Head Start Lead Teacher (Year-Round)

Job Posting Closes at 11:59PM on:

06/25/26

Division:

Head Start Division

Management Level:

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours:

40

Benefit Eligibility:

This position is eligible for Standard Benefits which includes dental, medical, and vision insurance, paid time off and holidays, retirement matching, wellness programs, and tuition reimbursement.

Description:

Do you want a career that fulfills your passions and purpose to make a difference in the lives of not only  your students, but their families? 
  

• Do you get excited thinking about working in an -inclusive preschool program that provides an opportunity for a greater impact working with vulnerable children and families?  
• Are you passionate about providing extra support to allow students with challenging behaviors to achieve their goals and be successful?  
• Are you looking for professional development and individualized coaching to progress your career?  
• Are you interested in being part of a supportive team to help you learn and grow? 

If you answered ”yes” to these questions, Jefferson County Early Head Start's Lead Teacher position may be what you've been searching for!  

 
The Lead Teacher role is a great opportunity if you are:  

• A recent graduate looking to start your career in early childhood education  
• A seasoned professional or current substitute teacher seeking a full-time, benefited role  

Check out this video to hear from two of our Teachers!   
 
Head Start is a no cost, inclusive, child-focused and family-centered early-childhood program for children ages 0-5. A range of individualized services in the areas of education, early childhood development, medical, dental, mental health, nutrition, family support, and parent education. We strive to provide equitable and inclusive services and support to the diverse community we serve.  

The Early 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. 

The Early Head Start Lead Teacher is responsible for maintaining 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 the daily implementation approved, researched-based, curriculum that features 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 unique development. Provide continual guidance and support to co-teachers, substitute teachers, and classroom aids. Support the 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.

Head Start offers opportunities for on-site professional development scheduled during work hours, a team-oriented program that assists with providing the best service for our families, and individualized coaching.    

SCHEDULE: This position requires work to be completed on site and is year-round.

COMPENSATION:

Hiring Range: $65,000.00 – $69,000.00 USD Annual 

Compensation will be determined based on education, experience, and skills.

Staff that are fluent in a language other than English may be eligible for additional compensation of $1,500 annually for use of bi-lingual skills. 

BENEFITS:

Jefferson County offers a generous benefits package that supports your personal and professional life. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; paid time off and holidays, including a starting bank of 40 hours of PTO for new hires; retirement matching; wellness programs; tuition reimbursement; flexible schedules; remote work options; and more. For more information, click here for our Total Rewards summary.   

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

The Lead Teacher is responsible for:  

• Partnering with a multi-disciplinary team including mental health specialists, special education professionals, and family support workers to provide the best service for our families including home visits, family conferences, and implementation of Individual Education Plans   
• Develop and implement lesson plans that include large groups, small groups, and individualized play-based instruction to meet each child’s unique developmental needs.
• Delivering Creative Curriculum that are developmentally appropriate lesson plans, including activities geared toward social-emotional development and utilizing trauma informed care practices  
• Working with your Co-Teacher / Teacher Associate to ensure compliance with Head Start Performance Standards within the classroom including education, disabilities, parent involvement, nutrition, health and mental health, etc.  
• Incorporating individual schedule to meet infant and toddler needs into the classroom setting
• Provide guidance and support to co-teachers, classroom aids, and volunteers to ensure developmentally appropriate Head Start practices and childcare licensing requirements are met at all times.
•  Collaborate with family and Early Intervention (EI) service providers to support goals on classroom functioning.  Create MTSS goals for children that may have a suspected developmental delay and collect necessary data needed 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 prior to the child’s first day of school to partner with the parent as the child’s first educator to empower parents to make decisions about their child’s educational experiences, and to create individual child school readiness goals.  Conduct a second family visit in the spring to reflect on the school experiences of the child and the family.  Complete two family-teacher conferences throughout the school year reviewing child outcomes and set new developmental goals. 

QUALIFICATIONS:

To qualify, a candidate must meet one of the three bullets listed below:  

• 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 the time of hire.

ADDITIONAL JOB INFORMATION:

• Offer of employment contingent on review of child abuse neglect database, fingerprint results, criminal background, sex offender registry, motor vehicle record check, and education verification.   
• Must have a valid driver's license, if you are from out of state, you must obtain a valid Colorado driver's license within 30 days of hire date and you must not have any major violations, nor more than one DUI, DWI, DWAI conviction in the past three years.   
• Must be available to work occasional evenings and weekends, and willingness to occasionally travel to assigned Head Start Sites (Arvada or Wheat Ridge).  
• In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.  
• All Jefferson County Employees must apply through their internal profile. 

Perjury Statement: Any applicant who knowingly or willfully makes a false statement of any material fact or thing in the application is guilty of perjury in the second degree as defined in Section 18-8-503, C.R.S., and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished accordingly. 

Accommodations Statement:

We encourage people with disabilities to apply and are committed to providing reasonable accommodations throughout our hiring process. For assistance with applications, interviews, or other hiring-related accommodations, contact careertalent@jeffco.us. This contact is for accommodation requests only and cannot provide application status updates. 

APPLICATION:

Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply.

All applicants must submit an online employment application by 11:59PM on the posted cut-off date. Follow this link to apply now: Jefferson County Colorado Career Opportunities

• A resume and cover letter submitted with your application is encouraged but will not substitute for the information requested on the application.
• Current Jefferson County employees must apply through their employee profile in Workday.
• In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

Applications are reviewed for minimum qualifications listed in the qualifications section of the job bulletin, and applicants are contacted directly by the hiring team if selected. To view the status of your application, please log into your candidate portal.   

For more details on the recruitment process, please visit: https://www.jeffco.us/1860/FAQs

Questions? Contact the Jefferson County Recruitment Team at 303-271-8420 or CareerTalent@Jeffco.us

Education:

Experience:

Work Experience: Minimum two years

Certifications:

CPR/First Aid/AED - State of Colorado

Languages:

Category:

Health & Human Services