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Posted August 23, 2026

Preschool Lead Teacher

The Child and Family Network Centers
Alexandria, VA, US Full Time
42000USD - 57000USD per year

Job Description

Job Description

About This Role

Job Summary: The Lead Teacher is an advocate for our mission to provide high quality early childhood education for all children in an inclusive setting. They are a model of professionalism, an assertive and effective communicator, a collaborator, a source of support for families, reflective, and continuous learner. The Lead Teacher reports to the Teacher Supervisor and is responsible for the leadership of all classroom Teaching Assistants.


Schedule

  • Monday through Friday
  • 8:00-3:30

Salary and Benefits

Salary: varies based on experience and education



What You'll Do

Responsibilities and Duties

Core Responsibilities and Related Duties:

  • Family Partnerships and Community Connections: seeks to know about, understand, and value family characteristics; creates respectful, reciprocal partnerships with families

o the lead teacher is the primary communicator with families through lesson plans, daily/weekly notes, emails, reports, beginning and end of year conferences, and daily face-to-face communication

  • Assessment: lead the initial and ongoing assessment of children and use the information gathered from assessments to guide instruction and intervention; use assessment information to develop and implement Individualized Instructional Plan for students with identified delays or disabilities
  • Teaching Practices & Child Development and Learning in Context: create and maintain a learning environment that is Universally Designed and reflective of the culture, needs, and interests of students, and use teaching strategies that are evidence-based, developmentally appropriate, anti-bias, and differentiated to meet the diverse needs of the students.

%CB; uses assessment data to develop and implement appropriate, engaging activities and weekly lesson plans based on the school curricula (Creative Curriculum) and scope and sequence;

%CB; provides appropriate adaptations and accommodations as needed for individual learning;

%CB; creates and implements Behavior Intervention Plans in collaboration with the Family Support Team;

%CB; maintains a safe and appropriate environment for all children

%CB; ensures that all children’s daily care needs are met (e.g. diapering/toileting, feeding, medication administration, etc.)

  • Collaboration: develops and maintains collaborative working partnerships with classroom team, outside providers, and other staff members to enrich classroom instruction

%CB; implements techniques and strategies as recommended by therapists, and requests additional support or instruction as needed

  • Coaching: supervises, evaluates, and coaches teacher and teaching assistant, as well as supervise and instruct university student interns and/or other classroom volunteers

%CB; leads a team meeting with classroom team on a weekly basis to discuss student progress and observations, reflect on teaching and classroom needs, and to plan and prepare for upcoming activities

  • Professionalism: adheres to program policies and procedures; supervises the classroom to ensure the health and safety of each child; ensures all licensing and NAEYC quality standards are upheld at all times; receives and implements feedback and coaching from directors; maintains professional, open, and direct communication and interactions with teaching team and other staff, therapy team, administrators, families/caregivers, outside providers, volunteers, interns, etc.; ensures that confidentiality of all children and families is maintained; maintains a professional appearance including appropriate dress and grooming; demonstrates teamwork, cooperation, and a willingness to continually reflect and learn.


Requirements

Qualifications and Skills

Required Qualifications:

  • CDA, Bachelor’s or associate degree in Early Childhood or education required
  • Bilingual (languages include Spanish, Arabic, Amharic, Dari, or Pashto)
  • Experience in a child care facility, school, or program
  • Certified in CPR and First Aid (or willing to become certified)
  • MAT certified (or willing to become certified)

Skills

  • Physical requirements

o Must be physically able to lift and carry a minimum of 45 pounds, engage in physical activity with children, and work indoors or outdoors.

o Must be able to constantly move and interact with the children on their level (e.g. on the ground, at a table, around a sensory table, assist with sleeping at naptime, etc.)

  • Other requirements:

o Respond quickly and calmly to unsafe or emergency situations

o Open to receiving and implementing feedback from others

o Collaborative, reflective, and committed to being a lifelong learner



Nice To Haves

Spanish preferred



Benefits

Benefits:

  • Health Insurance
  • Dental Insurance
  • Vision Insurance
  • Life Insurance
  • Paid Leave
  • Sick Leave
  • Tuition Assistance
  • Child Care Discount
  • Professional Development
  • Medical, dental and vision
  • Paid time off ( federal holidays and offices closed during Christmas and Spring breaks as well as PTO and Sick time)
  • Life insurance
  • Free Professional Development and team coaching
  • Tuition Reimbursement
  • 401(k) savings and investment plan

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