Preschool Teacher, Lead

This position will be posted for a minimum of 5 days

Coalition Mission
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 families, children, and individuals who are experiencing or at-risk of homelessness 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.
Our Philosophy of Service
We believe all people have the right to adequate housing and health care. We work to remove the barriers that restrict access to these rights. Society benefits when adequate housing and healthcare are available to everyone.

We create lasting solutions to homelessness by:
1. Honoring the inherent dignity of those we serve, affirming their capabilities, and fostering their hope that a better life is possible;
2. Building strong, caring, and trauma-informed communities through the integration of housing, health care, and supportive services;
3. Advocating for social and racial equity, inclusion, and diversity and challenging the status quo in partnership with our workforce members and those we serve;
4. Achieving excellence through continuous quality assurance, innovation, and professional development;
5. Using resources judiciously and effectively.

Position Summary
The Lead Teacher at Renaissance Children’s Center (RCC) serves as a key classroom leader, responsible for curriculum planning, child assessments, classroom quality standards, and mentoring classroom staff. In addition to directly working with children, the Lead Teacher collaborates with RCC administration, supervises Assistant Teachers and Teachers in the classroom, ensures compliance with licensing and accreditation standards, and acts as the primary contact for family engagement. The Lead Teacher also plays a role in decision-making to improve RCC programs and services.

Duties/Responsibilities (Essential Functions)

• Serve as a mentor and leader for classroom staff, providing guidance on curriculum implementation, classroom management, and child development best practices.
• Meet with RCC administration and other Lead Teachers twice per month to contribute to decision-making for the center.
• Act as the primary contact for families, maintaining strong communication about child progress and concerns.
• Support the professional development of Assistant Teachers and Teachers by modeling best practices in child engagement and instruction.
• Develop and implement lesson plans on a weekly basis, ensuring alignment with the Second Step and High Scope curriculum and incorporating children’s questions and interests.
• Introduce innovative learning techniques and enriches the classroom environment by adapting curriculum based on children's emerging needs.
• Ensure that classroom materials are age-appropriate, developmentally sound, and engaging, rotating materials regularly to maintain interest.
• Maintains and organizes assessment records to track children's developmental progress and adjust instruction accordingly.
• Conduct and document child assessments using the COR Assessment System, submitting documentation quarterly.
• Regularly collaborate with Early Childhood Coaches to integrate research-based best practices into the classroom.
• Ensure that the classroom meets and maintains a minimum 5.0 rating on the Environmental Rating Scales (Infant/Toddler, Early Childhood, or School-Age).
• Work with RCC administration to ensure compliance with licensing regulations and accreditation standards.
• Support the safety and cleanliness of the classroom, following Colorado Child Care Licensing standards, including universal precautions and handwashing protocols.
• Monitor the number of children present at all times, ensuring compliance with child-to-staff ratio requirements.
• Lead parent-teacher conferences (at least two to four times per year) to discuss children’s progress, address concerns, and collaborate with families.
• Train and support classroom staff in child guidance techniques, ensuring they can model these for parents and caregivers.
• Maintain positive and respectful interactions with families, share positive information about their child, and address concerns proactively.
• Supervise children on outings, including walking to and from school, swimming, hiking, and cultural events.
• Maintain awareness of each child's location at all times and ensure safety standards are upheld in the classroom and during activities.
• Ensure classroom environments are inclusive, trauma-informed, and developmentally appropriate for all children.
• Complete at least 15 hours of professional development annually.
• Participate in team meetings, in-service trainings, and program development activities to enhance classroom effectiveness.
• Work with RCC administration to implement new policies and strategies that improve early childhood programming.
• Make timely referral to the on-site Clinical Case Manager when children require additional behavioral or emotional support.
• Performs other job duties as assigned.

Education, Experience and Job Competencies
Education

• Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or related field required. Associate’s degree in related field or specialized early childhood education certification and two (2) years of relevant experience may be substituted for the Bachelor’s degree.
• Certified Early Childhood Teacher by the Colorado Department of Human Services.
• Must have and maintain a valid Colorado Driver's License within 30 days of hire.

Experience

• Prior Experience working with the assigned age group in a licensed childcare facility required.
• Supervisory experience in a childcare or early learning setting preferred.

Job Competencies

• Strong decision-making and critical-thinking skills.
• Leadership experience, including mentoring staff and facilitating team collaboration.
• Advanced knowledge of child development, social service regulations, and early education best practices.
• Ability to obtain and maintain CPR and First Aid certification.
• Knowledge of child behavioral interventions and trauma-informed care.
• Strong interpersonal and family engagement skills.
• Ability to supervise children on varied outings and activities.
• Ability to adjust work hours to accommodate children’s school schedules and activities.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions
The physical demands and work environment are representative of those that must be met or encountered to successfully perform the essential functions of the job with or reasonable accommodation and without posing a direct threat to safety or health of self or others. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, CCH provides reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the Company.

Physical Demands
Percentage of work time spent on activity → 0% - 24% 25% to 49% 50% to 74% 75% to 100%
SEEING: Must be able to read computer screens and printed documents. X
HEARING: Must be able to hear well enough to communicate with employees and others. X
STANDING/WALKING X
CLIMBING/STOOPING/KNEELING X
LIFTING/PULLING/PUSHING X

• Occasionally lifts items weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Must be able to write, type and use telephones, cellphone, and online phone.

Working Conditions

• Primary work location is the Renaissance Children’s Center at 1797 Kendall Street, Lakewood, CO 80214.
• Typical schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with occasional evening or weekend hours for special events.
• Works primarily in a climate-controlled classroom environment, with up to two hours per day spent outside.

Coalition Benefits:
We offer a full suite of benefits for our eligible employees and their dependents. We’re proud to offer same-and opposite-sex domestic partner coverage.

• Health Insurance - HMO or PPO
• Dental plans, vision insurance, flexible spending accounts, supplemental life insurance
• Company paid basic life and AD&D insurance coverage, Employee Assistance Program, 403(b) retirement savings matching,
• Extensive paid time-off, including holidays, sick leave, and vacation

The effective date for your benefits will be the first of the month following your date of hire.

Employees must be able to perform the essential functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation and without posing a direct threat to the health or safety of themselves or others. CCH is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any characteristic protected by law.