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 80214and reports to the Children’s Center Director.

Coalition Benefits

• Choice of HMO or PPO health insurance coverage options: full-time employees contribute only 1% of their earnings for their own HMO health coverage and no more than 4% of their earnings for coverage of eligible dependents. We’re proud to offer same-and opposite-sex domestic partner coverage. 
• Choice of dental insurance or discount plan. 
• Vision insurance.  
• Flexible spending accounts for health care /dependent care / parking expenses. 
• Free basic life and AD&D insurance coverage. 
• Employee Assistance Program, a problem-solving resource available to you and your household members. 
• Dollar-for-dollar retirement plan matching contributions up to 5% of earnings with3-year vesting. 
• Extensive paid time-off, including 9 holidays,12 days of sick leave, and three weeks of vacation for new full-time employees in their first year
The effective date for your benefits will be the first of the month following your date of hire.

Essential Functions

• 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.
• Completes lesson planning for an assigned classroom, at least weekly, that is consistent with Second Step and incorporates children’s questions and interests.
• Meets with other Lead Teachers, and RCC Administration twice monthly to inform decision making for the center.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Makes timely referrals to the on-site Clinical Case Manager when appropriate.
• Complies with agency policy and procedure regarding the identification and reporting of suspected child abuse or neglect.
• 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.
• 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.
• Leads classroom staff in appropriate child-development techniques so that all staff can model these for parents/caregivers.
• 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.
• Participates in parent-teacher conferences at least two to four times per year.
• Assesses children in their classroom by evaluating and recording children’s progress in the COR Assessment System and submitting documentation quarterly.
• 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.
• 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