Preschool Lead Instructor II (Director's Credential Required) - Central City Family YMCA

Description

At the Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA, we are committed to strengthening community through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility-and our early learning programs play a vital role in that mission. The Preschool Lead Instructor II with Director's Credential is a key leadership position within our preschool program, serving as both an experienced educator and a trusted operational partner. This role blends hands-on classroom leadership with program oversight, ensuring high-quality early childhood experiences while maintaining full compliance with Department of Children and Families (DCF) licensing standards. Working closely with the Program Director and center leadership, this individual helps cultivate a nurturing, safe, and engaging environment for children, supports and develops teaching staff, and ensures continuity of operations that positively impact children and families across our community.

Under the direction of the Program Director, with oversight from Operations Director/Executive Director, the Preschool Lead Instructor II with Director's Credential serves as both a lead instructor and the primary backup to the Program Director, ensuring the preschool's operations comply with DCF (Department of Children and Families) licensing regulations. In this role, the Lead Teacher provides leadership in curriculum implementation, staff recruitment, and program oversight. They assist with operational duties, ensuring full compliance with local, state, and federal regulations, and step in for the Program Director when necessary to maintain seamless program management.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assists Program Director with providing leadership and guidance to assistant teachers and support staff in the classroom.
• Models best practices in early childhood education, fostering a positive and collaborative work environment.
• Mentor and coach staff to ensure high-quality teaching practices.
• Plans and conducts developmentally appropriate daily activities for children.
• Strong knowledge of all aspects of the daily routine and anticipates the needs of the children.
• Guides the children's behavior and learning through active interaction and implementation of curriculum and lesson plans.
• Maintains accurate records for potential licensing and funding agencies.
• Maintains a safe, clean, pleasant physical environment conducive to optimal growth and development of children.
• Appreciates the diversity of families and knows how to share information effectively and appropriately with them about their child.
• Knows and follows all emergency policies and procedures.
• Supervises children during indoor-outdoor activities, handwashing, and toileting.
• Conducts parent conferences with individual parents at least twice yearly to report on child's progress, discuss concerns with parents and act on those concerns.
• Greets each child and parent upon arrival.
• Visually scans each child upon arrival and checks for illness, disease, or any physical impairment. Notes in daily health check report.
• Conducts daily/weekly observations and assessments on children.
• Conducts developmental assessments on children.
• Ensures completion of all classroom records.
• Attends staff meetings and contributes to the meeting.
• Attends staff training and YMCA special events.
• Manages classroom supplies and materials, ensuring resources are available and properly maintained.
• Assists in the recruitment, hiring, and onboarding of new staff.
• Assists with interview and provide recommendations for staffing needs and ensure that staff qualifications meet regulatory requirements.
• Participates in continuous improvement efforts to enhance the quality of the preschool experience for children and families.
• Ensures program compliance with applicable local, state and federal policies and regulations governing preschool operations.
• Additional duties as required and assigned by a supervisor to support the overall mission of the YMCA and to ensure the success of the program.

Requirements

• Must be 21 years of age or older.
• Minimum High School Diploma or GED, Child Development Associate (CDA); Associates or Bachelors in related field; AND/OR equivalent experience.
• 45 DCF Training Hours and current Florida DCF Director's Credential
• Knowledge of state and local licensing requirements for early childhood education programs.
• Must have a minimum of one year's experience working in an early learning/preschool/childcare setting; licensed childcare experience a plus.
• Must be able to work cooperatively with children, parents, and peers; demonstrate character, integrity, adaptability, and patience in communicating with others.
• Strong computer skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Bilingual English/Spanish a plus.
• Any additional mandatory or assigned training.

Certifications/Trainings Required:

• Must obtain within 30 days of employment and then maintain current certifications in CPR, AED and First Aid.
• 45 DCF Training Hours and current Florida DCF Director's Credential
• Maintain other required certifications as stated in the training matrix.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job includes, but not limited to:

• The employee needs sufficient strength, agility, and mobility to perform essential functions and to supervise program activities in a wide variety of indoor and outdoor locations.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use a computer for extended periods of time and be able to communicate using a computer and authorized work phone/smart device.
• Ability to instruct and observe participants during program activities.
• The employee frequently is required to see, observe, and hear all participants, and make sound judgments and decisions.
• Ability to perform all physical aspects of the position, including, but not limited to, leading class, walking, standing, bending, reaching, and lifting.
• Ability to sit and reach and must be able to move around the work environment.
• Hear noises and distress signals in the program environment, including in the classroom and anywhere around the zone of responsibility.
• Must have flexibility and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances.
• Ability to lift and move a minimum of 30 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Ability to work in a variety of environments, specifically those subject to extreme humidity/dampness, heat and cold.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to high.
• This position requires reliable transportation and a willingness to travel, if needed.
• This position may require availability to work flexible hours including evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed.