26 - Early Childhood Educator

About the Role

The Early Childhood Educator functions as a member of the Preschool co-teaching team. The Educator applies research-based knowledge of child development and the stages of learning for preschoolers to promote student growth and achievement at a rate appropriate to age and stage of development. The Educator organizes and maintains a learning environment along with varied learning experiences conducive to social/emotional, cognitive, physical, language, literacy, and mathematical development for preschool-age children.

Each classroom is designed with 2 Early Childhood Educators working as team co-teachers. Assignments may include working as a "floater" who assists a teaching team in a classroom or travels to different locations to cover absences in the Early Childhood Program.

Core Values

All employees of Pueblo School District 60 embrace the following core values:

• Success of every student is our most important commitment.
• Collaboration and engagement with our community, parents, staff, and students are essential to our success.
• Act with integrity, celebrate diversity, and promote equity.
• Treat each individual with dignity and respect.
• Social and emotional well-being of our students is as important as their academic needs.
• Provide a safe, positive, and supportive environment for our students and staff.
• Community heritage, traditions, and history should inform our response to future student and district needs.

Responsibilities

• Ensure developmentally appropriate practices (DAP) through an "active learning" approach and in compliance with the Colorado Department of Quality Standards for Early Childhood Programs when implementing the district curriculum.
• Maintain overall classroom management to meet the social and emotional needs of students enrolled. Work as part of a team in maintaining constant supervision of children, ensuring their safety and well-being at all times. Report any health concerns, injuries, or suspected child abuse to the proper authorities.
• Plan, prepare, and carry out student learning opportunities based on current and ongoing knowledge of individual student needs and the goals of the preschool program. Adhere to classroom policies and procedures to ensure a safe and healthy learning environment.
• Assist with and direct activities like breakfast, lunch, snack time, cleanup, including picking up and returning items to the cafeteria, taking students to and from the cafeteria, and bathroom breaks. Keep the classroom and surrounding areas clean, straightened, and organized.
• Adapt the curriculum and provide explicit/direct instruction to meet the needs of individual children identified for special education services. Work with children individually or in small groups, attend special education meetings, and initiate referrals when necessary.
• Work cooperatively with team members to engage families and parents in Family Partnership Events, parent-teacher conferences, and other assigned/created parent events.
• Develop and follow action plans when necessary and work with children to achieve independent self-help skills, including assisting with toileting, potty-training, and diapering as needed. Assist students with preparing for and taking part in classroom snacks/meals.
• Use daily routines and activities to foster children's social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development.
• Function as a preschool team member, communicate expectations effectively, offer solutions for work problems, and take action for self-improvement.
• Demonstrate understanding of job responsibilities, model appropriate team leadership skills, maintain consistent attendance and punctuality, and observe established safety and health standards.
• Teach and interact with students to provide early childhood education/intervention services in a multiage and inclusive preschool setting. Assist with the implementation and development of age-appropriate curriculum and lesson plans, including participation in developmental screenings, lesson planning, PLCs, and documenting observations and assessments in TS Gold.
• Work cooperatively and interact with parents, colleagues, and administrators in a respectful, professional, and courteous manner. Check emails daily, participate in building meetings, teacher work days, etc.
• Attend and participate in school and district professional development activities.
• Oversee day-to-day classroom operations such as responding to student behaviors, addressing parent concerns, entering student attendance data, and ensuring compliance with licensing, health, and fire regulations for preschool programs.
• For floating positions: regularly substitute to cover other early childhood classroom absences. Check in with the early childhood department at the end of each day regarding assignments for the next day. Once assigned a location, fulfill all responsibilities listed above at the assigned location.
• Perform any and all other duties as assigned by building and program administration.

Qualifications

• Possess and maintain valid Large Center Director Certification or Level 3 Early Childhood Professional Credential through the Colorado Department of Early Childhood.
• Valid Colorado Driver's License and/or reliable transportation.
• Complete a fingerprint-based criminal background check and be cleared by the Office of Human Resources, as well as pass Trails background check through the Colorado Department of Early Childhood.
• Ability to communicate effectively in English, both orally and in writing, using proper grammar and vocabulary.

Preferred:

• Experience/knowledge in the Early Childhood field.
• Previous experience working with students with special needs.
• Spanish speaking skills.

Skills and Knowledge

• Ability to work under high pressure with multiple ongoing tasks and last-minute deadlines with minimal errors.
• Ability to prioritize, plan, organize, and work effectively using independent judgment to complete assignments and meet timelines.
• Ability to work as a member of a team.
• Ability to relate well with District staff and the public, understand their requests and needs, and respond professionally and timely.
• Ability to make independent decisions in accordance with established policies and procedures.
• Ability to establish and maintain professional/effective working relationships with building staff, administrators, parents, students, city/county officials, and other community members.
• Excellent work attitude and willingness to take ownership/responsibility for project completion; demonstrated ability to provide initiative in reaching organizational goals.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality in all aspects of assignments.
• Ability to coordinate daily activities and schedule with little supervision.
• Flexibility and adaptability in a variety of situations.
• Ability to remain calm under trying circumstances.
• Ability to work with frequent interruptions.

Physical Demands

The following physical demands are representative of those required to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Standing: Occasionally
• Walking (level surface): Frequently
• Walking (uneven surface): Occasionally
• Sitting: Frequently
• Crawling: Occasionally
• Crouching (bend at knees): Occasionally
• Stooping (bend at waist): Occasionally
• Twisting (knees/waist/neck): Occasionally
• Turn/Pivot: Occasionally
• Climbing (stairs): Rarely
• Climbing (ladder): Rarely
• Reaching overhead: Frequently
• Reaching extension: Frequently
• Repetitive use of arms: Frequently
• Repetitive use of wrists: Frequently
• Repetitive use of hands (grasping): Frequently
• Repetitive use of hands (squeezing): Occasionally
• Fine manipulation: Occasionally

Benefits

Fringe benefits based on PESPA Negotiated Agreement.

Pay

Early Childhood Educator Salary Schedule.

Schedule

165 days per work year.