Teacher, Children's Discovery Center

Laramie County Community College; Cheyenne (WY); On-site; USD 43,000 - 53,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Educational benefits

Tuition reimbursement

Paid holidays

Personal days

Health/dental/vision/life

Retirement benefits

Vacation and sick leave

Onsite childcare

Professional development

Job summary

Laramie County Community College is seeking a full-time Teacher for the Children’s Discovery Center. The role leads the classroom, plans activities, and ensures a developmentally appropriate program in partnership with the CDC Director and Associate Teachers.

Mentoring opportunities for college students observing or interning accompany daily operations. The position offers comprehensive benefits, educational support, and retirement plans, reflecting the institution's commitment to staff

Qualifications

• Must hold or pursue credentials in early childhood education or related field.
• Experience in preschool or early learning settings is beneficial.
• Ability to mentor students and supervise interns or observers.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary and lead teacher in the Children's Discovery Center classroom.
• Plan, schedule, and supervise daily activities and routines.
• Collaborate with CDC Director and Associate Teachers to implement approved curriculum.
• Mentor college students observing or interning in the classroom.
• Maintain safety, well-being, and positive behavior supports for children.
• Communicate with families through updates and conferences.

Job description

• Hours of Work: Monday – Friday 8:30am to 5:30pm (typically).
• Screening will begin ASAP and continue until the position(s) is filled.
• Start date to be determined, but as soon as practicable after the hiring/interview process

Salary and Benefits: This is a full-time, benefited Staff, S28 level position. Starting wage range: $43,338.00 - $53,090.00/annually, depending upon experience.

• Educational Benefits for the employees and dependents
• Tuition Reimbursement
• 15 – 18 Paid Holiday/Closure Days
• ThreePaid Personal Days
• Healthcare/Dental/Vision/Life Insurance
• Generous Retirement Benefits - 14.62% Employer Paid/4% Employee Paid
• Paid Vacation and Sick Leave
• Onsite Childcare Center
• Professional Development Opportunities

JOB SUMMARY:

The Teacher, Children’s Discovery Center position is a full-time benefited position responsible for functioning as the primary and lead teacher in the assigned classroom; responsible for daily operation, planning, scheduling and supervision of the respective classroom working in partnership with Associate Teachers and CDC Director to provide a developmentally appropriate pre-school program utilizing approved curriculum resources. Teachers are expected to act as mentors for any LCCC or University of Wyoming, or any college students coming to their classrooms for observations or internships.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

– this position is exempt, i.e., is not eligible for compensatory or overtime pay provisions of the FLSA. This listing of essential duties is not all-inclusive, but representative; other duties may be assigned.

Maintaining active supervision to ensure the safety and well-being of children by providing constant oversight in all settings—classroom, playground, and during walks—while fostering trust with families and creating a secure environment to minimize the risk of accidents or injuries.

• Conducting head counts regularly and frequently, especially when changing locations.
• Positioning self for optimal visibility, in strategic locations to maintain sightlines and cover all areas of the classroom or playground.
• Actively engaging with the children, maintaining proximity to monitor behavior and identify potential risks early.
• Responding to incidents, accidents, and other safety concerns promptly.
• Clearly establishing, teaching, and reinforcing safety rules, expectations, and boundaries with the children.

Support children's social, emotional, physical and cognitive development through developmentally appropriate activities and lessons, ensuring a strong foundation for future learning.

• Creating a supportive classroom environment where children feel valued and can express themselves freely.
• Planning and implementing lessons and activities that are developmentally appropriate, considering the children’s individual learning needs.
• Differentiating instructions to suit all learning styles, ensuring that all children are challenged and engaged.
• Conducting and organizing informal observations to gain insights into their strengths, preferences, and areas for growth.
• Conducting formal screenings and assessments to assess children’s cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development, identifying areas where additional support is needed.
• Establishing age-appropriate goals for each child and tracking progress to ensure they are meeting or exceeding developmental milestones.
• Monitoring and documenting children’s progress, behaviors, and development over time to aid in lesson planning and communication with families.
• Encouraging positive behaviors and self-regulation through positive reinforcement.
• Introducing and helping the children apply techniques to help them manage their emotions, make thoughtful decisions, and solve problems independently.

Ensure families are well-informed about their children's progress by maintaining effective communication, fostering active participation in their child's learning through regular updates, conferences, and opportunities for classroom involvement.

• Providing regular monthly newsletters keeping families informed about what the children are learning in class, as well as other pertinent information.
• Engaging in ongoing communication at both drop off and pick up times, as well as throughout the day using the Procare App.
• Collaborating with families at conferences twice annually to set specific learning and development goals for each child.
• Creating a welcoming environment and encourage families to join activities and events in the classroom and/or center.

Ensure the facility meets high educational standards, supports continuous improvement, and retains NAEYC accreditation by managing and updating accreditation portfolios, achieving full compliance with center standards, and aligning with state early learning guidelines and regulations.

• Collaborating with staff and administrators to prepare for accreditation site visits.
• Supporting continuous improvement by identifying areas for growth in your classroom.
• Maintaining compliance with state guidelines by staying updated on regulations, aligning center policies and curriculum with state standards.

Enhance professional development by contributing to staff training sessions, ensuring staff are equipped with current knowledge and skills, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

• Attending and actively participating in LCCC In-Service and CDC Staff meetings.
• Demonstrating growth in teaching skills and engage in annual professional development.
• Completing 15 approved training hours annually (in addition to staff development day trainings) to stay current on best practices. Infant, Toddler, and Two-Year-Old teachers must hold or obtain the Infant Toddler Director certification.
• Setting clear, measurable annual professional development goals with administrators, and regularly reviewing their progress toward achieving these goals.