Early Childhood Education Instructor - Summit Elementary School

Cherry Creek School District; United States; On-site; USD 30,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Cherry Creek School District seeks a dedicated preschool program assistant to support integrated classrooms for ages 3 to 5. You will plan activities, assist with IEP goals, prepare materials, and maintain a safe, nurturing environment.

Responsibilities include supervising para-educators, attending meetings, documenting progress, communicating with families, and adhering to Colorado licensing requirements. This role requires teamwork with the ECE team and the ability to lift and assist students.

Qualifications

• Criminal background check and fingerprinting required
• High School Equivalency (HSE) diploma
• One year of early childhood education/preschool teacher or educational assistant experience
• Ability to work one-on-one and in small groups with students
• Colorado Department of Human Services Early Childhood Teacher qualification (verification letter required)
• First Aid/CPR certification or completion of an introduction class to First Aid/CPR
• Colorado Shines PDIS registered
• Basic knowledge of office equipment
• Basic knowledge of Microsoft Office
• Basic word processing skills
• Intermediate interpersonal relations skills
• Ability to follow all Federal and State licensing rules and regulations
• Advanced verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with others
• Ability to work with an interdisciplinary special education team
• Ability to implement behavior modification techniques
• Ability to diffuse and manage volatile and stressful situations
• Maintain confidentiality in all aspects of the job

Responsibilities

• Plan, implement, and monitor each student’s educational program; supervise classroom; provide safe, nurturing environment with age-appropriate materials.
• Supervise, evaluate, and maintain records for program staff; train para-educators; support annual evaluations.
• Attend IEP meetings; support IEP goals and accommodations; collaborate with special educators.
• Oversee day-to-day classroom operations: materials, discipline, parent concerns, attendance, progress notes, and sanitation.
• Supervise playground; respond to emergencies; plan meaningful large-motor activities.
• Write student progress reports; conduct parent conferences; communicate with guardians and district staff.
• Complete data collection and entry into TS GOLD; meet checkpoints annually as required.
• Purchase classroom supplies per district guidelines.
• Attend professional development trainings and PLCs.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Job description

Job Details

• FLSA Exemption Status: Non-Exempt
• Classification Group: Extended Childcare Services
• Supervising Position: Director or designee
• Pay Plan: Educational Support Personnel
• Pay Range: Range 08
• Last Updated: 07/02/2025

Job Summary

Facilitate learning and teaching in an integrated, inclusive preschool classroom (ages 3 to 5 ½ years); plan and administer small and large group instruction. Form and implement student educational programs; support and follow through with individual education plan (IEP) goals and accommodations. Perform daily administrative functions including preparing class materials, disinfecting room and toys, writing student progress reports, attending IEP-related meetings, and performing other related clerical duties. Communicate with district staff and/or student guardians regarding student progress; conduct parent conferences. Tend to the personal needs of students including lifting, diapering, and custodial/toilet training.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The subsequent duties outline the fundamental operations of the position and exemplify the nature of the tasks carried out. They do not encompass a comprehensive inventory of the obligations and responsibilities fulfilled in this role. The approximation of frequencies and time allocation percentages are flexible and subject to the requirements of the organization.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1. Plan, implement, and monitor each student’s educational program. Supervise students in the classroom. Plan and facilitate small and large instructional group activities that are developmentally appropriate. Provide a safe, nurturing, and orderly classroom environment conducive to the growth and development of each student with readily accessible, age appropriate materials.
   Daily
   25%
2. Supervise, evaluate, and maintain records for program employees. Supervise para-educators in the classroom, including delegating work, training, directing work, assigning work, and resolving problems. Communicate and encourage professional growth opportunities for para-educators. May observe para-educators’ performance to provide input for annual evaluations completed by the Director of Early Childhood Education (ECE).
   Daily
   20%
3. Attend and participate in meetings related to early childhood students’ IEPs. Support and follow through with students’ IEP goals and accommodations by collaborating and planning with special educators, working individually or in small groups with students with IEP goals, developing activities to meet the goals, etc. Attend licensing meetings with the school nurse.
   Daily
   10%
4. Oversee the day-to-day operation of the classroom such as preparing class materials and toys, student discipline, addressing parent complaints, daily attendance, daily anecdotes/progress notes, correspondence books, proper food handling and sanitation practices, tending to student’s personal needs, etc.
   Daily
   10%
5. Supervise children on the playground. Handle emergencies and injuries in a safe and professional manner. Plan and implement meaningful activities for large motor periods.
   Daily
   5%
6. Write student progress reports and conduct parent conferences. Communicate with student guardians and district special educators regarding student progress and/or issues.
   Weekly
   10%
7. Complete Inter-Rater Reliability and collect sufficient student data and input into My Teaching Strategies (TS GOLD); meet deadlines for three checkpoints a year, as mandated by the State of Colorado.
   Weekly
   5%
8. Purchase classroom supplies as needed and according to district guidelines.
   Monthly
   5%
9. Attend and participate in professional development trainings including First Aid/CPR, crisis prevention intervention, literacy, excellence in equity, communication strategies, social/emotional development, etc. Attend professional learning communities (PLCs).
   Quarterly
   5%
10. Perform other duties as assigned or requested.
    Daily
    5%

Reporting Relationships

This job has no direct supervisory responsibilities.

Minimum Qualifications

The minimum prerequisites of formal education, professional work experience, certifications, licenses, endorsements, designations, trainings, and other criteria that a candidate must fulfill to be considered for a position. It is essential that certifications, licenses, endorsements, designations, and trainings are fulfilled, valid, and not expired.

• Criminal background check and fingerprinting required
• High School Equivalency (HSE) diploma
• One (1) year of early childhood education/preschool teacher, instructor, or educational assistant/para experience
• Ability to work one-on-one and in small groups with students
• Colorado Department of Human Services Early Childhood Teacher qualification (verification letter required)
• First Aid/CPR certification or completion of an introduction class to First Aid/CPR
• Colorado Shines Professional Development Information System (PDIS) registered
• Basic knowledge of typical office equipment such as telephones, copiers, fax machines, email, etc.
• Basic knowledge of Microsoft Office
• Basic word processing skills
• Intermediate interpersonal relations skills
• Ability to follow all Federal and State licensing rules and regulations
• Advanced verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with others
• Ability to work cooperatively with an interdisciplinary special education team, as well as with other professionals
• Ability to implement behavior modification techniques
• Ability to diffuse and manage volatile and stressful situations
• Ability to maintain confidentiality in all aspects of the job

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

The physical demands, mental functions, cognitive capacities, and work environment factors required to perform a position’s essential functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Work location is subject to change to meet the requirements of the organization
• Medium work strength level (lifting or carrying 50 pounds)
• Works both indoors and outdoors
• Typically a moderate noise level
• Frequent bending, squatting, reaching, and climbing
• Eye/hand coordination
• Visual concentration
• Concentrated reading/writing/mathematics
• Prolonged standing and walking
• Squatting
• Overhead work
• Occasional lifting, pulling, and/or pushing
• May be required to assist students with custodial needs (feeding, toilet)
• May work outdoors when monitoring student activities
• Normal school district environment that may include potential volatile outbursts

Desired Qualifications

Formal education, professional work experience, certifications, licenses, endorsements, designations, trainings, and other qualifications relevant to the position that are strongly preferred but not mandatory for a candidate to be considered.

• Experience working in the public sector, specifically public education
• Experience working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds
• Racially conscious and culturally competent with the skill, will, capacity, and knowledge to commit to a culture of continuous improvement
• Associate of Arts degree in Early Childhood Education or equivalent
• Three (3) years of preschool teaching experience
• Experience working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds
• Colorado Department of Human Services Early Childhood Director certification
• Colorado Shines PDIS 3.0 Level 2