Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS)

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Roles and Responsibilities

Facility Director

The Facility Director serves as the authorized on-site manager responsible for the daily oversight of all
staff, operational budgets, and direct childcare services (p. 5). This role ensures strict compliance with the
Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) licensure rules (pp. 1, 4).

Core Qualifications & Legal Requirements

● Minimum Age: Must be at least 21 years old (p. 6).
● Education Baseline: High school diploma or GED equivalent (p. 6).
● Experience Metric: Minimum of 2 years of supervised experience in a licensed facility (p. 6).
Alternatively, a college degree in Early Childhood Education is accepted (p. 6).
● Health Mandate: Valid health assessment and negative TB skin test (p. 5). Both must be
completed within 12 months prior to hire (pp. 5, 10).
● Background Clearances: Complete criminal history check via the Tennessee Bureau of
Investigation (TBI) (p. 5). Fingerprint check through the FBI (p. 5). Vulnerable registry screens
for Sex Offenders and Child Abuse/Neglect (p. 5). All must be processed within 90 days of
employment (p. 5).
● Mandatory Training: Active certifications in CPR and First Aid (p. 6). Complete
comprehensive center orientation within 30 days of hire (p. 6). Achieve a minimum of 30 clock
hours of approved professional development training annually (p. 29).

Detailed Regulatory Responsibilities
● Daily Operations: Execute full administrative oversight of daily programming, student
enrollment, and active facility maintenance (pp. 5, 13, 27).
● Licensing Compliance: Enforce and verify state-mandated TDHS Licensure Rules across all
classrooms (p. 4).
● Staff Supervision: Oversee the hiring, on-the-clock tracking, performance evaluation, and
disciplinary paths for all subordinates (pp. 5, 27, 30).
● Ratios Maintenance: Monitor and maintain strict classroom staff-to-child ratios and group size
thresholds at all times (pp. 4, 26).
● Designated Authority: Formally appoint an on-site, qualified designee to assume center
command during temporary director absences.

● Record Integrity: Maintain confidential, current staff personnel files and organized student
medical tracking binders (pp. 4, 7, 27).
● Emergency Safety: Lead monthly fire and severe weather evacuation drills (p. 12). Act as the
primary coordinator for local emergency responses (p. 12).
● Incident Protocols: Review all accident files and report serious injuries, hospitalizations, or
fatalities to the TDHS licensing board within 24 hours (p. 13).
● Mandated Reporting: Deliver immediate, unhedged verbal and written reports of suspected
child abuse or neglect to the Tennessee Child Abuse Hotline (p. 14).

Lead Teacher

The Lead Teacher is the primary classroom educator responsible for programming design, academic
curriculum implementation, child progress assessments, and family communications (p. 5).

Core Qualifications & Legal Requirements

● Minimum Age: Must be at least 18 years old (p. 6).
● Education Baseline: High school diploma or GED equivalent (pp. 5-6).
● Professional Credentials: Possess a valid Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, or
show a formal written agreement to complete the CDA within 2 years of hire (p. 6).
● Health Mandate: Valid health assessment and negative TB skin test (p. 5). Both must be
completed within 12 months prior to hire (pp. 5, 10).
● Background Clearances: Complete criminal history check via the TBI (p. 5). Fingerprint check
through the FBI (p. 5). Vulnerable registry screens for Sex Offenders and Child Abuse/Neglect
(p. 5). All must be processed within 90 days of employment (p. 5).
● Mandatory Training: Active certifications in CPR and First Aid (p. 6). Complete
comprehensive center orientation within 30 days of hire (p. 28). Achieve a minimum of 24 clock
hours of approved early learning training annually (p. 28). [3, 4]

Detailed Regulatory Responsibilities
● Curriculum Delivery: Create and execute structured weekly lesson plans across seven primary
early learning modules (pp. 17, 19). Include life skills, early literacy, mathematics, and basic
Spanish (pp. 17-18).
● Classroom Dynamics: Provide active visual and auditory tracking of all students during indoor,
outdoor, and transition routines (p. 16). Never leave children unattended (p. 16).
● Child Assessments: Record objective, factual classroom observations and build comprehensive
developmental portfolios for each child (pp. 19, 28).
● Parent Partnerships: Coordinate formal parent-teacher progress review conferences twice per
calendar year (pp. 19, 24).
● Assistant Management: Directly supervise, delegate daily duties to, and monitor classroom
actions of assigned Teaching Assistants (pp. 5, 28).
● Environment Safety: Conduct daily physical space reviews to eliminate hazards, broken toys, or
exposed cords (p. 13). Secure specialized toxic cleaners out of child reach (p. 13).

● Behavioral Guidance: Practice positive behavior redirection and constructive natural
consequences (p. 15). Strictly avoid corporal punishment, verbal shaming, or physical isolation
(p. 15).
● Health Screening: Perform brief, daily health checks during morning drop-offs to monitor for
symptoms of communicable illnesses (p. 21).
● Mandated Reporting: Maintain individual legal accountability to bypass internal hierarchies and
report child abuse directly to state authorities if the director is unavailable (p. 14).

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Teaching Assistant

The Teaching Assistant provides essential classroom support by reinforcing curriculum blocks, executing
sanitization protocols, and keeping direct physical watch over the children (pp. 5, 28).

Core Qualifications & Legal Requirements

● Minimum Age: Must be at least 18 years old (p. 6).
● Education Baseline: High school diploma or GED equivalent (pp. 5-6).
● Supervision Mandate: Must operate under the direct line of sight and guidance of a qualified
Lead Teacher (p. 6).
● Health Mandate: Valid health assessment and negative TB skin test (p. 5). Both must be
completed within 12 months prior to hire (pp. 5, 10).
● Background Clearances: Complete criminal history check via the TBI (p. 5). Fingerprint check
through the FBI (p. 5). Vulnerable registry screens for Sex Offenders and Child Abuse/Neglect
(p. 5). All must be processed within 90 days of employment (p. 5).
● Mandatory Training: Complete comprehensive center orientation within 30 days of hire (p. 28).
Secure active certifications in CPR and First Aid within 3 months of hire (p. 6). Achieve a
minimum of 24 clock hours of approved early learning training annually (p. 28).

Detailed Regulatory Responsibilities
● Direct Care Work: Execute strict step-by-step diapering and toilet training protocols (p. 22).
Maintain individual child privacy and dignity (p. 22).
● Supervision Duties: Maintain close visual proximity to children at all times (p. 16). Stand within
physical arm's reach of infants during high-risk daily activities (p. 27).
● Sanitization Tracking: Wash hands using standard warm-water, 20-second rules before food
handling, after diaper changes, and following outdoor play (p. 11). Clean and sanitize table
surfaces and toys daily (pp. 13, 21).
● Meal Coordination: Serve food in age-appropriate portions (p. 21). Sit down at tables directly
with children to actively model social table manners (p. 21). Track and document exact dietary
intakes (p. 22).
● Medical Oversight: Check that authorized medications match the exact parental permission slips
before giving any doses (pp. 11-12). Record accurate logs immediately after giving meds (p. 12).
● Rest Oversight: Supervise nap periods by physically checking and visually monitoring sleeping
infants every 15 minutes (pp. 13, 22). Log checks on the sleep sheet (p. 13).

● Dismissal Integrity: Check state-issued photo IDs during student pick-ups (p. 21).
cross-reference names against authorized contact forms before release (pp. 16, 21).
● Incident Logging: Draft factual, completely objective incident reports within 24 hours of any
classroom injury or behavioral event (p. 13).
● Mandated Reporting: Deliver immediate, unhedged reports of any visible bruises, burns, or
emotional distress signs to the director or the child abuse hotline (p. 14).
Substitutes / Relief Staff
Substitutes and Relief Staff provide on-demand classroom tracking and operational assistance to fill
temporary gaps left by employee leaves, lunch breaks, or peak hours (p. 5).
Core Qualifications & Legal Requirements
● Ratio Rules: Counted directly toward adult-to-child classroom ratio limits during on-duty hours
(pp. 5, 27).
● Exemption Threshold: Allowed to bypass standard physical exams and fingerprint checks only
if total individual center service stays under 36 hours per calendar year.
● Full Compliance: Must complete standard TBI/FBI checks and provide a medical fitness
assessment if total center service exceeds the 36-hour limit.
● Mandatory Training: Must complete basic orientation on child care policies, building exit paths,
and abuse recognition before working alone with children.
Detailed Regulatory Responsibilities
● Classroom Balance: Step into active floor coverage roles to protect mandatory TDHS classroom
staff-to-child ratios (p. 27).
● Schedule Execution: Maintain the exact daily classroom routine established by the regular lead
teacher (p. 18). Keep circle times, chapel sessions, and nap blocks on time (p. 18).
● Active Supervision: Keep children in plain sight and hearing at all times (pp. 16, 27). Constantly
scan rooms to block unsafe behaviors (p. 16).
● Policy Compliance: Follow all written center guidelines regarding cell phone bans, smoke-free
areas, and emergency plans (pp. 8, 12, 37).
● Hygiene Enforcement: Monitor proper, step-by-step handwashing habits for students before
snacks and after playground play (pp. 11, 21).
● Confidentiality Safeguards: Protect student privacy (p. 8). Never discuss child behaviors or
family background details outside the center (pp. 8, 24).
● Shift Hand-Offs: Deliver concise, factual verbal updates to regular classroom teachers or
administrators at the end of each relief shift (p. 21).
● Mandated Reporting: Maintain individual legal accountability to bypass internal hierarchies and
report child abuse directly to state authorities if the director is unavailable (p. 14).