Lead Teacher

USC’s School for Early Childhood Education is dedicated to providing comprehensive, high-quality early childhood education services to children and their families in the South Los Angeles area. Founded in 1970 as a teaching school for future early childhood professionals, the USC School for Early Childhood Education (USC SECE) seeks to promote school readiness, health/nutrition, mental wellness, and family engagement. Today, our licensed Head Start and Early Head Start centers serve more than 500 infants and preschool children and their parents each year. We seek enthusiastic, creative, dynamic, and team-oriented individuals who enjoy working with children while fostering a supportive learning environment. 

Job Overview: 

The Lead Teacher develops curriculum for, and oversees the activities of a targeted group of children in a childcare program. Supervises and/or mentors teachers and head teachers. Maintains quality childcare standards. Acts in absence of Program Director/Manager with responsibility for ensuring childcare program is in compliance with state regulations and requirements and the authority to acknowledge receipt of deficiency notices and to correct deficiencies that constitute immediate threats to children's health and safety. This position will report to the Regional Education Manager.  

Responsibilities and Duties: 

• Plans, organizes and directs a comprehensive curriculum and activities integrating all required components including basis care, age-appropriate learning opportunities, social service, nutrition and parent involvement and education.  

• Plans and coordinates extracurricular and/or outreach programs as needed.  

• Maintains appropriate records and confers with licensing, health and safety, and social service personnel as required.  

• Develops lesson plans that address the whole child, integrate all service areas into the curriculum, are individualized, and address Head Start Outcomes and USC SECE program goals. 

• Prepares and submits in a timely manner written lesson plans, reports, parent conferences and child and staff evaluations.  

• Reviews and evaluates teachers' lessons plans. 

• Sets priorities and timelines and monitors delivery of childcare program services and activities. 

• Assists with resolution of childcare questions, problems and/or issues as they arise.  

• Trains and mentors teachers and head teachers.  

• Evaluates staff performance and provides feedback. Counsels and offers guidance as needed. 

• Assists with staff scheduling. Schedules and assigns staff breaks and meal periods. 

• Conducts staff meetings and training sessions.  

• Participates in orientation of new staff. 

• Identifies potential improvements and enhancements to program and recommends corresponding changes in procedure. Gives feedback to Program Director/Manager regarding staff issues. 

• Evaluates children, maintaining anecdotal and developmental records as well as progress and incident reports for each assigned child.  

• Meets with parents to discuss child's progress, provide counsel or advice, and to devise learning and development strategies as appropriate. 

• Maintains a suitable learning environment including the appearance and/or décor of the classroom and playground.  

• Oversees and reviews the ordering of materials and supplies for classrooms. 

• Encourages a workplace culture where all employees are valued, value others and have the opportunity to contribute through their ideas, words and actions, in accordance with the USC Code of Ethics. 

• Other duties as assigned. 

Minimum Qualifications:  

• Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, child development, or related field. 

• Highly skilled childcare teacher with early childhood education and experience. 

• Meets Child Development Permit Matrix qualifications and requirements for position. 

• California Teacher Permit. 

• 5 years’ experience. 

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Master’s Degree in early childhood education, child development, or related field. 

• Bilingual: English/Spanish preferred.  

Physical Requirements: 

Must be able to climb stairs, reach, bend, lift 20-30 pounds, crawl, kneel, stoop, twist, grasp with hands and fingers, use arms and legs, walk, and climb ladders if applicable. The usual and customary methods of performing the job’s functions require the following physical demands: lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling; significant stooping, kneeling, crouching, and/or crawling. 

Pre-Employment Requirements: 

• Physical exam 

• TB test 

• LiveScan/fingerprint clearance 

• MMR and Tdap vaccinations 

• CPR 

• Child Abuse Mandated Reporter Training 

The hourly rate range for this position is $28.00 - $29.00. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.