Description
Envision yourself in a collaborative, inclusive, and innovative work environment that has a deep commitment to position our graduates for success in their professional and personal lives. Visualize applying your energy and skills for an organization that respects and cares about its employees enough to offer some of the best benefits of the industry while encouraging every team member to grow, collaborate, and provide input on how to consistently make the workplace a place people love to work. Imagine working at a college that welcomes everyone — students, faculty, staff, and community members — regardless of their backgrounds, beliefs, or traditions. If what was just described is what you look for in a workplace, welcome to the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS)!

 

Lead Teachers provide quality, nurturing childcare and early education for a group of diverse young children in a childcare center.  This position plans and implements developmentally appropriate curriculum activities for young children.  This position also exists to ensure compliance with State licensing requirements.

Current open positions are:

1.) Lead Teacher Floater working with children in all classrooms ages 1-6 years of age, and sometimes with school aged children, 6-10 years of age, when floating in the Summer Camp classroom.

2.) Lead Teacher in the Younger Preschool Classroom, working with children ages 3-4 years of age.

3.) Lead Teacher in the Transition classroom, working with children ages 2.5-3.5 years of age. 

These Lead Teacher positions may be assigned, or reassigned, as needed to any class group at the Family Development Center (FDC).  This position works a shift within the hours of 7:00am and 6:00pm, that may rotate or change as needed.  On occasion work schedules may shift to include evening and weekend hours for required staff meetings, training, or school events.

 

The University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) is one of four campuses in the University of Colorado system and is home to over 9,000 undergraduate and 1,800 graduate students. UCCS offers 53 undergraduate degree programs, 24 graduate degree programs, and 8 doctoral programs. UCCS is also home to the world’s only Bachelor of Innovation^TM program, which allows our graduates to master multi-disciplinary skills and graduate ready to create real change in the world. UCCS was recently classified as a “High Research Activity” university by the Carnegie Foundation and takes pride in being the only higher education institution in southern Colorado that explicitly includes research as part of its mission. We have a strong focus in fueling student success by creating, using, and maintaining a multitude of offices – First Year Experience, Excel Centers, Academic Advising, and the Career Center just to name a few. Overall, UCCS is constantly focused of preparing our students to have success in the future, and we understand that every single employee on our campus has a significant effect on that focus.

The city, which was recently ranked as the number six Best Places to Live by U.S. News & World Report in 2021, known as Olympic City USA, rests at the base of Pikes Peak, the inspiration for the song “America the Beautiful” and a must-see for residents and visitors alike. The 14,115 foot summit is just one of dozens of area attractions, including scenic trains, museums, parks, a zoo and more. With a mild climate and 247 days of sunshine each year, the Springs boasts some of the state’s best recreation opportunities.

 

Professional Field

Early Childhood Education

Supervision Received

This position is overseen by the Director of Family Development Center and either the Director of Program Development, or the Associate Director, of the Family Development Center.

Supervision Exercised

Trains and advises student employees regarding the implementation of FDC programs, policies, and developmentally appropriate practices.  Supervises, coaches, and conducts student employee performance evaluations.

Job Duties:

Provides developmentally appropriate care and education for a group of young children by implementing the early childhood philosophy and teaching strategies defined in the FDC policies, procedures, and curriculum framework, and the developmentally appropriate guidelines of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and National Early Childhood Program Accreditation (NECPA).  

Adheres to all State licensing requirements of care and education when implementing the program. 

Participates in and supervises classroom meal service to ensure compliance with USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program requirements.

Designs and documents developmentally appropriate lesson plans that adhere to the standards defined in the FDC policies, procedures, and curriculum framework; the developmentally appropriate guidelines of the NAEYC, National Early Childhood Program Accreditation (NECPA); and State child care regulations.

Designs and maintains a safe, sanitary, orderly, and developmentally appropriate environment.

Ensures compliance with health and safety standards set forth by the Department of Human Services, the Department of Health, local fire department, and other regulatory agencies.

Observes, assesses and documents children’s behavior and development.  Completes formal written assessments for each child twice a year. 

Communicates effectively with parents regarding their children’s experiences at the FDC and their children’s growth and development, through frequent verbal and written communications, and by conducting formal parent conferences each semester.

Develops and maintains effective working relationships with parents, children, staff, and community by communicating and collaborating with others, demonstrating willingness to give and receive constructive feedback resolving issues and problems as they arise, and contributing to positive morale and motivation.

Completes required paperwork in a timely manner including employee file requirements, classroom ratio checks, incident reports, daily care sheets, food program records, parent newsletters, classroom orders, self-evaluations and any and all paperwork deemed necessary for proper job performance.

Attends staff meetings, workshops, and conferences; facilitates classroom team meetings; participates in FDC parent/teacher activities and events. 

Completes the annual training hours required by State Child Care Regulations and NECPA. 

Maintains Colorado Early Childhood Teacher qualification.

Job Competencies:

Knowledge of Developmentally Appropriate Practices; licensing requirements; curriculum planning and children’s assessments.

Good written and oral communication skills. 

Ability to manage groups of children and supervise college students.

This position has been determined to be eligible for overtime (non-exempt) under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

What We Offer:

Salary Range: $17.44 - $19.17/hr

The salary range matches state pay for similar positions.

The University of Colorado offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid vacation and time off, and a tuition benefit. Information on university benefits programs, including eligibility, is located at http://www.cu.edu/employee-services. Total compensation goes beyond the value on the paycheck.  Please consider reviewing the Total Compensation page at Total Compensation Calculators | University of Colorado.

This position is dependent on the availability of auxiliary revenues funding.

Tentative Search Timeline:

The potential dates for interviews with the search committee will be the week of 7/11/2022.

The potential dates for interviews with the supervisor and appointing authority will be the week of 7/18/2022.

The potential employee start date is 8/1/2022.

The University of Colorado Colorado Springs is committed to providing a safe and productive learning, living and working community. To assist in achieving this goal, we conduct background investigations for all prospective applicants being considered for employment. Background investigations include a criminal history record check, and when appropriate, a financial and/or motor vehicle history check. 

UCCS is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. In compliance with applicable laws and in furtherance of its commitment to fostering an environment that welcomes and embraces diversity, the University of Colorado does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, disability, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, political affiliation or political philosophy in its programs or activities, including employment, admissions, and educational programs. Alternative formats of this ad can be provided upon request for individuals with disabilities by contacting the Office of Human Resources at (719) 255-3372.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each of the established essential functions and meet the physical and environment demands described satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, ability, physical and environmental conditions required of the employee on the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions, physical and environmental demands.

Applicants with disabilities: If you have a mental or physical impairment, which limits one of your major life activities (e.g. walking, hearing, seeing, speaking, breathing, or learning) and require special accommodations for testing or interviewing, it is your responsibility to notify the office scheduling the interview or test at least 3 working days before the interview or test date.  If you need special accommodations at the work site, you must notify the appointing authority or Human Resources.

The Immigration Reform and Control Act requires that verification of employment eligibility be documented for all new employees by the end of the third day of work.

Qualifications
Minimum Requirements:

Applicants must meet the State of Colorado Child Care licensing requirements as well as the NECPA Accreditation requirements listed below:

Early Childhood Teacher

An early childhood teacher, assigned responsibility for a single group of children and working under the supervision of a director, must be at least 21 years of age and must meet ONE of the following qualification options;

A Bachelor’s (4 year) degree from a regionally accredited college/university in one of the following areas:1) Early Childhood Education (ECE); 2) Elementary Education; 3) Special Education; 4) Family and Child Development; 5) Child Psychology.
Current Early Childhood Professional Credential Level III, Version 2.0.
A 2-year college degree from a regionally accredited college/university in Early Childhood Education, which must include at least two three-semester hour ECE courses, one of which must be either Intro to ECE or Guidance Strategies.
Twelve (12) semester hours in ECE from a regionally accredited college/university, one of the three (3) semester hour ECE courses must be either Intro to ECE or Guidance Strategies.

At least two years of verified satisfactory experience responsible for the care and supervision of four or more children five years of age, or younger, who are not related to the individual, with at least one of those years as a Lead Teacher  or Assistant Lead Teacher.

All staff are required to meet and maintain minimum qualifications for this position as defined by Colorado Department of Human Services and the Center’s Accrediting Agency.

Verified satisfactory experience must be an employer letter documenting the care and supervision of four or more children five years of age, or younger, who are not related to the individual. Satisfactory experience includes working as an assistant teacher or lead teacher in a childcare center or preschool. All college course grades towards early childhood teacher qualifications must be a “C” or better.

 

Preferred Qualifications:

Training in Conscious Discipline.

Evidence-based social emotional training supporting children’s development and success.

One-year supervisory experience.

Six months employment in a college or university child care center or preschool.

Two years of verified satisfactory experience as an Assistant Teacher or Lead Teacher.

 

Physical Requirements:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand and walk.  Employee is occasionally required to have long periods of sitting, moderate bending, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, handling, and feeling.  Employee must also have near and far acuity, depth perception, accommodation, color vision and normal field of vision. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and will frequently lift and/or move up to 20 pounds.

Job Category: Business Services
Primary Location: Colorado Springs
Schedule: Full-time
Posting Date: Apr 14, 2022
Unposting Date: Ongoing