Lead Pre-K Teacher in Charlottesville, Virginia at ACAC Charlottesville

FLSA Classification: Nonexempt

Reports to: Preschool Director

Job Description

Summary/objective

acac Preschool Teachers are responsible for organizing and leading activities designed to promote physical, mental, and social development. They are responsible for preparing materials and classrooms for class activities in a safe, organized, and productive manner. Preschool Teachers will adhere to acac policies and procedures associated with this position, as well as follow Virginia Department of Social Services licensing standards at all times.

Essential functions

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

• Plan and implement engaging, developmentally appropriate learning experiences that support children's social-emotional, cognitive, language, and physical development.
• Create a safe, nurturing, and inclusive classroom environment where every child feels valued and supported.
• Lead daily classroom routines while promoting independence, problem-solving, and positive social interactions.
• Develop weekly lesson plans that align with the program's curriculum and the developmental needs of the children.
• Observe, assess, and document children's progress, using observations to guide instruction and individualize learning experiences.
• Maintain consistent, professional communication with families by completing daily reports and providing regular updates through the Tadpole app (using school-provided devices), while sharing information about classroom activities, children's progress, milestones, and any concerns.
• Guide children's behavior using positive classroom management strategies that encourage respect, responsibility, and self-regulation.
• Supervise and actively engage with children throughout the day, maintaining required staff-to-child ratios and ensuring children remain within sight and sound supervision at all times.
• Ensure the health, safety, and well-being of every child by following all ACAC Preschool policies and Virginia Department of Social Services licensing regulations.
• Collaborate with assistant teachers and other staff members to maintain a positive, organized, and effective classroom environment.
• Mentor and support assistant teachers by providing guidance, delegating classroom responsibilities, and fostering a collaborative team environment.
• Maintain an organized, clean, and inviting classroom that encourages exploration and learning.
• Complete required classroom documentation, including attendance, incident reports, developmental assessments, and other program records, in a timely and accurate manner.
• Participate in staff meetings, professional development opportunities, and school events as required.
• Demonstrate professionalism, initiative, flexibility, and teamwork while providing exceptional service to children, families, and fellow team members.

Physical demands

• Must be able to stand, move, walk, and bend for the duration of a shift
• Must be able to participate in indoor and outdoor activities
• Must be able to frequently lift, move, or hold children
• Must be able to work professionally and calmly in an environment which may have heightened noise and stress

Required competencies, education, and experience

• College Degree preferred
• High School Diploma required
• Must qualify as a Lead Teacher through being at least 18 years of age with a High School Diploma or equivalent & have ONE of the following requirements:

1. one year early childhood certificate from a college or university that consists of at least 30 semester hours

• Hold an endorsement or bachelor’s degree in a child-related field such as, elementary education, nursing, or recreation
• Have three months of programmatic experience and at least one of the following education backgrounds:

1. child development credential by an organization listed in 63.2-1738 of the Code of Virginia
2. teaching diploma from an internationally or nationally recognized Montessori organization
3. six months of programmatic experience AND 24 hours of training related to the care of children, including but not limited to: child development, playground safety, health and safety issues, and preventing and reporting child abuse and neglect.

• Prior working experience and knowledge of VDSS licensing standards highly desired
• Prior experience with preschool and/or youth programming highly desired.
• Must be at least 18 years old

Company Expectations

• Read, sign, and abide by the policies included in the Team Member Handbook
• Park in team member designated areas
• Club cleanliness is an all-team responsibility; assist whenever necessary in any area of the club to keep club neat and clean
• Attend mandatory Personal Training meetings
• Assist with Service Days, as assigned by Supervisor
• Assist with club programs, special events, or activities, as assigned by Supervisor
• Promptly respond to work-related correspondence
• Exhibit a positive attitude at all times
• Deliver outstanding service to members and guests, following acac’s Five*Star principles
• Must be available to work Monday-Friday
• Must be willing to work additional hours (weekends and/or evenings) based on the needs of the program and/or other Adventure Central site youth programs
• Must be able to qualify as a lead teacher as required by VDSS standards for Licensed Child Day Centers and as outlined in the Education and Experience section below
• Must have genuine interest in working with and interacting with children
• Ability to successfully pass VDSS required background checks
• Assist with acac programs, special events, or activities outside your department

Affirmative Action/EEO statement

acac is an equal opportunity employer that recruits and hires qualified candidates without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, disability, or veteran status.

Other duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the team member for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.