Center Manager/Lead Teacher: Fort Scott

Classification: Full-time Status: Exempt

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Center Manager/Lead Teacher provides daily leadership and support to staff, ensuring high-quality, developmentally appropriate services for children and families. This role promotes a positive, collaborative environment for the center. This position also oversees one classroom as lead teacher. The position ensures the early childhood program meets all Head Start and state licensing standards.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Leadership & Supervision

Lead and supervise classroom staff, custodian, cook (in conjunction with Nutrition Manager).

Provide regular supervision and support through reflective supervision, training, and performance appraisals.

Directly supervise teaching positions and cross-train for all center roles.

Facilitate and plan classroom team meetings, guiding problem-solving and ensuring service delivery.

Serve as the first line of communication with classroom staff.

Ensuring other lead teachers in the center are compliant with their assigned duties, which may include but not limited to some of the following below.

Program Implementation & Compliance

Promote excellence and ensure daily program operations that support quality services for children and families, while fostering a thriving environment for all staff.

Implement and maintain Policies and Procedures and Programs which include the following: Head Start Performance Standards, KDHE Licensing, Child and Adult Care Food Program, Personnel Manual, Social/Emotional strategies, Reflective Supervision, ERSEA, APRICOT, Frog Street, Cognitive Toybox and recruitment plans to ensure compliance.

Responsible for requesting, ordering, or purchasing items needed for classroom and center through database.

Support management decisions both in actions and words.

Other duties as assigned.

Classroom & Child Development Oversight

Utilize Social/Emotional strategies to prevent and reduce challenging behavior.

Model for staff and family’s appropriate ways to engage with children 0-5 years old.

Obtain and share knowledge of theories and techniques regarding Early Childhood development.

Basic care for the needs of children including but not limited to toileting, family style meals, and daily routines.

Engage with children in ways that support their language development, learning, and overall growth.

Demonstrate patience and understanding based on each child's developmental level.

Ensure active supervision of children using indoor/outdoor zoning.

Create and implement developmentally appropriate weekly lesson plans individualizing for children’s needs by using observations and information from Cognitive toybox.

Set up a developmentally appropriate classroom based on Head Start Performance Standards-using Frog Street, Social/Emotional supports and other identified strategies identified by Center Supervisor and Head Start Management Team as needed.

Screen and observe the developmental level of each child by making appropriate referrals to the local Special Education Services.

Individualize teaching to enable children to attain school readiness and social emotional goals with the assistance of families.

Family & Community Engagement

Conduct two educational home visits and two parent teacher conferences throughout the program year for assigned classroom

Work cooperatively with Family Services and other professionals.

Be responsible for ensuring communication between early childhood resources and the families that we serve (Examples: Nutrition, health, and special services).

Works directly with Family Advocate to ensure recruitment hours are being achieved and any volunteer hours are documented for center.

Model for staff appropriate ways to engage with families.

Provide information from Cognitive Toybox reports during parent teacher conferences, home visits and/or upon request of parent.

Ensure parents/primary caregivers are informed of all policies included in the Parent Handbook.

Develop relationships with education and administrative staff at local schools to ensure smooth transitions to new educational settings for all Head Start children.

Participate in Individualized Education Plan (IEP) and/or Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) meetings for assigned children with special needs while taking the role of resource person and parent advocate.

Recruit, train, and schedule community and parent volunteers, and document hours for federal match requirements.

Data Management & Administrative Duties

Ensure accurate and timely completion of reports and documentation, including lesson plans, time sheets, meal counts, attendance, and child progress reports.

Complete necessary forms and documentation relevant to program and staff management.

Training & Professional Development

Participate in mental health clinical consultations to support staff, enrolled children, and their families.

Attend mandatory In-Service trainings and staff meetings.

Be available to travel within agency area and occasional out of area trips for training and professional development.

Collaborate with the Professional Development Coordinator to track staff progress.

Health, Safety & Emergency Preparedness

Conduct and document health and safety checklists.

Ensure safe classroom and playground environments.

Identify children’s nutritional needs, ensure that children’s allergy/dietary information is located the kitchen, Classroom Support Guide and inform all necessary staff.

Assess children and help support staff and families to conduct developmental and social emotional screenings.

Responsibility to report any suspected abuse or neglect to appropriate authority.

Follow all emergency procedures to ensure the safety and well-being of children and staff during drills or real incidents.

Serve as the primary contact for alarm calls, emergency responses, and general center operations outside regular hours.

Professional Expectations

Maintain regular, reliable attendance to ensure consistency and safety for children.

Collaborate with classroom staff to maintain a safe, welcoming, and engaging learning environment.

Demonstrate professionalism by actively advocating for SEK-CAP, Inc. within the community and serving as a strong advocate for Head Start children and families.

Respecting and supporting cultural differences and diverse family structures while maintaining strict confidentiality and privacy of all those involved with SEK-CAP. Through these actions, the Lead Teacher upholds the agency’s mission and fosters trust, inclusivity, and positive relationships with families and the community.

Ability to establish and maintain positive, effective working relationships with co-workers, community partners, and customers.

Demonstrate a strong work ethic by adhering to schedules, following supervision directives, and complying with all agency policies and procedures.

Ability to work unconventional business hours.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

Basic computer skills General PC knowledge, must have a working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, data entry, Email and Digital Calendars

Basic operation skills of general office equipment such as photocopiers, faxes, and phone systems.

Superior interpersonal skills. Ability to get along with diverse personalities. Tactful, mature, and flexible.

Ability to meet and deal tactfully with the public and to communicate effectively and clearly both orally and in writing.

Resourceful and well organized.

Ability to learn and adapt.

EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood or related field with 15 hours in Early Childhood education preferred.

Obtain State Site Director Program Approval through the State of Kansas within 30 days.

Five years’ supervisory experience preferred.

3-5 years of experience working with young children in a classroom setting preferr