Lead Preschool Teacher
Alaya Teacher Lead Preschool Teacher
# of Positions to Fill: 1
Department/Program: Alaya Preschool 92000
Work Location Authorization: 100% On-Site
Campus Location: Alaya Preschool
Reports to: Director, Alaya Preschool
FLSA Classification: Exempt/Salaried
FTE: 100% (40 hrs/week)
Compensation: $43,680 – 53,040 DOE
Application Deadline: 7/5 or until filled
Job Summary
The Alaya Lead Teacher with the support of the administrative team is responsible for working with and managing the other members of the teaching team in the general supervision and management of a class of children. The number of children and staff in the classroom will depend on the classroom assignment.
Job Duties & Responsibilities
• Works with children ages 18 months to six years.
• Provides joyful grounded care and supervision for the children in the classroom and on the playground and ensures the safety of children at all times. Discipline and delight go hand in hand.
• Treats one’s self, teaching partners, families and children with dignity and respect.
• Planning, supervising, and implementing the program for the class in accordance with the policies and philosophy of the school.
• Willingness to cultivate an understanding of, and commitment to maintaining the culture and traditions of the school.
• Creating and purchasing classroom materials to support the current classroom and the interest and developmental needs of the children.
• Gearing the program to the needs of individual children with concern for their interests, developmental needs, special talents, and individual style and pace of learning with attention to the changing needs of the children.
• Considering individual children in relationship to their cultural and social-economic background.
• Helping children become aware of their roles as integral members of a group.
• Being responsible for the ordered arrangement, appearance, décor, and learning environment of the classroom.
• Assuming an equal share of the joint housekeeping responsibilities of the staff.
• Conducting ongoing evaluation procedures needed to assess the developmental levels of the children.
• Conducting Parent-Teacher conferences in the fall and spring, including the preparation of written reports for the spring conferences and the editing of team reports. This position is also responsible for providing training for staff on completion of these reports.
• Regular communication with families regarding daily occurrences in the classroom.
• Creating monthly class newsletters and calendars and maintaining ongoing e-mail and phone communication with team and parents as needed.
• Supporting the development of the classroom teaching team in working and learning together to ensure the smooth coordination of all classroom activities and staff and student interrelationships.
• Attending all staff meetings, in-services and lead teacher meetings.
• Scheduling and leading team meetings and supporting assistant teachers
• Assisting the Director(s) in teacher training activities, teaching demonstrations, and staff evaluations as appropriate.
• Demonstrating an investment in professional development.
• Supporting and meeting with special needs services as required for children.
• Attending all school functions and events to which parents are invited or required to attend.
• Other tasks as required.
Required Qualifications
Prior relevant professional experience required:
• Be eligible as an early childhood teacher, based on the qualifications set out by the Colorado office of early childhood
• Previous infant toddler or preschool teaching experience.
• CPR and First Aid Certification
• CBI, FBI, Trails and Out of State Background Checks.
• Colorado Professional Development System Training Requirements:
o Recognition and Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect.
o Preventing Shaken Baby and Abusive Head Trauma.
o Emergency and Disaster Preparedness for Childcare Providers (FEMA Training).
Other Experience, Knowledge, Skills, or Competencies Requirements
• High degree of emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and assertive communication skills
• Ability to create and maintain a positive team environment and behave professionally with everyone encountered in the course and scope of the job duties
• Able to relate well to young children and adults
• Ability to work well with families and staff
• Strong organizational and communication skills and the ability to handle multiple tasks effectively.
• All job candidates must demonstrate an appropriate level of understanding of and appreciation for the values of Naropa University and the capacity to demonstrate an integration and embodiment of these values as evidenced in work, communication, collaboration styles, and other general workplace behaviors.
What We’d Like You to Have…
• Understanding of and commitment to learning about contemplative education and transformative teaching.
• Bachelors or Masters degree in early childhood education or other related field.
Physical Requirements & Environmental Conditions
During regular daily activities, employee must be able to do the following with or without reasonable accommodation: lift up to 50 pounds, sand, walk, sit, run, handle/finger, bend at the waist, reach above shoulder level, kneel, crouch, crawl, interruptions/distractions, heat/cold, dust and dampness.
Naropa recognizes the following holidays throughout the year: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Fall Break, 4th Thursday and Friday in November, and Winter Break, the last two weeks in December encompassing the Christmas holiday as well as New Year’s.
Naropa’s health and welfare benefits include the following: medical, dental, vision, FSA, HSA, employer-paid short-term and long-term disability, employer-paid life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment, an employer-sponsored pre-tax retirement savings plan, which includes up to 2.5% employer matching, and a variety of voluntary, employee-paid supplemental insurance plans.
A comprehensive benefits package is available to full-time employees who work a minimum of 30 hours each week. Employees who work 20 – 29 hours each week are eligible for only the employer-paid short-term & long-term disability, employer-paid life insurance & accidental death and dismemberment, and the retirement plan, which includes up to 2.5% employer matching.
Employees who work fewer than 20 hours per week are eligible to participate in Naropa’s retirement plan only, which includes up to 2.5% employer matching.
All regular full-time and part-time faculty and staff, including student workers, accrue sick leave benefits. Full-time and part-time staff positions accrue vacation and personal time. All leave accrual rates vary based on the position, hours worked, and years of service.
The University recognizes the importance of including its employees in its organizational mission and values and welcomes employees into the classroom to “touch the magic.” Specifically, regular employees are provided generous tuition remission opportunities for themselves and their family members.
Naropa University participates in the Council of Independent Colleges Tuition Exchange Program (CIC-TEP). CIC-TEP is a network of CIC colleges and universities willing to accept, tuition-free, students from families of full-time employees of other CIC participating institutions (full-time as designated by the employer/institution). Additional information can be found here: https://www.cic.edu/member-services/tuition-exchange-program.
Naropa University is an equal opportunity, non-discriminatory employer and Title IX is a federal civil rights law that prohibits gender discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual and relationship violence. This law applies to all students, faculty, and staff.