Lead Teacher (Early Childhood Education)

The mission of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless is to work collaboratively toward the prevention of homelessness and the creation of lasting solutions for homeless and at-risk families, children, and individuals throughout Colorado. The Coalition advocates for and provides a continuum of housing and a variety of services to improve the health, well-being, and stability of those it serves.

The Colorado Coalition for the Homeless seeks a Lead Teacher (Early Childhood Education) who will work directly with children at the Renaissance Children’s Center as part of a team in the center to provide for the educational, physical, social and emotional needs of the children within a specific classroom.  This position is located at 1797 Kendall St., Lakewood, Colorado 80214 and reports to the Children’s Center Director.
 

Coalition Benefits
 

Essential Job Functions

1. Creates and contributes to an environment that is age and developmentally appropriate for the children in the classroom using the Second Step and High Scope curriculum.
2. Completes lesson planning for an assigned classroom, at least weekly, that is consistent with Second Step and incorporates children’s questions and interests.
3. Meets with other Lead Teachers, and RCC Administration twice monthly to inform decision making for the center.
4. Interacts frequently with children showing age-appropriate affection/attention, interest, and respect while remaining available and responsive to them. This includes time in the classroom, on the playground, outings, and any activities involving the children.
5. Takes initiative to bring new learning and innovative ideas into the classroom to further enrich the children’s experience and stimulate the children’s higher-level thinking skills.
6. Utilizes guidance techniques to provide for a safe and orderly classroom that also allows children to develop problem-solving skills, positive self-esteem, self-confidence, positive self-image, communication skills, and take responsibility for their own behavior.
7. Makes timely referrals to the on-site Clinical Case Manager when appropriate.
8. Complies with agency policy and procedure regarding the identification and reporting of suspected child abuse or neglect.
9. Demonstrates ability to set age appropriate limits, redirect inappropriate behaviors, build positive reinforcements, and build on positive choices and encourage the child’s development of conflict resolution.
10. Functions as the primary point of contact in the classroom for providing families with information about their child. Keeps track of positive calls and conferences with parents and provides documentation to be placed in the children’s files.
11. Leads classroom staff in appropriate child-development techniques so that all staff can model these for parents/caregivers.
12. Maintains positive and respectful interactions with others by greeting parents/caregivers and sharing positive information about his/her child, by refraining from making negative comments about parents, children or other staff members, and by providing support for fellow team members and other Renaissance Children’s Center (RCC) staff.
13. Participates in parent-teacher conferences at least two to four times per year.
14. Assesses children in their classroom by evaluating and recording children’s progress in the COR Assessment System and submitting documentation quarterly.
15. Works with administration to provide a safe and sanitary environment for the children in the room as per Colorado Child Care Licensing standards. This includes hand washing and using Universal Precautions when dealing with bodily fluids.
16. Monitors the number of children present in each classroom and always remains aware of every child’s whereabouts.
17. Takes pictures in the classroom to provide documentation of children’s activities for them as well as their parents.
18. Participates in at least 15 hours of staff development each year.
19. Maintains knowledge of, and meets criteria for, high quality programs as presented in the Infant and Toddler Environmental Rating Scale, the Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale or the School-Age Care Environmental Rating Scale, depending on the assigned classroom. Classroom must receive and maintain at least a 5.0 rating on the appropriate scale.
20. Interfaces regularly with Early Childhood Coaches in assigned classrooms to ensure best practices and maintain the high-quality classroom environments.
21. Participates in ongoing training, in-service presentations, professional development, program development, and regular team meetings.
22. Maintains a work environment that is marked by respect for others; that values inclusiveness and builds workforce diversity; and that fosters cooperation, teamwork and compassion to those we serve and each other.
23. Performs other duties as assigned by management.

​​Employee must be able to perform essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation and without posing a direct threat to safety or health of self or others. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
   

Qualifications Summary

1. Must be qualified as an Early Childhood Teacher by the Colorado Department of Human Services and have experience working with the age-group applied for.
2. Must currently hold or be willing to apply for at least a Level II Colorado Early Childhood Professional Credential. Must be working towards a Level III Colorado Early Childhood Professional Credential.
3. Must have college course work or the equivalent to meet these qualifications.
4. Additional professional experience and/or education in social work, behavioral health, early childhood development, or human services preferred.
5. Level III or higher Colorado Early Childhood Professional Credential preferred.

WHERE A CANDIDATE IS PLACED IN THE COMPENSATION RANGE DEPENDS ON TOTAL RELEVENT YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

The Colorado Coalition for the Homeless is committed to delivering services, making employment-related decisions, selecting volunteers, and selecting vendors without regard to age over 40, race, sex, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, disability, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, military status, or any other applicable status protected by law.