Head Start Lead Teacher (Stretch Pay)

Job Posting Closes at 11:59PM on:

10/25/26

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 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, all-inclusive, child-focused and family-centered preschool program for children ages 3-5. 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 Lead Teacher will be responsible for implementing curriculum in a classroom of 17-20 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.

Head Start offers opportunity 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 operates on our four-day work week (Monday-Thursday).

This position is hybrid, with remote work and in-office work as determined by business need.

COMPENSATION:

Hiring Range: $54,000.00 - $57,500.00 USD Annual for ten months of work, to be paid over 12 months

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.

Note: This will be a ten-month working position (stretch) that will be paid for twelve months. Comprehensive benefits include paid time off for vacation and sick time, 12 paid holidays off, medical/dental/vision insurance, retirement, and $2,000 annual tuition reimbursement.

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 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.  
• Creating and implementing developmentally appropriate lesson plans, including activities geared toward social-emotional development and utilizing trauma informed care practices based in Creative Curriculum.
• Working with your teaching team to ensure compliance with Head Start Performance Standards within the classroom including education, disabilities, parent involvement, nutrition, health and mental health, etc.  
• Conducting observations, administering development, social, and emotional screenings, and maintaining clear and complete documentation.   
• Actively supervising children.  
• Supporting peers by collaborating and sharing experiences to finding solutions together. 

QUALIFICATIONS:

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

• Experience: a minimum of two (2) years’ work-related experience teaching preschool age children.

• Education: a bachelor’s degree in child development, early childhood education (ECE), or related field.

Equivalency Rule: Those with an associate degree in child development or early childhood education (ECE) AND a minimum of three (3) years' work-related experience.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Driver’s License: 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.  
• Pre-Employment Screening: 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.  
• 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.
• Must be available to work occasional evenings and weekends, and willingness to occasionally travel to assigned Head Start Sites (Arvada or Wheat Ridge). 

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.

APPLICATION:

Apply Now! Jefferson County Colorado Career Opportunities

We encourage all qualified applicants to apply!

Please submit your online application by 11:59PM on the posted closing date.

 

A resume and cover letter are welcome and encourage but do not replace the information asked for in the application. Please complete all required sections of the application.

You may remove or hide age-related information from your application materials, such as your age, date of birth, or school attendance and graduation dates. You will not be penalized for removing this information.

We will review applications to make sure applicants meet the minimum qualifications listed in the job posting. If you are selected to move forward, the hiring team will contact you.

You can check your application status by logging into your candidate portal.   

 

For more information about the hiring process, 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

Employee Total Rewards and Benefits

A wide variety of great benefit opportunities helps you maintain a healthy lifestyle in balance with a generous leave & holiday schedule.

https://www.jeffco.us/1896/Employment-Benefits

Contact Us!

Library Recruiting:

HR@JeffcoLibrary.org

303-275-6168

Sheriff Recruiting:

Sheriff.Recruiting@jeffco.us

303-271-5332

All other departments:

CareerTalent@jeffco.us

303-271-8400

Recommended Sign-In Option

For the best application experience, we recommend selecting “Sign in with Email.”

Click "read more" for more information.

If you choose to sign in with email, you will need to verify your email address before proceeding with your application. Using your email address also helps ensure that your application and future notifications are associated with the correct email account.

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We will only use your email address for application-related communications and notifications.

I've Applied, Now What?

You will receive communication from us through Email or Phone. Be sure to add jefferson@myworkday.com to your contacts so you don't miss anything! You may be asked to log into your Jeffco Workday Candidate Home Account to complete tasks such as pick an interview time, complete a background consent form, and/or acknowledge a letter outlining the details of employment.

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Equal Opportunity Employer

Research shows that women and other underrepresented and historically marginalized groups tend to apply only when they check every box in the posting. If you are reading this and hesitating to click “apply” for that reason, we encourage you to go for it! A true passion and excitement for making an impact is just as important as work experience.

Jefferson County is an equal opportunity employer, providing equal employment opportunity to all qualified persons. The County affirms the rights of all employees and applicants for employment to be protected from discrimination, intimidation, physical harm and harassment based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, hairstyle associated with racial identity or any other status protected by Federal or State law.