Lead Teacher – Head Start, Preschool (GA)

The Opportunity Alliance; Portland (ME); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Paid holidays

Medical benefits

Dental and Vision insurance

403(b) retirement with agency match

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

The Opportunity Alliance in Portland, ME is seeking a Lead Teacher for its Preschool Head Start program to provide safe, nurturing, and stimulating learning environments, supervise assistants, and implement developmentally appropriate activities aligned with Head Start standards.

The role is full-time, 40 hours per week for a school-year schedule (~36 weeks), with a focus on family engagement and fostering growth for children birth to age 5 in a center-based setting.

Qualifications

• Associate degree in Early Childhood Education or related field with 12 infant/toddler credits required.
• Infant/Toddler CDA or Maine ITC credential or comparable credential required.
• Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or social work preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide safe, nurturing, and stimulating learning environments in center-based settings.
• Supervise Assistant teachers and other classroom staff.
• Implement child development programming aligned with Head Start standards and Maine licensing rules.

Skills

Supervisory experience

Child development knowledge

Teamwork

Cultural competence

Education

Associate degree in ECE or related field with infant/toddler credits

Infant/Toddler CDA or Maine ITC credential

Bachelor’s degree in ECE or Social Work (preferred)

Job description

Lead Teacher – Preschool (Portland Based) Head Start program

The Opportunity Alliance is seeking a Head Start Lead Teacher to join the Head Start team and make a difference in the lives of children and families in your community. Head Start promotes the school readiness of young children from low-income families through local programs. Head Start and Early Head Start programs support the mental, social, and emotional development of children from birth to age 5. The Lead Teacher is responsible for providing safe, nurturing, and stimulating learning environments in center-based settings and supervision of Assistant teachers and any additional classroom staff. The Lead Teacher implements child development programming to support the overall growth and development of children and families in accordance with the Family and Early Childhood Education program plan, Head Start Performance Standards, State of Maine licensing rules, and NAEYC Accreditation Standards.

Schedule: Full-time, 40 hours per week, Monday – Friday. This is a school-year schedule, not year-round (approx. 36 weeks/year).

Location: Portland, ME.

Qualifications:

• An Associate degree in Early Childhood Education or an Associate degree in a related field with 12 infant/toddler credits or; an Infant/Toddler Child Development Associate (CDA) credential or comparable credential (Maine ITC) and an Associate degree in a related field required.
• Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or social work preferred.
• 1-3 years of supervisory experience preferred.
• 2-4 years of center-based teaching, early intervention, home visiting or community-based work related to infants/toddlers and their families preferred.
• Knowledge of the important role that culture plays in child & family development.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with complex information to address challenging situations.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with teams.
• Commitment to social justice and the mission of Head Start.
• Must be able to successfully pass a criminal background, child protective service check & sex offender check.
• Must not be on the state or federal suspension and disbarment list.
• Must be able to pass pre-employment physical and TB screen.
• Must be current on MMR and TDAP immunizations.
• Must be able to exert significant physical effort with frequent standing, walking, reaching, stooping, bending, kneeling, crouching, typing and frequently lift and carry small children or material weighing up to 25 pounds.
• Driving may be necessary to attend meetings and trainings but is not a primary and essential job responsibility.

Benefits:

• Generous paid time off accrual
• 9 paid holidays per calendar year and up to 3 floating holidays per calendar year
• Excellent medical benefits at very reasonable cost
• Dental and Vision insurance options
• Agency paid basic life insurance and STD & LTD disability insurances
• 403(b) retirement with a generous agency match (all employees are eligible)
• Tuition Reimbursement – offered once per year through an application process

Our benefits include but are not limited to: (offered to full-time and part-time employees).

To learn more about our benefits please visit https://www.opportunityalliance.org/explore-our-benefits.

Who we are…

The Opportunity Alliance is “Helping People Reach for a Brighter Future”. Mission: The Opportunity Alliance works with people to build better lives and stronger communities. We provide advocacy, leadership, and support to identify the goals and address the needs of individuals, families, and communities. The Opportunity Alliance (TOA) is a dynamic, results-focused Community Action Agency providing approximately 50 integrated community-based and clinical programs serving more than 20,000 people annually throughout the state of Maine. With over 50 years of experience, TOA draws from a comprehensive set of programs which address issues such as mental health, substance use, homelessness, lack of basic needs, and access to community supports. Through an extensive array of services, TOA provides opportunities for individuals to stabilize fragile situations and then works with them to achieve self-sufficiency. TOA is client-focused with extensive experience working with diverse client populations. TOA programming includes four key sectors of service: Mental Health & Wellness, Community Building, Family & Early Childhood Education, Economic Resources.

To build better lives and stronger communities across Maine, The Opportunity Alliance supports people with the programs and resources they need to improve their health, safety, and stability.

The Opportunity Alliance envisions a community in which all people in Maine have access to high-quality childcare and early childhood education programs, safe and stable housing, effective and compassionate mental health and substance use treatment, and basic needs supports.

Why Work for TOA Employee Testimonials Explore our Benefits For general inquiries: [e-mail] Administrative Office: 50 Lydia Lane South Portland, ME 04106