Job Description:

POSITION SUMMARY

Master/Lead Teachers work directly with children, parents, and members of their teaching team to provide a developmentally appropriate program for young children. They demonstrate and train staff and practicum students, implement emergent curriculum, provide a learning environment for the whole child, incorporate all learning styles in their classrooms and demonstrate a commitment and understanding of anti-bias education and its implementation. 

Master/Lead teachers have an important role in the classroom and in the school.  They lead a small collaborative team of experienced teachers in developing an emergent curriculum, and supporting children’s thinking and individual development.   Other responsibilities include:  teaching, parent relations, home-school communications and connections, furthering school-wide initiatives along with other master teachers. 

Master/Lead Teachers are ultimately responsible for the overall coordination and operation of the entire program and report directly to the Executive Director of the Children’s School.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
•    Demonstrate a clear understanding of and commitment to the progressive philosophy of the Children’s School
•    Responsible for planning and implementing a developmentally curriculum on a daily basis
•    Ensure a safe, healthy, and clean environment for all children 
•    Establish limits; facilitate problem solving, conflict resolution, and model humanistic interactions
•    Establish a trusting relationship with children with a focus on anti-bias perspectives

JOB FUNCTIONS:
•    Ensure the setup of a purposeful environment both indoors and outdoors
•    Guide children’s growth through observations, daily recording, and consultation with the Executive Director, parents, and staff.
•    Supervise staff in their written observations
•    Protect the health and safety of all children at all times
•    Provide an in-depth developmental summary for each child at least once a year
•    Communicate with external consulting firms for children with special needs
•    Establish collaborative partnerships with parents including a respect for cultural differences, family configurations and a variety of parenting styles
•    Facilitate a communication system for families in the program which may include daily notes, and weekly/monthly newsletters
•    Communicate regularly with parents/families concerning children’s individual needs and program goals 
•    Conduct individual parent conferences at least twice a year
•    Facilitate scheduled parent meetings at least three times a year. 
•    Attend and contribute to Parent Orientation meetings and other special events throughout the school year 
•    Supervise the assignments and daily responsibilities of each staff member
•    Support staff in curriculum planning
•    Model appropriate techniques of working with children and adults
•    Provide guidance, direction, and leadership
•    Lead daily and/or weekly staff meetings
•    Suggest/provide professional articles for extending knowledge in the field
•    Conduct individual staff conferences as needed
•    Monitor daily staffing in coordination with Children’s School Office
•    Evaluate staff performance and set goals while providing support for the staff
•    Supervise the work of practicum students including curriculum planning and work with children
•    Provide an orientation to practicum students at the beginning of each semester 
•    Meet with students individually on a weekly basis
•    Confer with Practicum Faculty as needed concerning students’ performances and evaluations 
•    Liaise with faculty about practicum students
•    Other duties as assigned. 

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:
•    Model appropriate ethical behavior for children, families, and colleagues while exemplifying care, respect, and honesty
•    Maintain professionalism and confidentiality
•    Skilled, knowledgeable, and experienced in preschool teaching based on active learning, play, progressive, constructivist, and/or emergent principles.  
•    Effective written and verbal communication skills

PREFERRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:
•    Communicate with members of the school community openly, directly, promptly, and constructively without resorting to gossip and rumor
•    Monitor maintenance needs of the program environment and request necessary maintenance as needed
•    Use appropriate channels for problem solving and communication
•    Attend Children’s School staff meetings, parent orientations, and sponsored events at the Children’s School
•    Demonstrate punctuality and adhere to appropriate attendance standards
•    Ability to run, walk, stand for extended periods of time, bend, climb, see up close and at a distance, sit on the floor with children, lift up to 40 pounds and reach children quickly in the event of an emergency.
•    Demonstrated ability to work well with colleagues, parents, and others.
•    Interested in continuing to learn and stretch professionally.   Growth-minded.
•    Ability to support professional development of program staff and give guidance as needed
•    Leadership and supervisory skills and able to make sound decisions and delegate

REQUIRED EDUCATION:

Bachelor’s degree and eligible to earn a graduate degree in 2 years for Lead Teacher.Master's degree for Master Teacher

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE:
•    Previous experience working with children (6-months minimum).

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE:
•    Previous experience working with children (2 years preferred).

TYPICAL WORKING CONDITIONS:
•    Indoor and outdoor setting; temperature range from 60’s to 100’s (outdoors). 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS (based on a typical week):

Key:
C    =    Constant     (over 66% of time)
F    =     Frequent     (34%-66% of time) 
O    =    Occasional     (1%-33% of time) 

•    Lifting/carrying under 10 lbs. – F
•    Lifting/carrying 11-20 lbs. – F
•    Lifting/carrying 21-50 lbs. – F
•    Lifting/carrying 51-100 lbs. – O
•    Pushing/pulling under 10 lbs. – F
•    Pushing/pulling 11-20 lbs. – F
•    Pushing/pulling 21-50 lbs. – F
•    Pushing/pulling 51-100 lbs. – O
•    Reaching outward – C
•    Reaching over shoulder – F
•    Reaching over head – F
•    Sitting – C
•    Standing – C
•    Bending – C
•    Climbing – O
•    Crawling – O
•    Walking on normal surfaces – C
•    Walking on uneven surfaces – C
•    Repetitive motion (hands) – O
•    Repetitive motion (feet) – O
 

Compensation & Benefits

This opportunity is budgeted at $20.00-21.50 base compensation. Additional compensation factors may impact total compensation. To learn more about our competitive benefits and additional rewards, including generous paid time-off, medical and dental insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, retirement plan with employer contribution, multiple flexible spending accounts, tuition reimbursement, click the link below.

https://www.pacificoaks.edu/about/careers-pacific-oaks/

Pacific Oaks is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Pacific Oaks participates in E-Verify and verifies identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired.
 

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. Pacific Oaks offers equal employment opportunities to all persons without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, parental status, housing status, source of income or military status, in accordance with applicable federal, state and local EEO laws.