Urban Ventures Leadership Foundation

Job Description

Job Title: Lead Teacher

Job Classification: Hourly/Non-Exempt

Reports to: Director, Cornwell Early Learning Center

Department: Cornwell Early Learning Center

Effective Date: March 20, 2022

About Urban Ventures

Urban Ventures is a faith-based, nonprofit organization with the mission to educate children, strengthen their families, and build a healthy community. We partner with families in some the most under-resourced neighborhoods of south Minneapolis with one overarching goal-to send every youth to college or some form of post-secondary education. Urban Ventures is committed to providing a workplace which promotes diversity and inclusion.

About the Program

Urban Ventures is looking for Early Childhood professionals to join our rapidly growing Cornwell Early Learning Center (CELC), which will serve a culturally and economically diverse group of children from 6 weeks - pre-K. The CELC is part of Urban Ventures' campus that includes an Urban Farm (including chickens!), gymnasium, Innovation Center, music academy, and much more. An expansion of our cradle-to-career pipeline, the CELC provides families with the highest level of early childhood education, working in partnership with other Urban Ventures programs to ensure that every child is prepared to enter kindergarten ready to succeed...the first step toward success in school and in life!

Working Hours

40 hours per week: Regular working hours Monday through Friday with flexibility for occasional evening and weekends.

Primary Responsibility
The Lead Teacher will lead a highly interactive and developmentally appropriate classroom, fostering the intellectual and social development of the children, while adhering to all DHS licensing standards. The Lead Teacher ensures a safe space for all children to learn, explore, and grow.

Specific Responsibilities

Teaching and Classroom

• Engage students in highly interactive, hands-on, developmentally appropriate play-based learning activities throughout the school day.

• Introduce and implement a developmentally appropriate curriculum which reflects observations and goals of individual children.

• Develop, modify, and organize curriculum to fit the learning needs of students in class.

• Engage and communicate with individual children during the activities and routines.

• Develop and maintain a safe and nurturing classroom environment in which children can learn and grow.

• Establish and implement daily classroom routines and procedures for assistant staff and students in partnership with ELC Director.

• Facilitate regular parent/guardian communication and conferences to discuss orientation, transitions, and development goals.

• Follow all safety and health rules while supervising all children at all times.

• Keep the environment and equipment safe, clean and attractive.

• Communicate regularly with families in regard to lesson plans, themes, and status updates on student progress and well-being.

• Engage in meaningful learning evaluations of student progress and relay information to parents as scheduled.

• Maintain annual teaching requirements per licensing - including staff training and continuing education.

• Use a variety of activities and instructional methods (songs, stories, media, structured games, art, outdoor activities etc.) to motivate and stimulate children's abilities.

• Maintain an open line of communication with parents and provide appropriate information.

• Assess student performance and progress to ensure they are mastering the skills on regular basis.

• Work in adherence to all classroom licensing requirements under the Minnesota Department of Human Services, Chapter 9503.

• Follow and comply with teaching standards and safety regulations.

Teamwork

• Work collaboratively with other staff as it relates to curriculum, events, and all workings of the Cornwell Early Learning Center

• Support organizational mission, philosophies, values, goals, and policies to parent/guardians and coworkers.

• Participate actively with your peers through communication, collaboration, and curriculum planning.

• Other duties as assigned to support the mission and sustainability of Urban Ventures.

• Participate in regular staff meetings, staff training programs, supervisory sessions, and accept responsibility for aiding the development of positive team relationships as requested.

• Adhere to agency policy, procedures and a professional code of ethics.

• Other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Qualifications

• Must love working with children and have a loving and nurturing personality.

• BS degree in Early Childhood Education or relevant license/certificate preferred; without a Bachelor's degree, CDA licensure required

• Minimum of 2-3 years of early learning teaching experience required

• Excellent knowledge of child development and latest education theories and practices

• Strong teaching and organizational skills

• Patience and flexibility

• Excellent communication skills, including personal face-to-face communications with parents, staff, and children

• Computer literacy required

• Ability to meet physical demands of the job (frequently lifting, carrying, and holding children and infants of 10 to 60 pounds)

• Possess a valid driver's license

• Be reliable and have positive work ethic

• Ability to pass required state and company background checks

• An understanding of and commitment to the faith-based mission and values of Urban Ventures

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $41,600 - $47,840 per year