Lead Teacher at Douglass Community Services in Bowling Green, MO

Make a Difference Every Day

Do you have a passion for early childhood education and a heart for helping young children learn, grow, and succeed? Are you looking for a meaningful career where you can make a lasting impact on children and families in your community?

Join our Head Start team and become a leader in the classroom, helping children build strong foundations for lifelong learning. As a Lead Teacher, you will create engaging learning experiences, support classroom staff, and partner with families to promote each child’s social, emotional, physical, and intellectual development.

Why You'll Love Working Here

• Competitive Pay

  • $19.49/hour with Early Childhood Education Associate Degree
  • $21.44/hour with Early Childhood Education Bachelor’s Degree

• Outstanding Work-Life Balance

  • Full-time schedule: 40 hours per week, 38 weeks per year
• • No evenings, weekends, or overtime required
    • Paid winter/holiday break

• Exceptional Benefits

  • Health, dental, and vision insurance
  • FREE life insurance
  • 401(k) retirement plan with employer contributions
  • Generous Paid Time Off (PTO)
  • 14 paid holidays annually
  • Paid inclement weather days
  • Tuition assistance and professional development opportunities
  • Career growth and advancement opportunities

What You'll Do

As a Lead Teacher, you'll serve as the instructional leader in the classroom by:

• Planning and implementing developmentally appropriate lesson plans aligned with Head Start Performance Standards
• Creating a safe, nurturing, and engaging learning environment for young children
• Supervising and mentoring classroom staff and volunteers
• Supporting children's growth in social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development
• Building positive relationships with families to support engagement and learning
• Conducting two home visits per child per year
• Incorporating health, nutrition, and self-care routines into daily classroom activities
• Maintaining accurate documentation, assessments, and required reporting
• Collaborating with families, staff, and community partners to support child and family outcomes
• Participating in ongoing professional development and training opportunities
• Following all mandated reporting requirements for suspected child abuse or neglect
• Maintaining confidentiality in all program-related matters

What We're Looking For

• Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education or related field required (per Head Start Act requirements)
• Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education preferred
• 1–3 years of experience working with young children preferred
• Ability to obtain and maintain required certifications, including CPR and First Aid
• Successful completion of Reliability Certification within 3 months of hire
• Strong communication and classroom management skills
• Ability to create lesson plans and deliver engaging instruction
• Computer proficiency, including word processing and data entry
• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation for trainings and home visits
• Ability to work independently, take initiative, and collaborate effectively as part of a team

The above description is not a comprehensive listing of all job specific responsibilities, tasks, and duties.

Search current openings and apply online at douglassonline.org

Douglass Community Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) and Drug-Free Workplace.