Infant Toddler Lead Teacher

Description

Job Description:

Plans and implements learning experiences that advance the development of the whole child. Establishes and maintains a safe, healthy learning environment using high quality learning experiences to advance the development of the whole child in partnership with families. Complies with all Head Start Performance Standards, Colorado Department of Human Services licensing requirements, and the Colorado Quality Standards for Early Childhood Care and Education Services. Implements a balance of group and individualized experiences to promote the development of school readiness skills as defined by CPCD’s School Readiness Action Plan. Provides daily supervision for assigned Teacher Assistants.

Pay Scale:

Step 1: Director's Qualification (DQ)

• $23.99/hr.

Step 2: AA Degree/ECE or related Field & DQ (Written Agreement to obtain a DQ if not held)

• $26.70/hr.

Step 3: Bachelor's Degree in ECE or related Field and DQ (Written Agreement to obtain a DQ if not held)

• $29.65/hr.

About CPCD:

At CPCD, we provide more than 1,100 children living in poverty, or who are challenged by special circumstances, with an early childhood education through Head Start, Early Head Start, and the Universal Preschool Program. Our additional health, dental, and family support services ensure that children enrolled in our programs are ready to succeed in school and life. Join our team and help us make a difference in the lives of children and families in our community.

Additional Benefits for Eligible Employees (25+ hours per week):

CPCD offers paid vacation time, paid sick time, and paid holidays/Breaks.

• Paid Holidays include Memorial Day, Independence Day, Juneteenth, Presidents Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day

• Paid Breaks include 1-week for Spring Break (March), 1-week for Fall Break (November), and 2- weeks for Winter Break (end of December/beginning of January).

Eligible employees receive a competitive benefits package including

• Access to medical, dental, and vision insurance, flexible spending accounts, Aflac supplemental insurance, and voluntary life insurance. CPCD also pays for Basic Life, Long Term Disability, and AD&D insurance at no cost to you.

• Our 401(k) program offers traditional and Roth enrollment options with automatic enrollment in our profit-sharing after 1-year of employment.

Tuition Assistance is available after 60 days of employment

• $4,000 per year for Early Childhood Education Associates/Bachelor’s Degrees.

• $2,500 per year for other degrees related to employment at CPCD.

Employee Wellbeing

• Employee Assistance Program provides 6 FREE sessions with a counselor or therapist per year

• Full well-being program to encourage and promote your well-being in the workplace, including 2 hours of paid time per month for wellness activities.

Please Note: The successful completion of a post-offer, pre-employment physical examination, TB screen, back-ground screen and drug test (including marijuana) is required.

Requirements

Required:

• Current Colorado Department of Human Services Director Qualification (DQ).
• Experience teaching in the early childhood education field including experience in planning and implementing curriculum, using assessments, and providing effective and nurturing teacher-child interactions.
• All Early Head Start teachers must meet the above requirements and be trained in early childhood development with a focus on infant and toddler development.
• Successful completion of a post-offer, pre-employment physical examination, TB test, back-ground screen and drug test and thereafter as required.
• Must be able to lift/carry up to 40 pounds.
• First Aid and infant, child & adult CPR, and medication administration certification within 90-days of employment and maintain as required.
• Successful completion of a pre-employment physical examination, TB test, drug test (including marijuana), and background check in accordance with the Office of Head Start Performance Standards and Childcare Licensing. (Physical examination and TB test thereafter as required).
• Must have access to reliable transportation and if using a personal vehicle must maintain minimum liability insurance as determined by the State of Colorado.

Preferred:

• Associates or Bachelors degree in ECE or related field and Colorado Department of Human Services Director Qualified. If a candidate is not currently Director Qualified, they must agree to obtain this certificate and begin the process to obtain immediately.
• Bilingual in Spanish and English.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS, DUTIES, AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Child growth and development:

• Has knowledge of, articulates, and applies concepts, principles, theory and practices of early childhood development to build and maintain a positive, nurturing and supportive relationship with children and families. Successfully engage and challenge children of differing abilities. Successfully implement the essential aspects of responsive care for very young children through primary care. 
• Individualizes learning experiences that advance the intellectual, social, emotional, and physical development of children. Using the Creative Curriculum for Infants, Toddlers and Twos, along with other supplemental curricula, plans and implements learning through routines and experiences. Implement /IFSP and monitor progress through individualization of activities and ongoing documentation in collaboration with the assigned therapists. 

Classroom management: 

• Ensures that the classroom environment (including outdoors) is clean, safe, calm, and educational, in accordance with; Head Start Performance Standards, Colorado Department of Human Services Licensing, Health and Safety requirements, Child and Adult Care Food Program, Pyramid Plus, sanitization requirements, and CPCD’s policies and procedures.  Requests, maintains, and prepares materials so they are adequate, appropriate and safe. 
• Individually documents in databases including Connect (Child Family Reviews (CFR), attendance, meal recording), and the Teaching Strategies Gold assessment tool (including input from families).

Supervision:

• Provides direct, ongoing and positive supervision of the Teacher Assistants (TAs) assigned to your room on a continuous basis. Conducts ongoing reflective supervision and maintains personnel files in a timely and accurate manner, utilizing the CPCD Supervision Manual. 
• Through inter-personal communication and leading by example, strives to encourage a positive work environment that supports the culture of CPCDs mission, core behaviors, and staff empowerment. 
• Orients, trains, guides and supervises the TAs, Transportation Technician (when in the classroom), Parent Volunteers,  Community Volunteers, and interns/students.
• In conjunction with HR and supervisor, develops performance improvement plans and Professional Development Plans. Monitors and evaluates performance in compliance with the agency performance planning and appraisal process.  
• In conjunction with HR and CD supervisor, manages and resolves classroom employee relations or conduct issues and takes corrective action when needed.
• Monitors and manages attendance/absence issues for assigned staff including scheduling of paid and unpaid time off, requests for leaves of absences and Family Medical Leave (FMLA).
• Ensures staff complies with program confidentiality policies concerning information about children, families and other staff members.

Families:

• Demonstrates acceptance of all children and their families, including those with special needs, behavioral challenges, and diversity of culture, race, ethnicity and parental choices.  Support the development of positive relationships between children and their families, while maintaining professional boundaries.
• Facilitates family engagement in school readiness opportunities to include, School Readiness Events, Policy Council, classroom volunteerism, parent trainings and the GOLD Parent Site. Increase parents' knowledge about child development and share knowledge about individual child via home visits, Parent/Teacher Conferences, Happy Notes, and regular communication.   

Professionalism:

• Demonstrates positive attitude and uses common sense.  Maintains interaction with children, families, staff and community partners that is warm, sensitive, honest, natural, calm, respectful, and appropriate.  Demonstrates sense of humor, flexibility and adaptability. Collaborates and shares with co-workers and respect their opinions and contributions.
• Is prepared, punctual and engaged in meetings and work duties to include IFSP meetings, staff meetings, events, etc.
• Adheres to all program policies and procedures and accepts other duties as assigned.

Human relations and communication:

• Communicates openly and honestly with appropriate staff (within all departments and community) to meet the needs of the classroom, children, families and host schools. 
• Uses discretion and maintains confidentiality with matters of children, families, staff and program.
• Accepts supervision from assigned Child Development Supervisor and follows through with recommendations made by Coach, Behavioral Health Consultant (BHC), Therapist or other supports. 

OTHER DUTIES/RESPONSIBLITIES

• Perform other duties as assigned by the CD Supervisor, CD Director, or other departments.

Equal Opportunity Employer

CPCD is committed to fostering an inclusive workforce and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, sex, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, citizenship, or any other legally protected class.