Early Head Start Lead Teacher

Jefferson County, Colorado; Arvada (CO); On-site; USD 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Paid time off and holidays

Retirement matching

Tuition reimbursement

Flexible schedules

Job summary

A county education department in Colorado is seeking an Early Head Start Lead Teacher to implement curriculum for infants and toddlers, ensure compliance with Head Start standards, and engage with families. Candidates should have a Bachelor's degree in early childhood education and experience working with preschool-age children. This role offers comprehensive benefits and opportunities for professional growth.

Qualifications

• Must have a valid driver's license; obtain Colorado driver's license within 30 days of hire.
• MUST be Director-Qualified as per the CO Dept of Early Childhood guidelines.

Responsibilities

• Implement curriculum in infant or toddler classrooms while maintaining compliance.
• Collaborate with families to set individual learning goals.
• Support recruitment of family and community volunteers.
• Conduct family visits to review school readiness goals.

Skills

Written and verbal communication skills

Sound judgement and initiative

Customer service

Time management and prioritization

Education

Bachelor's Degree in child development or early childhood education

Tools

Microsoft Office/Microsoft 365

Job description

Overview

Join to apply for the Early Head Start Lead Teacher role at Jefferson County, Colorado.

Division: Head Start Division • Management Level: Individual Contributor • Scheduled Weekly Hours: 40

Job Posting Closes at 11:59PM on: 09/07/25

Responsibilities

• Head Start Lead Teacher will be responsible for implementing curriculum in an infant (0-18 months) or toddler (18-36 months) classroom of 8 children, maintaining compliance with Head Start Performance standards, and partnering with a multi-disciplinary team to provide the best service to our Head Start Families.
• Maintain the Head Start educational program by working with low-income families using a two-generation trauma informed approach. Build family well-being by intentionally and simultaneously working with children and the adults in their lives.
• Form strong partnerships with each family by soliciting and valuing their perspective on their child’s education to create individual learning goals.
• Use a multidisciplinary team approach to reduce the impact of trauma and improve child outcomes for school success by building children’s resiliency through trauma-sensitive practices.
• Support daily implementation of approved, research-based curriculum featuring exploration and discovery as a way of learning. Develop lesson plans that include individualized instruction for English language learners, children with disabilities, and children who demonstrate competencies beyond typical developmental expectations.
• Utilize observation-based early childhood assessment systems to track each child’s development. Provide continual guidance and support to co-teachers, substitute teachers, and classroom aides.
• Support recruitment efforts of family and community volunteers and track in-kind classroom hours. Comply with all Head Start performance standards and state childcare licensing requirements.
• Collaborate with family and Early Intervention (EI) service providers to support classroom goals and create MTSS goals for children with suspected developmental delays; collect data to support EI referrals.
• Build family engagement and develop relationships with families through ongoing interactions that are responsive to the strengths, interests, needs, and culture of the family. Conduct family visits and conferences to set and review school readiness goals.

Qualifications

To qualify, a candidate must meet one of the following:

• An associate, bachelor, or advanced degree in child development or early childhood education (ECE)
• An associate, bachelor, or advanced degree in a related field with coursework equivalent to ECE, CDA with Infant-Toddler Focus or EQIT, and a minimum of one-year work-related experience teaching infant to preschool age children
• An associate’s degree AND be enrolled in a program that will lead to a baccalaureate degree within two years of hire

Preferred Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to exercise sound judgement and initiative
• Passionate about the education of young children
• Strong customer service
• Experience with Microsoft Office/Microsoft 365
• Strong time management and prioritization skills
• Maintains regular contact with children and families in the classroom settings
• Ability to remain calm in difficult situations

Additional Requirements

• Offer of employment contingent on review of background checks and education verification.
• Must have a valid driver’s license; if out of state, obtain a valid Colorado driver’s license within 30 days of hire and must not have major violations or more than one DUI/DWI in the past three years.
• Available to work occasional evenings and weekends, and willing to travel to assigned Head Start sites (Arvada or Wheat Ridge).

Education

Bachelor\u2019s Degree

Experience

Minimum two years

Certifications

CPR/First Aid/AED - State of Colorado

Location

Locations include Arvada Head Start, 5150 Allison Street, Arvada, CO 80002; 11th Ave Head Start, 6201 W. 11th Ave, Lakewood, CO 80214; Patterson Early Head Start, 1470 S. Yarrow St., Lakewood, CO 80232.

Note: MUST be Director-Qualified. Please reference the CO Dept of Early Childhood Large Center Director Qualification Pathway chart for more details.

Benefits

Jefferson County offers a generous benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, paid time off and holidays, retirement matching, wellness programs, tuition reimbursement, flexible schedules, and more.

Application

Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply immediately. All applicants must submit an online employment application by 11:59PM on the posted cut-off date. A resume and cover letter are encouraged but will not substitute for information requested on the application. Applications are reviewed for minimum qualifications listed above. For more details on the recruitment process, visit the JC Recruitments FAQ page.

Questions? Contact the Jefferson County Recruitment Team at 303-271-8420 or [e-mail].