Posted: Jul 11, 2025

Lead Teacher (Early Childhood Program Specialist 3) Preschool - Head Start

Community Colleges of Spokane - Spokane, WA

Application Deadline: N/A

Community Colleges of Spokane

Location: CCS Head Start Admin Services Spokane

Department: District HS/EHS/ECEAP Administrative

Salary Range: $3,643 - $4,865

Open Continuous.

Starting salary for this position is: $3,643 (Monthly)

Employees hired at the entry step of this range receive salary step advancement after six months and every 12 months thereafter. An employee hired at anything higher than the entry step of the range will have salary step advancement after 12 months and every 12 months thereafter until they reach the top of the salary range. Each salary step advancement will be approximately a 5% increase.
About Us

Spokane Colleges Head Start/ECEAP/Early Head Start provides care and support for more than 1,600 children and their families. We offer safe and secure learning environments for children to grow and develop their skills to succeed in elementary school and beyond.

We are dedicated to working with low-income families. and involve parents and families in developing the goals of each Head Start center including centers on the Spokane Falls Community College and Spokane Community College campuses. We also serve the children of eligible students while they attend college.

We offer safe and secure environments that nurture child growth and development and provide learning opportunities for children to enhance their skills and abilities for school success.

We are dedicated to working with low-income families so they can find support and success in getting their children off to a great beginning. Our parents and families are involved in developing the policies and goals of each center and are encouraged to be engaged.

We also operate centers on the campus of Spokane Falls Community College and Spokane Community College to serve eligible students while they attend college.

Applications will be forwarded to the hiring official as they are received and accepted until the need is filled.
About the Lead Teacher (Early Childhood Program Specialist 3) Preschool - Head Start

JOB SUMMARY

Under general supervision of the Center Manager, the Head Start (HS) Early Childhood Program Specialist 3 (ECPS3) is responsible for implementing the educational curriculum and the general operation of an early childhood classroom and providing support services to preschoolers and their families, including home visits, as defined by HS Performance Standards and applicable state and local laws and regulations. Also, this position may provide feedback and evaluate the progress of student teachers in an early childhood classroom setting.

CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Establish and maintain a safe, healthy, and developmentally appropriate learning environment that promote children's' cognitive, social, emotional and physical development and reflects the changing needs of infants/toddlers and or preschoolers. *
• Partner with parents to support child development goals. Develop, individualize, and implement appropriate early childhood curriculum Child Individual Plans (CIP) that meets Performance Standards. Facilitate appropriate parenting skills. Support Part C services (birth to three), for Individual Family Services Plans (IFSP) and/or Individual Education Plans (IEP) for preschoolers. *
• Implement education curriculum that is responsive to children's needs and interests. Demonstrate effective teacher child interactions that support whole child development. Provide child primary caregiving that is engaging, responsive, attentive, consistent, nurturing, supportive, and culturally sensitive. *
• Assess individual children's level of development to inform curriculum development and individualize teaching for each child's level of development; maintain a hard copy and electronic record keeping system in accordance with local, state, and federal laws and regulations. *
• Plan, present, and evaluate children's activities. Coordinate daily classroom workflow, assign tasks, direct, and monitor the work of classroom aides, students, and volunteers. Provide feedback and evaluate the progress of student teachers in a classroom setting. *
• Promote and protect children's health by adhering to Individual Health Plans (IHP) and special diet needs. Attend to children's personal needs and use routine care as a component of primary caregiving. *
• Build positive and effective relationships with families, interact and communicate with families regularly, schedule and conduct home visits and parent conferences. *
• Work effectively as a member of a classroom and direct services team to provide integrated, comprehensive services to children and families. *
• Establish and maintain collaborative relationships within the community; represent and promote HS/EHS at community events and committees, as assigned.
• Stay informed by attending all necessary training and meetings and reading all written program updates.
• Model professional decorum and mutual respect in all personal interactions. *
• Comply with district policies, procedures and directives, state and federal regulations, orders and statutes and collective bargaining agreements. *
• Support and advance Spokane Colleges' strategic plan, and perform other duties as assigned. *

* Indicates this is an essential duty.

COMPETENCIES

• Manages Complexity
• Decision Quality
• Action Oriented
• Plans & Aligns
• Ensures Accountability
• Drives Results
• Collaborates
• Instills Trust
• Demonstrates Self-Awareness
• Self-Development
• Nimble Learning
• Situational Adaptability

Learn more about https://ccs.spokane.edu/Working-for-Us/Competencies.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Child Development, Early Childhood Education, Human Development, or closely related field with coursework equivalent to a major relating to early childhood education social sciences, from an accredited institution.
• Knowledge of early childhood education theory and practices, including child development, developmentally appropriate practices, primary caregiving, observation and ongoing assessment, individualizing, planning, special services, referrals, developing and maintaining a classroom environment and routines, and child management.
• Knowledge of the impacts of complex trauma on family systems.
• Knowledge of appropriate techniques for diapering, sanitation, napping, feeding, and toilet training.
• Ability to understand and utilize data in decision-making and program implementation.
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing and verbally.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills.
• Must be able to multi-task in a fast-paced environment.
• First aid/CPR (as available through Spokane Colleges)
• Ability to obtain 30 hours of STARS basic training or provide proof of exemption.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Two or more years of experience working with children birth to five years of age.
• Experience with primary caregiving, and attachment and bonding theory.
• Previous experience with HS/EHS or working with low-income families from a variety of cultural groups, especially English as a Second Language (ESL).
• Basic computer skills, including e-mail and word processing.
• Previous experience with Teaching Strategies Gold and Creative Curriculum tools.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to work without assistive equipment that may compromise or interfere with the physical safety of children & staff in the learning environment.
• Work is equally performed in indoor temperature-controlled office environment, and outdoor uncontrolled elements.
• Frequent use of computers and exposure to terminal screens.
• Visual focus and strain.
• Frequent repetitive hand/wrist motions and finger manipulation.
• Frequent oral and auditory communication with others.
• Frequent kneeling, stooping, crouching, crawling, climbing and twisting.
• Move up to 25 lbs. frequently and up to 50 lbs. occasionally.
• Requires communication ability necessary to understand instructions and recognize hazardous, unsafe or poisonous materials and/or products.
• Occasional exposure to fumes, dust, odors and/or biohazards.
• Work is active in nature.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Full-time or cyclic schedule (12-month, 40-hours a week or less than).
• 6-month probationary period.
• This position is overtime eligible.
• Post-Offer medical exam which includes tuberculin screening and submission of documentation indicating Measles, Mumps & Rubella (MMR) vaccination or immunity.
• Pre-Employment Post Offer, criminal history/child abuse information check including Department of Children, Youth and Families Portable Background Check prior to employment.
• Valid Food Workers Card (as available through Washington State Department of Health).
• First Aid/CPR certification (or ability to obtain when training offered by Spokane Colleges)
• May require local or regional travel.
• Criminal background check is required.

To view the full job posting & to apply, please visit: https://apptrkr.com/6350796

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