Summary

VIRTUAL INTERVIEWS SEPT. 15TH FROM 8-3PM! REGISTER TODAY ON SUNBEAM FAMILY SERVICES WEBSITE!

Join us in building stronger, brighter futures for Oklahomans!

Established in 1907, Sunbeam Family Services is Oklahoma's longest-serving social service agency. Sunbeam's programs and services address the physical, mental and emotional health of our clients. We shine a light on the needs of our community and empower families and individuals. Sunbeam is an employee-first organization to serve the community best. Employees are valued, respected, and encouraged to grow. We believe when employees are inspired, motivated, and treated well, they provide great service to our clients.

The Lead Teacher will work collaboratively with the Assistant Teacher(s) to ensure the successful operation of the classroom. The Lead Teacher also works with a team of other classroom teachers, staff, and family members to achieve outcomes for children of all abilities.

Duties

• Serve as a leader of the Early Childhood Services program and as an effective role model for developmentally appropriate practice, for the values expected within the program, and for the mission of the organization.
• Plan and provide a comprehensive program, including implementation of EHS/HS curriculum and Head Start /Early Head Start Performance Standards.
• Participate in curriculum development and recommend necessary changes.
• Ensure daily or weekly observations are completed and entered in Teaching Strategies GOLD.
• Ensure individual child assessments are completed and documented for all children in classroom.
• Ensure individual child portfolios are up-to-date relative to local, state, and federal requirements.
• Provide guidance and direction to meet the individual needs of children including children with disabilities or special needs.
• Work in a team setting with all staff to determine individual needs of children including children with disabilities or special needs.
• Consult regularly with appropriate service providers, consultants, and staff regarding child development concerns for all children including children with disabilities and special needs.
• Provide day-to-day supervision and guidance to classroom teachers.
• Manage classroom operations.
• Provide supervision, guidance, and coaching to Teacher Assistant(s) and classroom volunteers.
• Document volunteer activities and parent communication regarding children's functions and activities.
• Organize the classroom according to developmental levels and individual need of the children, ensuring: (1) the development of trust and emotional security; (2) opportunities to explore a variety of sensory and motor experiences; (3) opportunities for the development of self-awareness, autonomy, and self-expression; and (4) opportunities for gross and fine motor development.
• Ensure classrooms are homelike, safe, sanitary, and free of clutter.
• Provide for diaper changing and toilet training functions in the classroom in a safe, sanitary, and developmentally appropriate manner.
• Observe children and record observations in anecdotal records, making appropriate referrals.
• Conduct developmental screenings, as assigned.
• Promote the development of secure relationships with children assigned by assuring primary and continuity of care.
• Relate to children in a calm, caring, nurturing, soothing manner, responding to all cries, babbles, and verbalizations, using appropriate child guidance techniques at all times.
• Stay involved with the children at all times during the day.
• Conduct home visits and parent/teacher conferences with each child's family, according to program schedule, policies and procedures.
• Complete IFSPs as required.
• Maintain updated individual and group checklists according to program policies and procedures.
• Greet parents and children pleasantly and appropriately, ensuring a smooth transition into the classroom, a positive home-classroom connection and a family partnership.
• Maintain ongoing professional and appropriate communication with parents.
• Provide activities parents can do at home with their children to support the curriculum and the child's learning.
• Encourage parents to become involved in workshops, training and participating in IEP and IFSP meetings as regular support.
• Maintain and monitor the maintenance of accurate attendance records, USDA food records/reports, in-kind reports, and other reports as required.
• Feed infants according to their home schedule, hold them every time they are fed, and shares information about their eating with their parents daily.
• Assist with family-style dining with and implement family style dining according to program policy and procedures and EHS/HS Performance Standards.
• Plan and participate in monthly classroom Parent Meetings with Family Advocate and parents.
• Report to work at scheduled times and maintain good attendance.
• Perform all duties in a timely and professional manner.
• Participate with a positive attitude and behavior in all program activities.
• Continue professional growth by participating in ongoing education, training programs, workshops and conferences in an effort to provide individualized care and education to serve all children including children with disabilities and special needs.
• Ensure policy and procedures are properly applied and interpreted by Assistant Teachers.
• Develop and monitor individual staff training plans.
• Assess training needs and participate in planning in-service training.
• Perform required and other assigned duties in a manner that demonstrates compliance with Sunbeam's Culturally Competent Practice Policy as well as other agency policy and procedure and those of grants/contracts so that work of the agency is systematized and effective.
• Supervise and evaluate Assistant Teachers according to Sunbeam policies and procedures.  
• Assistant Teachers and Classroom Volunteers

Requirements

Education & Experience:

        AA, Bach, OR master's in early childhood education (ECE), Child Development, Elem Ed, or Early Childhood Special Education (transcripts required);

- OR -

        AA, Bach, OR master's in social work, nursing, psychology, human develop, or family studies (transcripts required) AND 1 year experience as teacher;

- OR -

       Bach degree in unrelated field plus 36 college credit hours in ECE, CD, EE, or EC SE (transcripts required)

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

Teachers leading classrooms for 4-year-olds must have OTC.

Pre-Kindergarten teachers preferred to have Pre-Kindergarten Certification from the Oklahoma State Board of Education at time of employment.

 

ADDITIONAL JOB REQUIREMENTS

Clearance of background check

Drug screen

TB screen required.

Physical exam required.

Bilingual in Spanish desired

 

Skills & Abilities:

• Caring and compassionate attitude when interacting with and caring for children and families.
• Knowledge and understanding of state and local childcare licensing requirements.
• Excellent command of English language and grammar, both verbal and written
• Intermediate knowledge of Microsoft applications and the ability to master other software as needed
• Good organizational and time management skills.
• Must work independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
• Exercise independent judgment.
• Communicate in a professional manner, demonstrating dignity, respect for our internal, external, and community members.
• Process, protect and exercise discretion in handling confidential information and materials.
• Sustained concentration to detail and accuracy, along with the ability to prioritize workload.
• Willingness to work with high-risk, low-income communities.
• Must be able to travel and work some evenings and weekends as required by the job.
• Local travel required and must have valid Oklahoma driver's license and insurance as required by the position.
• Knowledge and understanding of Head Start/Early Head Start preferred.
• Knowledge and understanding of Child Plus preferred.
• Knowledge and understanding of NAEYC preferred.
• Advanced computer database and Microsoft Office software skills preferred.
• Bilingual in Spanish and able to interact with children and families from multilingual homes preferred.

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to frequently communicate with staff and others, and must be able to exchange accurate information when doing so. The employee must be able to interact closely and safely with small children in various positions. Must be able to communicate verbally with children, able to perform tasks such as feeding children, changing diapers, lifting children from floor or other surfaces. Must be able to endure remaining in stationary position for extended periods of time (up to 50% of workday). Occasionally must be able to move or lift up to 50 pounds at a time. Must be able to detect, discern distinguish, observe, inspect, and compare.

Work Environment:

The employee will work in a classroom environment, may work in close quarters with other staff and small children. The noise level in the work environment varies from moderate to loud; frequent chaotic, characteristic to working with children ages 0-5 years. Employee must expect exposure to strong odors such as soiled diapers and clothing, and poor hygiene. Employee may come into contact with childhood diseases and blood on occasion. 

The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, or abilities. The qualifications, physical demands, and work environment described herein are representative of those an employee will encounter and must meet to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. These statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this position. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel or candidate and may be subject to change at any time. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions.

Benefits

Teaching at Sunbeam is unlike anywhere else.

Why teach at Sunbeam?

• A Low Student to Teacher Ratio of 2:8
• No out-of-pocket cost for school supplies 
• Classroom planning and prep is included in your schedule.
• Calm, inviting, and fun environment
• Training and educational best practices
• A team of experts partners with you to support children's families (i.e. Family Partner to provide support and resources, Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health, Inclusion Specialist, and more)
• Sunbeam's Child Development Associate Scholarship Program covers books, online/traditional classes, and CDA Credential Exam 

About Us

Sunbeam's Mission: Building brighter futures with all children and families. When all families can build a strong foundation for their children, we all have a brighter, healthier life.

Sunbeam continually aspires to be a recognized leader in early childcare and education, with specialized support for entire family systems. We consistently strive to strengthen the social service ecosystem in our communities. We seek to be advocates of the highest-quality services and ensure the sustainability of our work.

 

"Hope is the belief that tomorrow will be better than today, and that you have the power to make it so." - Chan Hellman, Ph.D.

Our Culture

Sunbeam is an employee-first organization to serve the community best.  Employees are valued, respected, and encouraged to grow. We believe when employees are inspired, motivated, and treated well, they provide great service to our families.

 

"Best Places to Work"

At Sunbeam we are in the "people development business", developing the people we serve as well as our staff. That's one of the reasons we're voted The Journal Record's "Best Places to Work" for the seventh year in a row.

 

Benefits

Sunbeam Family Services is committed to maintaining a benefits program that meets the needs of its employees and their families. The benefits package includes medical, dental, life, and disability insurance. In addition, employees have access to Sunbeam's confidential counseling services through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and a 403(b) retirement savings plan, paid holidays, paid sick leave, paid time off (PTO), flexible spending account, and education reimbursement. In addition, employees have access to Sunbeam's confidential counseling services through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Childcare is also available for children up to age three.

 

Family Positive Workplace

Sunbeam is proud to be recognized as a Family Positive Workplace by the Potts Family Foundation and the OK25by25 Coalition. This award recognizes businesses throughout the state who intentionally help their employees balance work and family responsibilities.

*Sunbeam requires COVID vaccination or an approved exemption based upon medical or religious reasons prior to starting employment.

Sunbeam Family Services is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We are committed to fair and equal in all its employment practices for persons without regard to race, ethnicity, color, creed, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, religion, disability or degree thereof, national origin, domestic/marital status, political affiliation or opinion, veteran status, HIV status, AIDS status, genetic information, and any characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws