Lead Teacher

Since 1977, Sojourner Center has been a safe haven from domestic violence for women and their children in Arizona. Since our founding, we have transformed lives by providing shelter and support services to more than 60,000 adults and children affected by domestic violence. We provide a broad spectrum of services to victims of domestic violence, while working with professionals in the field on education, research and advocacy with the goal of ending domestic violence.

Job Summary: The Lead Teacher (Float) works in the Child Development Center and is responsible for ensuring the care, safety and well-being of all infants in their assigned group. The Lead Teacher plans and implements developmentally appropriate activities, develops partnerships with parents accessing family support services, facilitates classes on campus, and carries out the Sojourner Center mission.

Schedule: four-day workweek, Monday – Thursday: 8:00am-7:00pm 

Rate of Pay: $20.00/hour ($21.00/hour after passed bilingual assessment)

Duties include:

1. Ensures the care and well-being of enrolled children including appropriate supervision; engages in quality learning experiences and interacts physically through play indoors and outside; provides positive guidance; assists with personal hygiene routines; provides emotional support; teaches appropriate social skills; fosters self-esteem, autonomy, and a sense of personal power; and encourages growth and healing.
2. Ensures a safe, warm, and inviting classroom environment and maintains developmentally appropriate curriculum and daily routine for assigned children, taking into consideration knowledge of child development, risk and protective factors, and best practices in early childhood education.
3. Recognizes and effectively responds to impacts of domestic violence and trauma; provides family outreach and support to assigned families; facilitates assigned classes on campus for children or families.
4. Assesses needs of participants, assists mothers and children in solving problems; provides hope, encouragement, and resources to families.
5. Discerns and prioritizes safety issues with children and adults and takes appropriate action to create safety.
6. Participates in the care and maintenance of the facility, equipment, and supplies including but not limited to moving furniture, loosening sand using a shovel; performs cleaning and sanitation tasks such as sweeping, mopping, cleaning bathroom fixtures, walls, and windows in accordance with ADHS Child Care Licensing regulations; documents completion of cleaning on a daily basis; submits work orders for necessary facility maintenance.
7. Performs duties such as retrieving meals from the kitchen and serving them to enrolled children and accompanying children to and from the school bus.
8. Documents services in a timely fashion and in accordance with established guidelines including attendance, provision of meals, monitoring of health, well-being, and safety, activities offered, and record of children’s developmental progress as well as concern.
9. Participates in ongoing training and professional development within the organization and with community partners such as Quality First.

• At least 21 years of age.
• An undergraduate degree or higher in one of the following child-related fields: Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Social Work, Elementary Education, Early Childhood Special Education and one (1) year of experience as a Lead Teacher or Assistant Teacher; OR, a minimum of 12 credits in early childhood education and early child development and two (2) years of experience as a Lead Teacher serving children ages birth to five (5); OR, a national competency-based credential such as the CDA and two (2) years of experience as a Lead Teacher serving children birth to age five (5).
• Ability to obtain a Level I Fingerprint Clearance Card.
• Valid certification in pediatric first aid and CPR.
• Bilingual Spanish-English preferred.

Other Duties:

• Performs other duties as assigned.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a complete comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee.

EEO Employer