Job: Preschool Support Staff

Job Description

Job Type: Full time, Hourly

Wage: $18.27-$21.41/hr.

Location: Leadville, CO.

Job Description:

Mission Statement

Our mission is to promote the development of knowledge, skills and self-esteem through research-based early childhood services in a learning environment of respect for children and families throughout our community.

Work Days: 179 student days; new employees start August 1, 2025

Department: The Center at Lake County Elementary School

Supervisor: Preschool Director 

Compensation and Benefits: Salaried and paid over 12 months; Follows the Support Placement Schedule includes EXCELLENT benefits - medical, dental, vision, PTO, etc!

JOB SUMMARY

Assisting classroom Teachers with the implementation of daily routines and with all duties as delegated.  Supervising classroom activities when the lead or assistant teacher is unavailable.    Supporting teachers with the implementation of developmentally appropriate educational experiences for preschool age children (2.5-5 years) based on the individual developmental needs of children.   By using a variety of teaching strategies and materials in accordance with curriculum objectives, developmentally appropriate practice, Head Start Performance Standards, State of Colorado Child Care Licensing Regulations, and program philosophy, these experiences will encourage the development of the whole child.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Include the following.  Other duties may be assigned.

• Instructional Practices

1. Support daily functions of the program including, but not limited to assisting individual children, tasks related to daily operations. Provide daily coverage in classrooms as necessary.
2. Assist teachers to execute developmentally appropriate individual education 

experiences in the fields of Social Emotional, Physical, Cognitive, and Language Development.  Use effective approaches, strategies, and best practices in the classroom which correlate to the goals and objectives of the curriculum to children’s daily experiences and environment.

1. Work as a team member with administrative team to provide quality 
2. educational experiences and child care services on a daily basis. Collaborate with supervisor to create a professional development plan that will assist you in meeting your educational goals.
3. Promote and supervise both long and short range activities which encourage the development of "the whole child" and support children in their home language by using the Head Start Performance Standards, CKLA, along with Developmentally Appropriate Practices for school readiness.
4. Promote positive self-concepts and independence by teaching or encouraging skills related to children's emotional, social, intellectual, and physical health, and promote appropriate approaches to learning.
5. Maintain a positive, constructive relationship with parents that supports the bond between child and family. Involve parents in the program in ways that enhance their abilities to support their children’s growth and development and promote the clear expectation that opportunities for involvement are intended to include fathers, mothers and other caregivers.  Document all in-kind.
6. Model and assist children with good nutrition habits which include family style serving and recording meals.
7. Attend school functions, trainings and mandatory staff meetings. Become aware and knowledgeable of regulations, guidelines & procedures for The Center Early Childhood Programs contained in the Colorado State Childcare Regs, Employee Health & Policy Handbook, Employee Code of Conduct and Head Start Performance Standards.

II.Learning Environment

1. Supervise children's actions to ensure their safety and program accountability. Utilize identified Pyramid Model strategies to support emotional literacy. Support Teachers in enforcing classroom rules and expectations, as well as respect and care for school property and each other.
2. Maintain a neat and organized classroom and other shared spaces, in accordance with program goals and philosophy.

III.Program & Administrative

1. Work the days and hours to perform all assigned responsibilities and tasks, be punctual and timely in meeting all requirements, including but not limited to, attendance  standards and work deadlines.
2. Provide internal staff coverage daily as needed and assigned
3. If Bilingual: facilitate participation of Spanish speaking families in all areas of the program including Policy Council/ Parent committee if needed.
4. Be a presence in the front office to greet parents, answer the phone, be available as a resource for parents, visitors and staff.
5. Serve as a preschool closer during program days, collaborate with other assigned closers to supervise and provide activities for children with extended afternoon hours. 
6. Perform other duties as assigned.

IV.Supervisory Responsibility

1. Maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries.  Report any suspected child abuse   to supervisor and DHS as required.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below 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.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING 

AA in Early Childhood Education/Related Field, or Child Development Associate (CDA) certificate (Preferred), High School Diploma/GED and Colorado Childcare Licensing group lead qualified.  Be willing to enroll in Early Childhood Classes or assigned training to obtain needed qualifications

EXPERIENCE  

Bilingual preferred

Experience working with children ages 2.5-5 preferred

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, & EQUIPMENT  

Communication, interpersonal, CPR, and First Aid skills.  Ability to work with children and adults.  Must pass CBI fingerprint and background check prior to hire.   

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, & REGISTRATIONS   

CPR and First Aid certifications required within three months after hire.  Must obtain physical and TB test within 30 days after hire.

SUPERVISION/TECHNICAL RESPONSIBILITY    

Responsible for supervising children while at The Center.  Acts as a resource for children by assisting them with activities and for parents by providing information regarding children's activities and/or progress.

JUDGMENT AND DECISION MAKING 

Daily work is assigned by the Child Care Director,  Directors of Operation and Education.  Requires independent judgment and application of professional standards to effectively execute education programs, monitor children's progress, assess success of activities/program, monitor children's safety, and/or manage classroom.  Decision making is guided by The Center Employee Handbook and Head Start Performance Standards.  Decision making requires collaboration with The Center Leadership Team.  Errors in decision making could impact children's education opportunities, children's safety, relationships with parents, and/or the public image of the programs.  Supervisor is involved only in major decisions.

DIVERSITY OF DUTIES 

Duties require cross training in child development, teaching strategies and team building.  Duties extend within assigned building on a daily basis.

The physical demands, work environment factors, and mental functions described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and talk or hear.  The employee frequently is required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms.  The employee is required to sit or be at eye level with the child.  The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT  

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions.  The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.

MENTAL FUNCTIONS  

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to communicate, copy, instruct, use interpersonal skills, and negotiate.  Frequently required to compare, analyze, coordinate, evaluate, and synthesize.  Occasionally required to copy, compute, and compile.

**Disclaimer: The duties and responsibilities described above are not a comprehensive list and additional tasks may be assigned to the employee, time to time; the scope of the job may change as necessitated by business demands. Click “View Application” below for more detail on this specific job.