Lead Teacher

Lightbridge Academy is a small business in Frederick, MD. We are professional, innovative, rewarding and our goal is to As a member of our team, you will play a valuable role in the Circle of Care — the supportive relationships necessary for children and families to thrive and the inspiration behind everything we do here at Lightbridge Academy. Learn more about our Circle of Care and the core values we're committed to by visiting our Why Us?

Our work environment includes :

• Growth opportunities
• Safe work environment
• On-the-job training
• Lively atmosphere
• Flexible working hours
• Position Summary

The Lead Teacher is the leader within the classroom and is responsible for carrying out and ensuring that the classroom operates with the highest standards of educational excellence and quality and offers a safe learning environment. Responsible for teaching students basic academic, social, and other formative skills at the childcare level, and in accordance with Lightbridge Academy Mission, Vision and Core Values. Lead Teachers are responsible for developing and supervising Assistant Teachers in the classroom, while maintaining the integrity of the company and serving as a steward of Lightbridge Academy within the community.

• Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The essential functions include, but are not limited to the following :

• Deliver quality classroom experiences by ensuring a safe and nurturing learning environment that encourages social, emotional, physical, and intellectual development.
• Responsible for overall classroom management, developing clear classroom goals, planning and implementing appropriate lessons plans in accordance with the Seedlings curriculum, and guiding Assistant Teachers to continually meet the highest standards of excellence in quality childcare, education and safety.
• Encourage a partnering relationship with parents to work as a team for the benefit of the child and keep parents informed of the child’s progress on a regular basis, including formal parent conferences twice a year.
• Deliver exceptional customer service to parents by going above and beyond to address questions and concerns and assist parents promptly and effectively.
• Observe and assess students for creating and maintaining individual profiles, portfolios, and parent conferences, and adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests.
• Always maintain interaction with children during small and whole group interactive learning.
• Implement a philosophy of positive reinforcement and redirection of children’s behavior, in accordance with Lightbridge Academy’s Discipline Policy.
• Supervise children during daily outdoor recess.
• Ensure proper staff / child ratio as set by the state licensing entity.
• Maintain responsibility in the areas of 1) planning, assigning and directing work of Teacher Assistants, 2) conducting performance observations, providing constructive feedback, supportive coaching, corrective action, and overall guidance for professional development, and 3) addressing complaints and resolving problems of direct reports.
• Develop and conduct weekly mini meetings with Assistant Teachers, and other meetings as needed.
• Participate in required trainings and meetings, and travel to off-site trainings as needed.
• Participate in marketing events and tours as needed; assist with the sales process by engaging parents during the classroom tour and following-up post-tour.
• Maintain the standards per the Association of Early Learning Leaders and the company’s operation and education audits.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)
• Child Development Associate (CDA), Group Teacher, or Associates Degree in education or related field; Bachelor’s Degree in education or related field is preferred. Related age certification required.
• Minimum of one (1) year of childcare experience, classroom experience preferred.
• Maintain continuing education requirements per company and state requirements.
• Commitment to the Profession
• – Demonstrates a commitment to early child education and effectiveness in enabling children to achieve high levels of developmental and academic growth.
• Initiative
• – Ability to proactively spearhead and coordinate the execution of responsibilities in order to achieve desired outcome and identifies and develops new ideas and challenges for business improvement.
• Communication
• – Ability to read, write, and communicate using proper English grammar, communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, and work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community.
• Teamwork
• – Ability and desire to work cooperatively with others on a team; act as a team leader by demonstrating interest, skill, and success in getting groups to learn to work together.
• Adaptability
• – Responds to change with a positive attitude and a willingness to learn new ways to accomplish work activities and objectives.
• Customer Service
• – Demonstrates strong commitment to identifying and meeting customers’ needs in a timely and appropriate manner, and continually seeks to ensure their full satisfaction.
• Motivation
• – Willingness to take self-directed or self-motivated actions to do more than is expected in the job with the aim of improving job performance and finding or creating new opportunities.
• Leadership
• – Ability to set a vision, inspire collaboration among staff members, and coach and build teams to achieve mutual goals.
• Integrity
• – Instills mutual trust and confidence, creates a culture that fosters high standards of ethics, behaves in a fair and ethical manner toward others, and demonstrates a sense of corporate responsibility and commitment to the population served.
• Decision-Making & Judgment
• – Able to react quickly with sound judgment and problem-solving skills in complex and critical situations such as injuries and accidents.
• Self-Development
• –Responds positively to feedback regarding performance, continually strives to develop professionally, and takes advantage of opportunities to grow.
• Technical
• –Proficiency with use of technology such as tablets, smart devices, and Microsoft Word.
• Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands or fingers, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, and perform manual tasks. The employee must frequently lift and / or move up to 35 pounds and must occasionally lift and / or move up to 60 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Employees are expected to interact with others, and successfully concentrate and think in this role. The typical work environment for this position is a classroom but requires the ability to perform duties outdoors during daily recess, except in cases of extreme weather conditions.

Job Type : Full-time

Schedule :

• 8-hour shift
• Monday to Friday

Application Question(s) :

• Do you have certifications to qualify you to work in a licensed childcare center in the state of MD?
• Do you hold the qualifications per the Office of Child Care to be a Lead Teacher?

Experience :

• Childcare : 1 year (Preferred)

License / Certification :

• CPR Certification (Preferred)

Work Location : In person

Job Type : Full-time

Pay : $19.00 - $21.00 per hour

Schedule :

• 8 hour shift

Ability to commute / relocate :

• Frederick, MD 21703 : Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Preferred)

License / Certification :

• CPR Certification (Preferred)
• CDA or MD Lead Qualified Certificates (Required)

Work Location : In person