Teacher Director

East Side House Settlement (ESH) is a community resource in the South Bronx. We believe education is the key that enables all people to create an economic and civic opportunities for themselves, their families and the communities.

East Side House’s Early Childhood programs provide Early Head Start and Head Start services in a safe, supportive, educational environment for children ages 18+ months to 5 years of age. Serving 231 children daily from five locations, the comprehensive program is designed to develop the cognitive, social, emotional and physical skills of children in a safe, supportive environment. Children and families receive a broad range of educational, nutritional, social and preventive health services. Our staff foster partnerships with families so that they can support school learning and achievement as well as advocate for their children and themselves. We expect that all staff will work collaboratively, and with the community, to promote school readiness while creating a safe, healthy and protective environment.

Essential Functions of Lead Teacher

Duties include, but are not limited to the following key activities for 80% of the working week:

• Supervise the overall function of the classroom.
• Enhance children’s understanding of themselves as individuals and in relation to others by planning with the assistant teacher a flexible program which provides for individual, small group and large group activities.
• Developing children’s social/emotional, physical, cognitive and adaptive skills.
• Observing, recording and assessing children’s developmental growth throughout the school year through program assessments.
• Encourage children to solve problems, initiate activities, experiment, question and gain mastery through learning.
• Hold regular meetings with class team to discuss plans and evaluate progress of children.
• Preparing educational materials required to implement the daily activity plan.
• Maintaining an orderly physical environment conducive to optimal growth and development of children
• Attending and contributing to staff and parent meetings
• Sharing information appropriately with other center staff members
• Research curriculum for different methods and new activities for daily activities
• Schedule home visits and parent teacher conferences for the purpose of receiving parent input into program activities, and to familiarize parents with the curriculum so they can carry out activities in their homes and reinforce the child’s learning.
• Attend scheduled staff meetings, In-Service Trainings, educational meetings and other meetings requested by the Educational Director as it relates to role.
• Developing positive relationships with parents
• Following the approved plan by which information concerning the children and the program can be shared with parents.
• Attending and participating in group parent meetings as required
• Respecting the confidential nature of all information about parents and children
• Coordinate the involvement of parents in educational activities of the program by encouraging parent participation in the classroom.
• Use resources in the community to enhance the program.
• Ensure the safety and well-being of children/participants by being diligent in engagement, attentive to their needs, cognizance of surroundings, and capable of administering immediate assistance as needed.
• Responsible for curriculum planning with classroom teams.

Essential Functions of Teacher Director

Duties include, but are not limited to the following key activities for 20% of the working week outside of classroom time:

• The Teacher Director is responsible for curriculum development and continuity while supervising the educational staff of the site, including teachers, assistant teachers, parent volunteers, college interns, senior citizens and incorporating the concepts of early childhood education.
• They are responsible for staff, parent conferences and workshops, utilizing their skills, technique, and expertise. The Teacher Director is expected to enhance the teaching ability of their staff while giving the parents greater insight to child development and the learning process as envisioned in the philosophy of Head Start.
• On a regular basis, they assign teachers to attend workshops, seminars and classes as deemed appropriate and they are responsible for evaluating the teaching staff on a monthly basis and an annual basis.
• Creates, reviews and analyzes monthly education reports to assist the needs of the site to ensure compliance of funding and regulatory entities.
• Responsible to supervise teaching staff, family service staff, and kitchen staff through monthly supervisory meetings, and site team meetings.
• Through monthly meetings with parent committees, and specially developed parent groups, the Teacher Director serves as a conduit for interaction and involvement of the parents into a positive role in program development as it relates to education and family engagement.
• The Teacher Director is responsible for working in collaboration with the Social Service Unit in an effort to see that all children are medically screened and appropriate treatment when necessary is obtained. The same applies for vision, hearing, dental screening and follow up. Through teacher conferences and personal classroom observation, the Teacher Director alongside the guidance of the Director of Educational Services and Mental Health Consultant will make the appropriate referrals in the areas of mental health and other special needs situations.
• The Teacher Director in conjunction with Social Service Unit is responsible for the transitioning from each age group to the next level being the following age group within the Head Start program, Charter School and Public- School system.
• Monitors the implementation of curriculum and assessment tools.
• With regards to daily program operations, the Teacher Director in his/her supervisory role sees that each class is adequately staffed in the absence of a teacher or assistant teacher.
• Attends scheduled staff meetings, In-Service Trainings, Educational meetings and other meetings requested by supervisor, Director or as it relates to education.
• Ensures safety as a priority in performing all job responsibilities.
• Ensure that the program meets agency, federal, state and local compliance regulations.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.