Lead Teacher – Preschool (Early Childhood Program Specialist 3)

Community Colleges of Spokane; Spokane (WA); On-site; USD 49,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Life insurance

Retirement plan

Paid time off

Job summary

Community Colleges of Spokane's HS Northeast Community Center is seeking a Lead Teacher – Preschool (ECPS 3) to implement the Head Start/ECEAP curriculum and oversee an early childhood classroom, providing services to preschoolers and their families.

Under supervision of the Center Manager, the position offers a 9.5-month cyclic schedule with starting salary of $4,406 per month; salary steps advance about 5% after six months and annually thereafter until the top of the range.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Child Development, Early Childhood Education, Human Development, or closely related field with coursework in ECE.
• Knowledge of early childhood education theory and practices, and developmentally appropriate practices.
• Ability to obtain 30 hours of STARS basic training or provide proof of exemption.

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain a safe, healthy learning environment for children’s development.
• Partner with parents to support child development goals and family engagement.
• Plan, present, and evaluate children’s activities and classroom routines.
• Coordinate daily classroom workflow and supervise aides, students, and volunteers.
• Comply with district policies, state/federal regulations, and collective bargaining agreements.

Skills

Interpersonal communication

Multi-tasking

Collaboration

Professional decorum

Education

Bachelor’s degree or higher in Child Development, Early Childhood Education, Human Development, or closely related field

Job description

Location:HS Northeast Community Center

Department:DIT HS Northeast Community Center

Salary Range: $4,406 - $5,928

Work Schedule: 9.5-Month Cyclic Schedule

Starting salary for this position is: $4,406 (Monthly)
Employees hired at the entry step of this range receive salary step advancement after six months and every 12 months thereafter. An employee hired at anything higher than the entry step of the range will have salary step advancement after 12 months and every 12 months thereafter until they reach the top of the salary range. Each salary step advancement will be approximately a 5% increase.

About Us

Spokane Colleges Head Start/ECEAP/Early Head Start provides care and support for more than 1,600 children and their families. We offer safe and secure learning environments for children to grow and develop their skills to succeed in elementary school and beyond.
We are dedicated to working with low-income families. and involve parents and families in developing the goals of each Head Start center including centers on the Spokane Falls Community College and Spokane Community College campuses. We also serve the children of eligible students while they attend college.

Applications will be accepted until 4:00 p.m. PST on 09/22/2026. The application process will not be available after this time. Applications will only be accepted prior to 4:00 p.m. on the closing date.

About theLead Teacher – Preschool (Early Childhood Program Specialist 3)

JOB SUMMARY

Under general supervision of the Center Manager, the Head Start (HS) Early Childhood Program Specialist 3 (ECPS3) is responsible for implementing the educational curriculum and the general operation of an early childhood classroom and providing support services to preschoolers and their families, including home visits, as defined by HS Performance Standards and applicable state and local laws and regulations. Also, this position may provide feedback and evaluate the progress of student teachers in an early childhood classroom setting.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Establish and maintain a safe, healthy, and developmentally appropriate learning environment that promote children’s’ cognitive, social, emotional and physical development and reflects the changing needs of infants/toddlers and or preschoolers. *
• Partner with parents to support child development goals. Develop, individualize, and implement appropriate early childhood curriculum Child Individual Plans (CIP) that meets Performance Standards. Facilitate appropriate parenting skills. Support Part C services (birth to three), for Individual Family Services Plans (IFSP) and/or Individual Education Plans (IEP) for preschoolers. *
• Implement education curriculum that is responsive to children’s needs and interests. Demonstrate effective teacher child interactions that support whole child development. Provide child primary caregiving that is engaging, responsive, attentive, consistent, nurturing, supportive, and culturally sensitive. *
• Assess individual children’s level of development to inform curriculum development and individualize teaching for each child’s level of development; maintain a hard copy and electronic record keeping system in accordance with local, state, and federal laws and regulations. *
• Plan, present, and evaluate children’s activities. Coordinate daily classroom workflow, assign tasks, direct, and monitor the work of classroom aides, students, and volunteers. Provide feedback and evaluate the progress of student teachers in a classroom setting. *
• Promote and protect children’s health by adhering to Individual Health Plans (IHP) and special diet needs. Attend to children’s personal needs and use routine care as a component of primary caregiving. *
• Build positive and effective relationships with families, interact and communicate with families regularly, schedule and conduct home visits and parent conferences. *
• Work effectively as a member of a classroom and direct services team to provide integrated, comprehensive services to children and families. *
• Establish and maintain collaborative relationships within the community; represent and promote HS/EHS at community events and committees, as assigned.
• Stay informed by attending all necessary training and meetings and reading all written program updates.
• Model professional decorum and mutual respect in all personal interactions. *
• Comply with district policies, procedures and directives, state and federal regulations, orders and statutes and collective bargaining agreements. *
• Support and advance Spokane Colleges’ strategic plan, and perform other duties as assigned. *

* Indicates this is an essential duty.

COMPETENCIES

• Manages Complexity
• Decision Quality
• Action Oriented
• Plans & Aligns
• Ensures Accountability
• Drives Results
• Collaborates
• Instills Trust
• Demonstrates Self-Awareness
• Self-Development
• Nimble Learning
• Situational Adaptability

Learn more about our competencies.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Child Development, Early Childhood Education, Human Development, or closely related field with coursework equivalent to a major relating to early childhood education social sciences, from an accredited institution.
• Knowledge of early childhood education theory and practices, including child development, developmentally appropriate practices, primary caregiving, observation and ongoing assessment, individualizing, planning, special services, referrals, developing and maintaining a classroom environment and routines, and child management.
• Knowledge of the impacts of complex trauma on family systems.
• Knowledge of appropriate techniques for diapering, sanitation, napping, feeding, and toilet training.
• Ability to understand and utilize data in decision-making and program implementation.
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing and verbally.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills.
• Must be able to multi-task in a fast-paced environment.
• First aid/CPR (as available through Spokane Colleges)
• Ability to obtain 30 hours of STARS basic training or provide proof of exemption.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Two or more years of experience working with children birth to five years of age.
• Experience with primary caregiving, and attachment and bonding theory.
• Previous experience with HS/EHS or working with low-income families from a variety of cultural groups, especially English as a Second Language (ESL).
• Basic computer skills, including e-mail and word processing.
• Previous experience with Teaching Strategies Gold and Creative Curriculum tools.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to work without assistive equipment that may compromise or interfere with the physical safety of children & staff in the learning environment.
• Work is equally performed in indoor temperature-controlled office environment, and outdoor uncontrolled elements.
• Frequent use of computers and exposure to terminal screens.
• Visual focus and strain.
• Frequent repetitive hand/wrist motions and finger manipulation.
• Frequent oral and auditory communication with others.
• Frequent kneeling, stooping, crouching, crawling, climbing and twisting.
• Move up to 25 lbs. frequently and up to 50 lbs. occasionally.
• Requires communication ability necessary to understand instructions and recognize hazardous, unsafe or poisonous materials and/or products.
Occasional exposure to fumes, dust, odors and/or biohazards.
• Work is active in nature.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• 9.5-Month Cyclic Schedule (40-hours a week).
• 6-month probationary period.
• This position is overtime eligible.
• Post-Offer medical exam which includes tuberculin screening and submission of documentation indicating Measles, Mumps & Rubella (MMR) vaccination or immunity.
• Pre-Employment Post Offer, criminal history/child abuse information check including Department of Children, Youth and Families Portable Background Check prior to employment.
• Valid Food Workers Card (as available through Washington State Department of Health).
• First Aid/CPR certification (or ability to obtain when training offered by Spokane Colleges)
• May require local or regional travel.
• Criminal background check is required.
• This position is covered under a collective bargaining agreement. Membership is optional.

Person hired must be able to provide acceptable documentation of U.S. Citizenship or lawful authorization to work in the United States. This is an absolute condition of employment. An offer of employment will not carry with it any responsibility or obligation on the part of the district to sponsor an H1-B visa. In addition, the Spokane Colleges maintain a drug-free work environment and prohibits all smoking in the college buildings and state-owned vehicles. Must be able to successfully work in and promote a multicultural work and education environment.

Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability and competence to perform in the position.Once an applicant is chosen for a position, they are required to complete and submit a declaration regarding sexual misconduct and investigation per state law.

Benefits Information

Medical, dental, life and long term disability insurance benefits are provided as currently administered under Public Employees Benefits Board; WA State Retirement Plan; vacation and sick leave begin to accrue at the rate of 11.33 hours vacation and 8 hours sick leave per month, upon employment. (For positions that are less than full time, leave accruals will be prorated to the percentage of the position.) This position is designated a bargaining unit position and union membership is not a condition of employment. Leave accruals and usage are governed by the WFSE collective bargaining agreement.

Public Employees Benefits Board

Additional benefits information

Required Application Materials

• Cover letter - addressing your qualifications relevant to the responsibilities of this position.
  
• Resume.
  
• References – the names, addresses, and phone numbers of three professional references.

Equal Opportunity Institution

Spokane Colleges provides equal opportunity in education and employment and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, age, sex, pregnancy or related conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, disability, veteran or military status, or use of a trained guide dog or service animal. Spokane Colleges complies with applicable federal and state civil rights laws, including Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Washington state nondiscrimination laws.

Direct all inquiries or grievances regarding access, Title IX, ADA, equal opportunity compliance, and/or grievances to:
Frederick Davis, MA
Chief Human Resources Officer
Spokane Colleges
P.O. Box 6000, MS1004
Spokane, WA. 99217-6000
509-434-5040 / [e-mail].