The Atlanta Speech School:

Lead Teacher – Anne & Jim Kenan Preschool

Start Date:  August 2021

The Anne & Jim Kenan Preschool of the Atlanta Speech School has an opening for a lead teacher for a Three-Year-Old class.  The Kenan Preschool is a community preschool program that serves typically developing children, two to five years of age. An emphasis on research-based practices for language and early literacy development is integrated throughout the curriculum to prepare children with a solid foundation for learning. A deep understanding of the science behind the development of the deep reading brain is essential to the work in Kenan. The Kenan Preschool is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children and is licensed by Bright from the Start, Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning.

The mission of the Atlanta Speech School is to help each person develop their full potential through language and literacy. The School is the nation’s most comprehensive center for language and literacy, with four schools, four clinics, summer programs and a professional development center. Each day extraordinarily dedicated and talented individuals make profound differences in the lives of the children and adults we serve here. Please visit our website for a closer look at our work: www.atlantaspeechschool.org

POSITION SUMMARY:
The lead teacher is responsible for creating and delivering high quality educational programming for each child in the class and works collaboratively with teaching team members, specialists and administration serving children who are three years of age. All teachers are expected to have thorough knowledge and understanding of all child developmental domains including cognitive, language, social/emotional, and motor domains.  Instructional planning, classroom organization and management techniques are planned to meet the specific needs of the students in the class.  In addition, teachers are expected to have effective teaching skills, an analytical approach to learner differences, differentiate instruction and assume responsibility for monitoring and insuring progress. Lead teachers are expected to consistently perform high quality work with little supervision, work in an efficient manner to effectively manage workload demands, and demonstrate an ability and willingness to adapt creatively to varying situations. Knowledge and understanding of research-based practices for language and early literacy instruction are required and additional professional learning opportunities are provided. A growth mindset is critical.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES OF THE JOB:

• Plan and implement research-based practices for language and early literacy instruction for all thematic units of study
• Maintain a classroom environment that provides optimum support for language and literacy development
• Provide direct instruction, guided practice, and independent activities based on a deep understanding of each child as a learner and a friend
• Foster regular, open, interactive communication with parents through conferences, report writing, parent education meetings, and newsletters
• Collaborate with teaching teams, specialists and administration to implement best practices in the classroom

• Provide positive guidance and classroom management strategies that are responsive to children’s needs to promote positive behavior, self-regulation and self-reliance in children
• Provide positive teacher-child interactions: warm relationships, positive affect, encouraging statements, and respect for children