Early Childhood Lead Support Teacher

The Intro Part

Hello! My name is Lauren, the Director for Thrive Englewood, a play-based learning preschool located in Englewood, Colorado. We’re looking for enthusiastic, explorative teachers to join our team!

Thrive is a nurturing and supportive community of early childhood professionals that are passionate about the importance of, and interplay between, play and discovery. We currently have four locations, and as we continue to grow as an organization, our desire is to build a team of educators that can grow with us and expand into new roles, experiencing both professional and personal growth.

We are looking to hire a full-time lead support teacher, working 40 hours a week, for an hourly position making $21.39 to $23.53 per hour plus potential benefits.

We have strong beliefs about keeping harmony between work and life for all of our staff, and those beliefs drive all of the benefits we offer. Candidates will be eligible for the following benefits.

• 6 weeks of paid holidays and breaks with additional non-student contact days (you can visit our website, , to see the school year calendar)
• 80 hours of paid time off each year in addition to the regular school holidays and breaks

• Employer contributions toward group medical, dental and vision coverage
• 401(k) plans with employer contribution matching

• Classroom supplies and materials budget provided every month
• Time out of the classroom to plan and execute quality learning experiences

• Professional development and continuing education opportunities as you grow with the school

Compatibility means everything to us. If you are dedicated to the future of our children, have experience has a lead teacher, and believe in the power of play-based learning, you’re probably in the right place. But let’s get the usual qualifications out of the way first.

Just to make sure we’re on the same page, let’s start with the basics:

• A positive attitude and passion for working with young children, families, and co‑teachers
• Strong organizational, leadership, and communication skills
• Intentional and reflective in professional practices
• Meets or exceeds minimum qualifications for employment as an Early Childhood Lead Teacher in the state of Colorado, including training, experience, and background check requirements
• Experience as a lead teacher at a large child care center in the state of Colorado

And here are some of the philosophies and lifestyle choices we share with our educators that make Thrive a special place to learn and grow:

• A love of nature and spending time outdoors in all weather
• Dedication to play-based learning
• Experience, training, and/or knowledge of Reggio Emilia educational practices and philosophies
• A special talent, skill, or hobby (artistic, multi‑lingual, play an instrument, sing, puppetry, storytelling, woodworking, knitting, cooking, gardening etc.) that you would enjoy sharing with the children and fellow teachers. We take the “play” part very seriously.

As a support lead teacher you will work closely with the program director (that’s me, Lauren) and the rest of our incredible teaching and support staff.

Your responsibilities to the children will be…

Assist the lead teachers in implementation of inquiry-based curriculum, documentation, and work projects of children in accordance with our guiding educational philosophy.

Cultivate a learning environment that nurtures intellectual, physical, social, emotional, and character development, and is responsive to the diverse needs and learning styles of all children.

Enforce classroom rules for behavior, and procedures to maintain safety and order.

Conduct ongoing observation, assessment, and documentation of students’ learning experiences.

Your responsibilities to the parents will be…

Support families as partners in their child’s learning by: maintaining an open, friendly, and cooperative relationship with each child and family; responding to child and family needs in a timely manner; creating opportunities for family involvement in the…