Job Title: Early Head Start Lead Admin Teacher

Supervisory Responsibility: Reports to Site Coordinator

Job Summary:

The Early Head Start Lead Teacher is responsible for fostering the social, emotional, and cognitive development of infants, toddlers, and two-year-olds through developmentally appropriate educational practices, while ensuring a safe, nurturing, and high-quality classroom environment. This position provides leadership and supervision to Early Head Start staff, supports daily center operations, ensures compliance with Head Start Performance Standards and licensing regulations, and promotes a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Duties/Responsibilities:

·Promote school readiness by enhancing children's social, cognitive, and overall development through educational, health, nutritional, and social services. Comply with Head Start Performance Standards, the Head Start Act, Michigan Child Care Licensing Rules, 5-Year Grant requirements, USDA-CACFP requirements, NMCAA policies and procedures, and all applicable regulatory guidelines.

·Adhere to Child Protection Law, mandated reporting requirements, and NMCAA's policies including Code of Conduct and Early Childhood Guidance Policy.

·Serve as a lead for classroom operations, including supervising staff, participating in hiring and onboarding, and supporting daily center operations. Provide coaching and mentoring, completing performance reviews in collaboration with the Site Coordinator, and support staff in achieving professional development goals.

·Serve as Early Childhood Program Administrator (CCLB) in accordance with licensing requirements.

·Support recruitment and enrollment efforts by collaborating with the Site Coordinator and Recruitment and Health Specialist to ensure full enrollment, including participation in orientation of newly enrolled families and reinforcing program expectations such as attendance, participation and engagement.

·Track attendance in Child Plus, monitor trends, and address attendance barriers with staff and families.

·Provide a developmentally appropriate classroom environment using Creative Curriculum, School Readiness Goals, the Early Learning Outcomes Framework, and the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS).

·Develop and monitor School Readiness Goals to ensure progress toward

child outcomes.

·Collaborate with teaching staff to develop and implement weekly lesson plans that are data-driven, individualized, and based on child assessment

data (GOLD), staff input, and family input. Conduct developmental screenings and ongoing assessments within required timelines.

·Promote positive behavior guidance using redirection and Conscious Discipline. Support staff in developing and implementing classroom support strategies and behavior plans. Address behavioral challenges through structured planning and team collaboration.

·Support children with disabilities by ensuring implementation of IFSPs, IEPs, and Individualized Action Plans. Collaborate with Early On and other service providers, participate in IFSP/IEP meetings when appropriate, and support families in understanding and accessing services.

·Ensure a safe, healthy, and organized environment by implementing Active Supervision practices. Implement emergency procedures and ensure full compliance with health, safety, and risk management requirements, including medication administration, allergy protocols, and authorized release procedures. Accurately report incidents and accidents as required.

·Support completion of child health requirements, referrals, and follow-up services, including implementation of mental health support plans as needed. Reinforce health, nutrition, and wellness practices with families.

·Ensure consistent communication with families, including daily written communication, and foster strong family partnerships. Collaborate with Family Engagement Specialists to support family engagement activities and connect families with community resources. Serve as a communication bridge between families and Family Engagement Specialists by sharing relevant information, identifying needs, and supporting connections to services and resources. Support parent education by sharing information on child development and reinforcing learning strategies and assist with the implementation of family engagement activities and events. Maintain awareness of available community resources and partnerships to support family needs.

·Develop and distribute regular family communication materials (e.g., monthlynewsletters) to support engagement and program awareness.

·Coordinate and support transition activities for children moving to other programs or settings.

·Track attendance in ChildPlus, monitor trends, and address attendance barriers with staff and families. Maintain accurate records for attendance, meals,

health requirements, program documentation, child and employee files, and budget-related tracking and reporting, utilizing systems such as ChildPlus, Podio, e3, and SharePoint to support continuous quality improvement.

·Support and model developmentally appropriate mealtime practices, including active engagement with children during meals and ensuring compliance with CACFP and nutrition requirements.

·Monitor classroom supplies, submit requests, and support in-kind documentation and tracking.

·Support overall center operations and assist with problem-solving as needed. Be available to support other classrooms across the program, including substituting as needed.

·Be present and actively engaged with children during core classroom hours and maintain flexibility to meet the needs of children, families, and program operations.

·Attend required meetings, trainings, and professional development opportunities. Ensure completion of required trainings, certifications, and

ongoing professional development requirements for self and staff.

·Perform other duties as assigned.

RequiredSkills/Abilities:

·A commitment to the NMCAA philosophy and mission

·Ability to maintain confidentiality

·Abilitytoengagewithco-workersandclientsinapositive,non-judgmental,andcourteousmanner

·Strong leadership, coaching, and mentoring abilities

·Ability to support staff development and goal-setting

·Strong communication, organizational, and time management skills

·Ability to collaborate, problem-solve, and prioritize tasks

·Ability to perform physical job requirements

Education and Experience:

·Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or related field with infant/toddler focus preferred. Minimum CDA with Infant Toddler focus.

Additional Qualifications Required:

·Required training and CEUs per licensing and program requirements

·Infant/toddler coursework and training within required timelines

·Minimum age 21

·Meets state and federal background check requirements

·Meets health and licensing requirements

·Experience working with low-income and at-risk families preferred

Physical Requirements and Work Environment:

·Ability to lift up to 50 lbs.

·Frequent bending, stooping, reaching, climbing, crawling, kneeling, twisting, and repetitive motions.

·Routine use of standard office equipment.

·Moderate driving for program-related responsibilities.

·Potential exposure to bodily fluids and communicable diseases.

Travel Requirements:

·Travel within service area for meetings, trainings, and home visits (including required home visits per program year)

Licensing and Other Requirements:

·Valid driver's license and proof of vehicle insurance

·Must meet all state and federal licensing requirements.

Work Hours:

·Monday-Friday, approximately aligned with program operations. Flexibility required to meet family and program needs.