1965, MAAC has been maximizing self-sufficiency with families and individuals through high-quality programs and advocacy in our communities. MAAC employs dedicated staff who provide life-changing services to thousands of individuals annually through programs in five core focus areas: Education, Economic Development, Health & Wellbeing, Housing, and Advocacy & Leadership Development. Through a wide variety of programs, MAAC has grown to become one of the largest nonprofit social service organizations in the community. Learn more about the great things happening with MAAC at http://www.maacproject.org/

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, will provide care for infants and toddlers in the assigned group(s) and will plan, supervise, and implement the education program within the classroom in accordance with policies, procedures, and philosophy of MAAC Child Development Program’s Early Head Start. Early Head Start is a federally funded program for eligible and special needs children 0 – 3 years and pregnant women.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serves as a primary caregiver to assigned infants/toddlers to provide respectful individualized care for infants and toddlers including feeding, diapering and holding.
• Assists with assigning children to primary care group and planning of individualized transitions into care.
• Partners with parents in order to provide consistent and culturally sensitive care through daily communication, as well as scheduled home visits and parent conferences.
• Responsible for planning and implementing age appropriate individual and small group activities including both daily indoor and outdoor activities.
• Responsible for the set‑up, tear down and clean‑up of indoor and outdoor play spaces.
• Responsible for assuring that classroom and outside play areas are maintained to assure cleanliness and safety. Includes sanitizing toys and classroom equipment and assisting with laundry. Maintaining clean and sanitized eating, diapering, and napping areas and equipment.
• Responsible for assuring preparation and serving of meals and snacks according to individual feeding plans.
• Responsible for accurately documenting care and developmental activities on individual daily records and on record keeping documents for each child.
• Responsible for accurate attendance and meal counts.
• Lifts, carries, and holds children weighing 25 – 50 lbs.
• Responsible for scheduling and completing home visits at times convenient to parents; developing Individual Child Plans and Family Development Plans for each child and family at Phase In, and updating the plans at least three times during the school year.
• Attends mandated trainings, programs, conferences, and meetings.
• Assists with personalized services for special needs children (specialized training and equipment provided as needed).
• Performs related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

• Knowledge of early childhood education, child development, anti‑bias education
• Knowledge of local educational and community resources and their ability to be used 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 required, 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 with a minimum of twenty‑four (24) units in Early Childhood Education (ECE), including core units required, 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 that would require a minimum of 24 units in Early Childhood Education or Child Development including core units required, 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 Lead Teacher and Lead Teacher I and Lead Teacher II

• 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 first two months (2) of employment and maintained throughout employment (paid, designated training available through MAAC). In the event employees do not attend the scheduled training, they must obtain the cards through outside resources and costs will not be reimbursed. The certifications must be obtained and maintained within prescribed timeline.

VALUE‑BASED BEHAVIORS

Listens attentively to others. Asks clarifying questions to gain a better understanding of the other person’s views and underlying assumptions. Works effectively in a team environment and actively participates in joint problem solving; willingly cooperates with co‑workers. Identifies and takes advantage of opportunities for personal and professional development. Attends work consistently and punctually. Arrives to meetings prepared and on time; honors work commitments; follows through on what was agreed upon; meets deadlines. Honors the private and confidential matters of co‑workers. Protects the proprietary information of MAAC systems. Follows rules, regulations, and policies; positively contributes to implementing changes. Deals with issues directly, in a respectful and timely manner. Focuses on resolving the issue while not criticizing the person. Follows rules, regulations, and policies; positively contributes to implementing changes.

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

The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this class. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this class, an employee is regularly required to stand, walk and sit, talk or hear both in person and by telephone, uses hands to finger, handle or feel objects or controls, reach with hands and arms. An employee also is regularly required to stoop, kneel, bend, crouch or crawl, climb or balance and lift up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, color vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Mental Demands

While performing the duties of this class, the employee is regularly required to 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 have and maintain a motor vehicle driving record acceptable to MAAC’s insurance carrier. Incumbents will be enrolled in the California DMV Pull Program.