Lead Teacher - Early Headstart (54985)

University Settlement is one of New York City's most dynamic social justice institutions, with an impressive legacy as the first settlement house in the nation. For over 135 years, University Settlement has been an anchor in the low-income and immigrant communities where we work, offering pioneering programs in early childhood care and education, youth development, eviction prevention, literacy, theater and visual arts, senior services, and mental health. Each year, we engage over 40,000 New Yorkers through our network of 30 sites in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Our mission is to empower residents by building on their strengths through comprehensive, quality services that meet the current needs of the community; innovation that anticipates future needs; and advocacy to improve the community as a whole.

Responsibilities:

• Lead classroom sessions
• Provide educational support to classroom staff
• Develop lesson plans and implement an engaging, challenging and playful classroom curriculum
• Provide primary care to classroom children
• Administer developmental assessment on children
• Develop consistent, stable and supportive relationships with families and children
• Develop goals for children in the classroom based on developmental assessment
• Maintain written observations of the children's experience in the classroom
• Assist in identifying children with special needs and facilitate referrals
• Maintain appropriate materials in the classroom
• Provide guidance and training to program staff and help mentor the assistant teachers.
• Develop knowledge of services available to families in the community
• Maintain proper documentation on classroom and program activities
• Conduct home visits to each child's home at least twice per program year
• Track attendance and Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) records
• Conduct parent meetings and parent teacher conferences
• Attend professional development conferences and training as required
• Assist with classroom set up and clean up on a daily basis
• Other duties as requested by supervisor to fulfill job responsibilities

Qualifications:

• NYS Certification in Early Childhood Education required
• Bachelors degree required
• Bi-lingual skills in English/Chinese or English/Spanish strongly preferred
• Two to three years experience working with toddlers and preschoolers in a classroom setting
• Must have at least one to two years of experience supervising classroom staff
• Must have good organization, communication and writing skills

Work Schedule: Full time, Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:00pm, 35 hours per week

What We Offer:

Paid Time Off: A comprehensive package that includes vacation, sick, and personal days, along with paid holidays.
Health and Wellness Benefits: Robust medical, dental, and vision coverage, as well as short‑ and long‑term disability insurance, life insurance, and additional wellness resources to support your overall well‑being.
Financial Benefits: Access to pre‑tax savings programs—including flexible spending accounts and commuter benefits—and a 403(b) retirement plan that includes an employer match of 6% of your salary, eligible after one year of service.
Work‑Life Balance: A consistent Monday–Friday schedule and a 35‑hour workweek designed to promote a healthy and sustainable work‑life balance.
Professional Development: Opportunities for continuous growth through internal and external training, professional development workshops, tuition assistance, and support for pursuing relevant certifications.

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive community. We support a broadly diverse team who will contribute to our organization. We are an equal employment opportunity for all regardless of race, color, citizenship, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, veteran or reservist status, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.