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Lead Teacher Job Description: Top Duties and Requirements

A Lead Teacher, or Teacher, plans and develops high-quality lessons and courses for students at a certain grade level. Their main duties include planning educational activities for students, providing a caring and safe environment for students, and ensuring that provincial teaching standards are implemented.

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Lead Teacher duties and responsibilities

When writing a job description for a Lead Teacher, it is important to specify the duties and responsibilities required to excel in the role, including:

  • Ensuring classroom lessons meet provincial or territorial guidelines and standards
  • Helping to build the self-esteem of children and providing a safe environment
  • Collaborating with other Lead Teachers or school staff members when required
  • Providing input for the assessment of a child’s development
  • Recording and keeping any incident reports and reporting any abuse to supervisors
  • Attending all staff meetings as required
  • Keeping appropriate daily logs such as attendance or time sheets
  • Participating or organizing after school activities such as clubs or sports teams
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Lead Teacher Job Description Examples:

What does a Lead Teacher do?

A Lead Teacher uses provincial guidelines to create lesson plans for students ranging from junior kindergarten to grade 12. Lead Teachers will work with students individually or as a group to ensure they are learning at an appropriate pace. Some Lead Teachers may need to help children with special needs using sign language, braille, or remedial programs. Lead Teachers will also create report cards, discuss student progression with parents, and file reports with the school when required. A Lead Teacher must be a role model for the students they are teaching and always have the safety of the students in mind.

Lead Teacher skills and qualifications

Successful Lead Teachers will have various prerequisite skills and qualifications for the duties of this job, including:

  • Excellent oral and written communication skills
  • Leadership skills to act as a mentor and role model for children
  • Highly organized with strong attention to detail
  • Strong problem-solving skills
  • Ability to work individually and as part of a team
  • Emotional maturity to provide emotional and behavioural support to students
  • Ability to take initiative and lead by example
  • Communication skills to work with individuals at all levels, including children and adults

Lead Teacher experience requirements

Lead Teachers should have prior experience teaching or as an Assistant Teacher or Substitute Teacher. Generally, five to seven years of experience is enough for a Lead Teacher position.

Lead Teacher education and training requirements

Lead Teachers are required to hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university, preferably in child development or a related discipline. In some cases, a master’s degree is preferred. If the Lead Teacher will be working in a specialized environment, additional certification may be required. Lead Teachers who teach French or work in a French school need to prove language proficiency through certification when it is not their native language. Additionally, Lead Teachers are typically required to be registered with a provincial or territorial association such as the Ontario College of Teachers.

Lead Teacher salary expectations

According to Indeed Salaries, the average pay for a Lead Teacher is $25.77 per hour. Rates can vary depending on experience, location, or school that is hiring.

Job description samples for similar positions

If a Lead Teacher is not what you are looking for, other related job descriptions include:

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Lead Teacher job description FAQs

Do Lead Teachers have different responsibilities in different industries?

When reviewing applicant resumes for a Lead Teacher position, it is important to ensure they have obtained the proper certification for the role. A Lead Teacher should have previous experience working with children. Keep an eye out for job applicants who have taught a similar grade to the one being hired for, as teaching styles may differ based on age. It is recommended that job applicants are also CPR and first aid certified when working with students.

What should you look for in a Lead Teacher resume?

A Lead Teacher is responsible for teaching children of all kinds, and they often work with multiple students at one time. Generally, their lesson plans remain the same for all students. A Special Education Teacher, however, works with students who need extra help such as those with learning difficulties like ADHD, dyslexia, or physical difficulties. It is not uncommon for a Special Education Teacher to work with students on a one-on-one basis.

What is the difference between a Lead Teacher and a Special Education Teacher?

To make a Lead Teacher job description stand out it is important to include the grade or age group of the students. If there are extra requirements for the role, such as coaching a sports team or leading an after-school program, include those details as well. A good Lead Teacher job description outlines the school holiday schedule and notes possible overtime pay through working in summer school or in after-school programs. If there are benefits like pension programs, health insurance, or paid sick leave, be sure to include those as well.

Job Description Examples

Need help writing a job description for a specific role? Use these job description examples to create your next great job posting. Or if you’re ready to hire, post your job on Indeed.

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