Early Childhood Mentor Teacher

About the role

As a Mentor Teacher at Child Start, you'll play a vital role in shaping the future of early childhood education by supporting and inspiring teaching teams every day. More than a classroom leader, you'll serve as a trusted coach, role model, and instructional expert, helping educators build the skills and confidence needed to create exceptional learning experiences for young children. Working alongside teachers in the classroom, you'll provide hands-on guidance, model best practices, and support continuous professional growth. You'll help bring Head Start Performance Standards to life, ensuring they are translated into meaningful, high-quality interactions and individualized learning opportunities for every child. This is an opportunity to make a lasting impact-not only on children and families, but also on the educators who influence them. By bridging the gap between program goals and classroom practice, you'll help foster a culture of excellence, collaboration, and lifelong learning. If you're passionate about mentoring others, strengthening teaching practices, and helping children reach their full potential, we invite you to join our team and make a difference where it matters most. Modeling Best Practices: Demonstrate high-quality teaching techniques, including effective transitions, positive behavior management, and the implementation of the current Child Start curriculums. Spend approximately 70% of weekly hours in the classroom working with teachers. Curriculum & Assessment Oversight: Assist teaching teams in lesson planning and the intentional use of data from child assessments (e.g., AIM) to individualize instruction. Reviews, monitors and approves all lesson plans to ensure they meet requirements outlined in Head Start Performance Standards, KDHE guidelines, and program policies and/or procedures. Provide feedback as needed. Review and approves curriculum cart for each classroom. New Teacher Onboarding: Act as the primary guide for new hires at the center, ensuring they understand classroom routines, safety protocols, and Head Start philosophies. Compliance Monitoring: Ensure classrooms maintain "audit-ready" status regarding health, safety, and education standards at all times. Conduct regular and unannounced classroom observations and monitoring. Provide feedback, guidance, and technical assistance to teaching staff to strengthen instructional practices and classroom management. Support communication and collaboration between staff, families, and community partners. Coordinates with Center Supervisor and Site Coach regarding ongoing needs for each classroom. Associate's degree in Education, child development or a related field. Bachelor's degree preferred. Requires a minimum of two years of experience in early childhood education / Head Start / EHS environment. Thorough understanding of the Head Start/Early Head Start program model; regulations and standards in early child development; teaching strategies; and the critical contributing components of a high quality-learning environment for infants and toddlers, as well as preschoolers. Must attain and maintain CLASS reliability certification after 6 months in position. Data-analysis skills; ability to translate data into actionable program improvements. Excellent interpersonal/communication skills; ability to collaborate, model best practices and mentor. Leadership style that supports managers, teachers and center supervisors. Requires a high level of confidentiality and flexibility. Requires excellent verbal and written communication skills. Child Start's Mentor Teacher is $22.03/hour, 40 hours/week and 52 weeks/year. Child Start offers competitive salary and benefits, including Medical/Dental/Vision plans, company-paid Short-Term and Long-Term Disability coverage, 403(b) retirement plan, 9 paid holidays each year, and much more! Must have legal authorization to work permanently in the United States for any employer without requiring a visa transfer or visa sponsorship. In compliance with KDHE requirements, Child Start will request proof of measles (MMR) vaccination or documented immunity during the employment process. Must be able to commute daily to Wichita, KS.

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