Afterschool Head Teacher

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT:

The Department of Human Service Programs (DHSP) creates and coordinates services that enhance the quality of life for Cambridge residents. Driven by the needs of residents, DHSP’s extensive services and programs touch almost every sector in the city: from newborns to senior citizens, from school-aged children to homeless families, from non-profit organizations to local employers.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Under the supervision of the Afterschool Manager, the Head Teacher will:

• Have a working knowledge of EEC licensing regulations and adhere to those regulations as well as DHSP policies and procedures.
• Design a developmentally sound curriculum to enhance the social, physical, academic, and intellectual wellbeing of children in their care. Curriculum should emphasize the development of social skills, increase children's self-esteem, recognize the children's interests, and build a sense of community within the group
• Plan and implement activities to achieve curriculum goals in an informal, secure, and loving atmosphere appropriate to after-school hours.
• Respond to children's academic needs by providing homework help and linking school-age curriculum to day school curriculum whenever possible.
• Design and arrange classroom space to allow for a variety of activities that promote children's independence.
• Supervise Teacher, Assistant Teacher, and any other support staff. Conduct weekly team meetings for planning and supervision and keep logs of such meetings. Conduct regularly scheduled individual supervision meetings and provide ongoing support and direction to staff.
• Ensure that you and your teachers are creating links with school day teachers and administrators regarding children's academic, social, educational, and physical needs.
• Perform regular school day classroom observations and complete written progress reports for each child twice yearly.
• Create opportunities for collaborations/partnerships with other Department of Human Service Programs' youth serving divisions in order to better serve Cambridge children and families.
• Maintain regular communications with parents through daily contacts and conversation and periodic parent meetings/conferences. Solicit parent input on their child in order to individualize behavioral and instructional approaches. Host three parent nights per school year.
• Complete and submit to Afterschool Manager for approval, prior to distribution of monthly program calendars, monthly parent