EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIALIST 4 - LEAD TEACHER

EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIALIST 4 - LEAD TEACHER

Salary

$55,905.00 - $58,177.00 Annually

Location

Downtown Campus - 1101 South Yakima Avenue, Tacoma, WA

Job Type

Full-time

Job Number

26-037

Department

Childcare/ECEAP

Opening Date

10/13/2026

Closing Date

11/1/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

SUMMARY

Under the general direction of the EC Director, the Early Childhood Specialist 4 (ECEAP Lead Teacher) plans, implements and documents developmentally appropriate curriculum aligned with ECEAP Standards. The position ensures a safe, healthy, and inclusive classroom environment; provides day-to-day direction to instructional support staff; and builds positive, trust-based relationships with children and families to support school readiness and family engagement.

This position is to fill 2 open positions.

This is a grant funded position.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS & OTHER DUTIES

Essential Functions

• Interact positively and responsively with all children to support individual learning goals, social-emotional development, and emotional regulation.
• Actively supervise children and intervene quickly to ensure safety, model appropriate behavior, Plan, implement and save a weekly record developmentally appropriate curriculum aligned with Creative Curriculum and ECEAP Performance Standards.
• Enter lesson plans and assessments in Teaching Strategies Gold/Smart Teach.
• Conduct ongoing observations and use data to individualize instruction and inform classroom planning.
• Manage and organize classroom spaces and materials in accordance with ECEAP program standards.
• Conduct daily indoor and outdoor safety checks and maintain an orderly, engaging learning environment.
• Demonstrate effective time-management to ensure readiness for daily activities and routines.
• Direct and monitor the daily work of Teacher Assistants, practicum students, interns and volunteers.
• Provide guidance, feedback, and evaluation for practicum students and interns in collaboration with program leadership.
• Develop, nurture, and maintain respectful, strength-based relationships with families.
• Conduct family conferences and home visits that meet family needs and ECEAP program standards.
• Communicate regularly with families regarding child progress, classroom activities, and program expectations.
• Ensure daily health practices are followed, including health screenings, handwashing, tooth brushing, and first aid as needed.
• Implement emergency preparedness procedures and maintain compliance with health and safety regulations.
• Participate in family-style meal service, serve meals and snacks, complete meal attendance using USDA point-of-service guidelines, and supervise children during meals by sitting and engaging with them.
• Maintain accurate classroom attendance, bus sign-in/sign-out records, and daily parent sign-in/sign-out documentation
• Ensure required documentation is completed accurately, timely, and in compliance with program, state, and federal requirements.
• Participate in PSESD in-service training, staff meetings, and required professional learning opportunities.
• Implement a personal professional development plan and complete required annual STARS continuing education hours.

Non-Essential/Other Functions

• Accountable for keeping personal development up to date; adding to skills and knowledge through courses that may be available through the Bates Technical College courses, professional development committees, etc.
• Participate actively and collaboratively on committees for college as needed including but not limited to staff recruitment, college councils, etc.
• Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Additional activities, duties and responsibilities may change at any time with or without notice to meet college needs.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• This position provides daily functional direction to classroom staff, volunteers, and practicum students but does not include formal supervisory authority over classified employees.

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Qualifications

• Associate's degree in Early Childhood Education OR
• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in another field plus 30 quarter credits in Early Childhood Education

Additional Requirements

• Completion of Washington State Child Care Basics/STARS requirement
• One (1) year of classroom experience working with children birth to five
• Ability to communicate effectively in English verbally and in writing (unless serving as designated language support for dual language learners)

Allowable Substitution

If necessary, alternative combinations of education and experience may be evaluated by Human Resources for comparability.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Early Childhood Education or a related field with 30 quarter credits in ECE
• Three (3) years of Lead Teacher experience in childcare and /or ECEAP settings

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT

Bates Technical College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, perceived or actual physical or mental disability, pregnancy, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, creed, religion, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or use of a trained guide dog or service animal. For inquiries, please contact Title IX Coordinator LeMont Lucas, at 253.680.7113, lemontlucas@batestech.edu, or Bates.Title.IX@batestech.edu. For Section 504, contact Disability Coordinator Steve Ashpole, Vice President of Student Services, at 253.680.7005, sashpole@batestech.edu. All offices are located at 1101 South Yakima Ave., Tacoma, WA 98405.

Available Benefits to Eligible Employees

As a higher education employee, you and your qualified family members are eligible for a wide range of benefits including medical, dental, life insurance, retirement, long-term disability, as well as other optional benefits.

Medical/Dental Plans

Medical Plans

Employees pay a portion of their medical care cost through payroll deduction. The employee premium is based on the choice of plan and coverage for eligible dependents.

Dental Plans

Bates provides dental coverage at no monthly premium cost to the employee. Benefit eligible employees have a choice of dental plans. Options include:

• Uniform Dental Plan - Preferred Provider Organization
• DeltaCare - Managed Care Plan
• Willamette Dental - Managed Care Plan

Vision Plans

Bates provides vision coverage at no monthly premium cost to the employee. Benefit eligible employees have a choice of dental plans. Options include:

• Davis Vision by MetLife
• EyeMed
• MetLife Vision

Retirement Plans

Faculty and Exempt Positions

Faculty have to choose between either the State Board Retirement Plan (SBRP), also known as TIAA or Plan 3 of the Teachers Retirement System (TRS). Click here to compare the two plans.

Exempt have to choose between either the SBRP or Plan 3 of the Public Employee Retirement System (PERS). Click here to compare the two plans.

SBRP (TIAA) is a defined contribution plan with the following contribution rates:

• Employee Contribution: Under 35: 5% of gross salary; 35-49: 7.5% of gross salary; 50 & over: 10% of gross salary
• Employer Contribution: Under 35: 5% of gross salary; 35-49: 7.5% of gross salary; 50 & over: 10% of gross salary

TRS Plan 3 is a defined benefit and a defined contribution plan with the following contribution rates:

• Employee Contribution: Varies from 5% to 15%
• Employer Contribution: 9.53 of gross salary

PERS Plan 3 is a defined benefit and a defined contribution plan with the following contribution rates:

• Employee Contribution: Varies from 5% to 15%
• Employer Contribution: 9.03% of gross salary

Classified Positions

Classified employees have to choose between either the Plan 2 or Plan 3 of the Public Employee Retirement System (PERS). Click here to compare the two plans.

PERS Plan 2 is a defined benefits plan with the following contribution rates:

• Employee Contribution: 6.36% of gross salary
• Employer Contribution: 9.53% of gross salary

PERS Plan 3 is a defined benefit and a defined contribution plan with the following contribution rates:

• Employee Contribution: Varies from 5% to 15%
• Employer Contribution: 9.53% of gross salary

Employee and employer contributions to applicable retirement plans are mandatory. The amount of the deduction and contribution are dependent upon the retirement plan chosen and may vary by current contribution rates in effect.

Term Life Insurance

Bates provides $35,000 basic life insurance for death from any cause and $5,000 basic accidental death and dismemberment at no cost to the employee. Employees can enroll in additional low cost life insurance for themselves and dependents.

Long Term Disability Insurance (LTD)

Bates provides a basic LTD insurance plan at no cost to employees. The basic plan pays a maximum of

$240 per month after 90 days of total disability. The optional LTD plan pays 60% of the first $10,000 of monthly salary, reduced by any deductible income such as social security or retirement benefits.

Employee cost is dependent upon benefit waiting period chosen.

Other Optional Benefits

AFLAC

Flexible Spending Arrangement Dependent Care Assistance Program

Voluntary Employees Beneficiary Association American Fidelity - Short-Term Disability

Fully Effective Employees - Employees Assistance Program Guaranteed Education Tuition

Deferred Compensation, Section 457 Plan SBVIP, 403(b) Plan

Leaves and Holidays

Vacation

Eligible exempt and classified employees accrue annual leave at rates determined by their employee status, ranging from 7 to 16 hours per month when eligible.

Sick Leave

Eligible classified, faculty, and exempt staff accrue sick leave monthly. Employees represented by a bargaining unit should refer to their negotiated agreement for sick leave rules and accrual rates.

Holidays

Bates observes the following holidays/non-work days:

Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, Day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve Day, Christmas Day, New Years Eve Day, New Years Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth

Personal Leave/Family Leave

In addition to vacation and sick leave, eligible employees receive personal and family leave each fiscal year at rates determined by their employee status

Please Note: All information above is subject to change based on, but not limited to, employment status, legislative mandates, or College policy changes

01

Do you have an associate degree or higher in Early Childhood Education OR an associate or bachelors degree with 30 quarter credits in Early Childhood Education?

• Yes
• No

02

Please describe your experience in childcare, including any lead teacher experience.

03

Are you legally authorized to work in the United States?

• Yes
• No

Required Question

Employer Bates Technical College

Address 1101 S Yakima Avenue

Tacoma, Washington, 98405

Phone (253) 680-7168

Website http://batestech.edu/jobs