ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
-Develops, weekly plans, and implements age appropriate curriculum (lesson plan) to nurture and
stimulate all domains of children’s development in their care.
-On an on-going basis, plan, evaluate and improve the physical environment in the classroom to
create opportunities to meet the changing needs of the developing child.
-Provide responsive care to all children by adapting daily care giving routines and plans to the
interests and needs of the individual child and the group.
-Prepare developmental progress reports as needed.
-Demonstrate cultural competency and respect for the child's background by incorporating the
cultural, linguistic and familial values and beliefs into the childcare program and lesson plans.
-Completes child transition and orientation of the classroom with parents.
-Maintain ongoing, open communication with parents/ caregivers.
-Provide a classroom environment that encourages parent participation.
-Ensure that each family receives an opportunity to build strong relationships and experience clear communication with teaching staff.
-Be able to discuss children's developmental progress, needs and interests with families.
-Liaison with children's families to ensure smooth transition from home to child care setting and transitions from classroom to classroom when needed.
-Assist families with children's transitions from toddler to preschool and from preschool to kindergarten.
-Maintain accurate, complete and timely client and agency records; Completes daily meal and attendance records.
-Maintains up to date emergency forms, curriculum plans, individual child development profile and other records as needed.
-Completes and reports any symptoms of child abuse to supervisor and/or child abuse hotline.
-Completes daily health checks regarding hygiene, safety, and overall wellbeing of the children.
-Assures a healthy, safe, clean and developmentally appropriate environment for children.
-Assist with functioning and monitoring of nutrition and food service.
-Assist with the supervision of staff and volunteers for child care setting.
-Conducts supervision on a weekly basis with Associate Teachers and Assistant Teachers.
-Ensures that the Assistant Teachers are kept updated in all matters concerning the classroom and program, i.e. Lead Teacher Meetings, lesson plans, policies & procedures, training received.
-Completes yearly performance evaluations.
-Provides functional training and guidance to staff, interns, substitutes and volunteers assigned to the classroom.
-Reports all staffing and classroom concerns to director in a timely manner.
-Reports family changes in schedules and excessive absences to administration in a timely manner.

-Participate in on-going in-service and educational development opportunities provided by the center.
-Participate in ongoing development and evaluation of center’s goals and objectives.
-In accordance with our team philosophy, the person filling this position may occasionally be required to carry out or assist with other tasks in addition to the duties listed on this job
description.
-Staff must believe in and act in accordance with Lens Learning Center mission, philosophy,
promises and values.

QUALIFICATIONS
Lead caregivers shall have both of the following qualifications:
-Be at least 19 years of age.
-Have a high school diploma or GED.
-Lead caregivers shall meet 1 of the following qualifications:

     Bachelor’s degree or higher in early childhood education, child development, or a child-related field.
     Associate's degree or higher in early childhood education or child development.

     Montessori credential with 480 Hours of experience.
     Valid child development associate credential with 480 Hours of experience.
     High school diploma/ GED with 12 semester hours of related college coursework plus 960 hours of experience.

     High school diploma/ GED with a combination of: 12 semester hours and/or 18 CEUs to equal 180 clock hours with 1,920 hours of experience.

​

SKILLS & ABILITIES
-Early Child Development knowledge and experience.
-Knowledge in Desired Results, Developmental Appropriate Practices.
-Knowledge of State Requirements for Licensed Childcare Centers.
-Good communication, problem solving, and priority setting skills as well as maintaining an
overall positive and professional attitude /disposition.
- Ability to use the computer to input developmental data.
- Ability to effectively plan, organize and implement educational activities.
-Ability to make decisions on behalf of children and protect their well-being.
-Must be able to manage confidential information.
-Ability to lift and carry up to 25 pounds and in case of emergency a 40-pound child.
All employees, regardless of position, serve as role models for the children we serve at our center.
Therefore, each employee must at all times be emotionally stable and able to function effectively with
children and adults who may have mental or behavioral health problems. The staff must be able to
demonstrate appropriate daily behavior, appropriate expression of emotions, as well as appropriate role
modeling. Hostility, aggression and unnecessary or inappropriate physical actions as well as inappropriate
emotional expression are not acceptable.

​

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to
successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the
employee is required to:
- Frequently walks, uses hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls, and talks or
hears.
- Often required to stand and sit; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, bend, squat
or crawl.
- Ability to lift and carry up to 25 pounds and in case of emergency a 40-pound child.
- Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision,
peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.