Position Summary

Ensure a well-run, purposeful program.  Respond appropriately to children’s needs. Assess supply and material needs. Build teamwork. Develop lesson plans. Establish and maintain a safe, healthy, nurturing learning environment.  Support play and exploration. Encourage creativity. Promote appropriate developmental expectations. Support social and emotional development. Manage classrooms according to Mineral Area Early Learning Academy standards and policies. Plan and implement activities to develop intellectual, physical, social, and emotional competence. Establish positive relationships with students, families, and staff. Commit to continuing education.

Key Performance Indicators

1. Design and implement programming to ensure full successful classes at all age levels
2. Maintain knowledge of and adhere to MAELA’s programs and policies
3. Ensure facilities are clean and safe
4. Train and mentor ELA staff
5. Maintain accurate records
6. Recommend and implement approved improvement ideas

Essential Functions

Establish and maintain a safe, healthy, and nurturing learning environment by

1. Designing an appropriate room arrangement to support the goals and developmental level of the children in your classroom.
2. Making sure that the equipment in the classroom is in good repair.
3. Understanding and implementing, when necessary, MAELA emergency procedures.
4. Promoting healthy eating practices at lunch and snack time.
5. Understanding children are never to be left unattended.
6. Understanding that although spills are to be cleaned up immediately, major cleaning should not be done while the children are present.
7. Posting schedules that meet the children’s need for routing and learning.
8. Posting and adhering to MAELA hand washing and diaper changing policies.

Advancing physical and intellectual competence by

1. Adapting program activities to meet the individual needs of the children.
2. Creating a multi-cultural environment.
3. Knowledge of play-based curriculum; creating lesson plans and activities that follow the goals and objectives of the preschool curriculum and completing assessments on every child.
4. Making available a variety of developmentally appropriate materials.
5. Interacting with the children to support play, exploration, and learning.
6. Encouraging children to talk among themselves and with the teachers.
7. Presenting expectations that are appropriate to the child’s age and developmental level. 8. Creating a print-rich environment in which children learn about books, literature and writing.
8. Encouraging creativity through art, music, dramatic play, and blocks.
9. Providing a balance between teacher directed and child directed activities.
10. Providing for active and quiet play.

 Supporting social and emotional development and providing positive guidance by

1. Understanding and adhering to MAELA’s conscious discipline policies.
2. Planning and implementing activities that develop self-esteem and social skills.
3. Planning and implementing activities that enable a child to feel secure.
4. Encouraging, through positive modeling, feelings of empathy and respect for others and the environment.
5. Cultural and ethnic differences are respected.

Establishing positive and productive relationships with families by

1. Communicating appropriately and professionally with parents and fellow staff.
2. Encouraging families to be part of the child’s learning experience.
3. Providing opportunities for conferences and other venues in which parents are made to feel part of the child’s learning experience.
4. Read and understand policies in the parent handbook.

Ensuring a well-run, purposeful program responsive to participant needs by

1. Assessing supplies and materials needed prior to implementing activities.
2. Building teamwork.
3. Developing lesson plans.
4. Managing your classroom according to MAELA standards.
5. Observing children.
6. Using assessment tools.

Maintaining a commitment to professionalism by

1. Promoting MAELA philosophy and educational objectives.
2. Supporting a code of ethical conduct.
3. Committing to continuing education.
4. Attending staff meetings and conferences.

Required Behaviors, Competencies, and Skills

Ability to build and maintain positive relationships with students, colleagues, parents and the community.

Interpersonal skills:

Ability to identify and express problems and develop solutions from alternative methods and procedures.

Ability to understand directions, ask questions for clarification, and demonstrate appropriate action.

Technical skills:

 Ability to follow directions and maintain accurate knowledge of regulations.

Experience

Education:

Associate’s Degree in Child Development or Early Childhood. The Mineral Area Early Learning Academy Lead Teacher must meet the state qualifications and National Standards for an early learning academy teacher.

Work Experience:

Experience and education in early childhood instruction.

Industry Knowledge:

Knowledge of local, state, and national early childhood regulations and standards. 

Work Environment and Physical Requirements

The Lead Teacher must, after an offer of employment is made, produce a current physical examination by a physician with a tuberculin test or chest x-ray, have approved state clearance forms for child abuse and a certificate demonstrating an approved criminal record check. The Lead Teacher must have the ability to hear the conversational voice, with or without a hearing aid, and demonstrate the ability to see and read newsprint, with or without corrective lenses, and to be able to speak and be understood under normal circumstances. All teachers must be able to monitor children both indoors and outdoors and must be able to monitor children by themselves. The Lead Teacher must be able to lift and carry children and other items weighing up to 50 pounds, use arms, hands, legs, and feet, with or without corrective devices, to accomplish the job, including the evacuation of the building during emergencies.

Benefits

Full-time employees of the Early Learning Academy operating on the Mineral Area College campus are members of the Public Education Employee Retirement System of Missouri.  Full-time employees work 40 hours each week during the day Monday through Friday. Full-time ELA employees receive 7 paid holidays, two weeks of paid vacation – taken the week of July 4th and the week of Christmas; and 8 hours of PTO each month as detailed in the Early Learning Academy Employee Handbook. Full-time employees have Mineral Area College insurance group options including medical, dental, vision, life, ltd, ad&d, FSA, HSA, 403(b.)

Please email your resume to [email protected].