Lead Teacher – Early Childhood Educator

Lead Teacher – Early Childhood Educator
Nashville, TN, United States
JOB DESCRIPTION
From birth through age five, children develop a sense of emotional security, form relationships, and learn social skills. Young children depend on early childhood educators for physical care; their survival depends on attentive, nurturing adults. The responsiveness of early childhood educators to the social, emotional, and physical needs of young children has a profound influence on children's development and learning.

The work of the Lead Teacher requires simultaneous attention to teaching and caregiving, meeting young children's needs for nurturance while maintaining a safe and healthy learning environment.

About the Work Unit:

Child & Family Center offers quality early childhood education and care for the children of Vanderbilt Faculty, staff, and students. The program serves children age infants (6 weeks) to five years old. The Centers are licensed by the Tennessee Department of Education. For more information about VU's Child & Family Centers, click here:

Duties and Responsibilities

Child Development:

Curriculum for young children includes personal-care routines, schedules, environments, and interactions
that meet children's individual needs and reflect diverse perspectives and interests.
Developmentally appropriate environments promote exploration, discovery, learning, health, and safety for all children in all domains.
Supportive of children's feelings, perceptions, behaviors, and interactions, and seeks to understand them
Values play as essential to a young child's development and learning.
Values the cultivation of self-care and personal safety skills and judgment in children, and the inclusion of children and families as active participants in learning about, health, safety, and nutrition.
Child Care Operations:

Attentive supervision of children: knows classroom enrollment, constantly scans classroom/playground to ensure safety, and closely monitors children by constantly taking attendance.
Models and implements hygiene practices and nutrition routines.
Mentor and support Associate Teachers, Assistants, Floating Teachers, and Interns.
Customer Service:

Creates an atmosphere of joyful learning community.
Friendly greeting to each and every parent/visitor.
Plan and implement developmentally appropriate curriculum and activities aligned with VCFC pedagogy and policy, and DHS licensing standards:

Ensure curriculum reflects planning and preparation, and with co-teachers.
Ensure curriculum activities are well resourced (collects needed materials and supplies in advance.)
Ensure curriculum activities and the design of the classroom reflect the five domains: Approaches to Learning; Social-Emotional Development; Physical Development and Health; Language, Literacy, and Communication; and Mathematics and Science. Plans, implements, and evaluates activities based on the developmental needs of the children.
Compliance with DOE licensing standards, including submit needed reports.
Maintain attendance records and submit reports (as required by VCFC and DOE).
• Write and release a monthly newsletter informing parents of classroom activities.
Maintains a clean, safe, orderly classroom environment which contributes to the physical, emotional, social, and cognitive growth of children.

Clean and organize a joyful learning environment, and according to VCFC policies and procedures for a safe and healthy classroom and playground.
Ensure children's five senses are well met by the design of the classroom: How does it look, sound, smell, feel (and taste)?
Focus on direct engagement with children: Prioritizing adult: child conversations, playing with children, and leading activities.
Limit distractions and remove visual and physical clutter in the classroom.
Punctuality: arrives on time, always maintains appropriate adult-child ratios.
Self-awareness for respectful, responsive communication: monitors tone and volume of own voice to ensure positive interactions with children, parents, and coworkers.
Talks, sings, reads, and facilitates discussions with children throughout the day in order to enhance their language development and early literacy. (Multiple languages encouraged.)
Supervision of children at all times: implements VCFC strategies for head counts and attendance, monitors clean-up and transitions, and continuously scans playground and classroom in order to assure the safety and security of all children.
Facilitate orientation and supervision of practicum students and volunteers.

Communicate necessary information concerning schedules and activities.
Develop and discuss weekly and daily plans with co-workers.
• Model best practice, and offer clear directions to students, observers, and volunteers.
Maintain children's records, such as daily report forms, and developmental profiles.

Document and report concerns or unusual behaviors to supervisor
Monitor children's behavior and development, and maintain portfolios.
Maintain a clean and safe learning environment.

Comply with center cleaning and sanitizing procedures and schedules.
Monitor classroom inventory of supplies and materials. Promptly place orders.
Remove broken toys and materials, immediately report needed repairs.
Participates in staff meetings, parent meetings/conferences, and opportunities for professional development.

Reports issues, concerns, or topics that need to be included in staff meetings.
Attend workshops and conferences as directed by supervisor.
Demonstrates a knowledge and understanding of Department of Human Services Licensing Standards, Parent Handbook, and Staff Handbook.
Professional Communication.

Answers parental questions appropriately and professionally. Avoids conversations with parents concerning children (other than their own), parents, and co-workers.
When supervising and interacting with children, limits conversations with other adults.
Cellphones are kept silenced and out of sight when in ratio with children.
Models appropriate interactions and behaviors for children, including manner words.

Supervisory Relationships

This position reports administratively and functionally to the Site Director.

Qualifications

BA/BS in Child Development (or related field and 18+ units in Early Childhood Education) is preferable
Ability to pass a Child Care Background Investigation (per DOE licensing).
Ability to lift and carry 40 pounds.
Ability to reach, run, sit, squat, stoop, and walk.
Knowledge of blood-borne pathogens, and ability to implement safety procedures (including for diapering, nutrition, First Aid)
Possession of or ability to become Infant-Child First Aid/CPR certified.
Must be physically, mentally, and emotionally capable of using appropriate judgment for the care of children (DOE licensing and pass a relevant medical and psychological examination prior to employment.

Please note, all candidates selected for an offer of employment are subject to pre-employment background checks, which may include but are not limited to, based on the role for which they have been selected: criminal history, education verification, social media review, motor vehicle records, credit history, and professional license verification.

In addition to offering a lively community that encourages learning and celebrates diversity, VU offers a competitive, flexible benefits package including health, dental, vision, life, accidental death & dismemberment, disability insurance, paid time off, and a 403(b) retirement plan with employer match. Vanderbilt offers tuition assistance to employees, spouses and dependent children. Also, after five years of service, Vanderbilt will pay up to 55% of the tuition for up to three dependent children to earn a bachelor's degree. Learn more about Vanderbilt's benefits at VU Benefits Overview

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

At Vanderbilt University, we are intentional about and assume accountability for fostering advancement and respect for equity, diversity, and inclusion for all students, faculty, and staff. Our commitment to diversity makes us who we are. We have created a community that celebrates differences and lets individuality thrive. As part of this commitment, we actively value diversity in our workplace and learning environments as we seek to take advantage of the rich backgrounds and abilities of everyone. The diverse voices of Vanderbilt represent an invaluable resource for the University in its efforts to fulfill its mission and strive to be an example of excellence in higher education.

Vanderbilt University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Please note, all candidates selected for an offer of employment are subject to pre-employment background checks, which may include but are not limited to, based on the role for which they have been selected: criminal history, education verification, social media review, motor vehicle records, credit history, and professional license verification.