Preschool Teacher at Rivendell School – Fort Collins, Colorado

Rivendell School seeks a Preschool Teacher to join our community for the 26-27 school year. At Rivendell, we believe every child and every team member is unique. We take an individualized approach to education, which focuses on the progress of each child rather than on the class average. We are a long-standing, independent, tuition funded elementary and preschool, in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Our diverse and inclusive environment is a big part of what makes the Rivendell experience so unique

and enriching. At Rivendell School, we prioritize creating an inclusive environment where every

individual feels valued and respected. We recognize the importance of embracing diversity and engaging with multiple perspectives. Our focus is on building cultural bridges and empowering our students to

develop their heads, hearts, and hands. We believe in co-responsibility, where each member of our

community plays a vital role in fostering a welcoming and supportive atmosphere for all.

Position Purpose

The Preschool Teacher will be responsible for creating an environment conducive to the learning needs of three and four-year-old children and implementing Rivendell's preschool curriculum based on individualized education and social-emotional philosophy.

Essential Functions

• Design, plan, and implement developmentally appropriate curriculum for literacy, math, social studies, and science.
• Create learning experiences that infuse creativity, inquiry, and content mastery.
• Meet the physical, emotional, intellectual, emotional and social needs of the children; providing daily opportunities for growth in the program.
• Implement Rivendell’s philosophy of individualization, supporting multi-age classrooms and corresponding academic needs.
• Instruct students in large, small, and one-on-one settings.
• Maintain adequate documentation, including student attendance, behavior, and observed progress in all areas, academically or otherwise (adhering to confidentiality where appropriate).
• Discuss and resolve problems and needs as appropriate with relevant stakeholders such as HOS, Assistant HOS, peers, parents, etc.
• Maintain onsite presence, attend staff meetings, in-service training, other school functions, etc., as required.
• Provide a safe and secure environment for children; ensure children are supervised at all times. Monitor students during breaks, lunch, recess, parking lot, etc.
• Maintain daily student records in accordance with established Colorado Human Services’ and Rivendell’s enrollment procedures and guidelines.
• Design, plan and implement developmentally appropriate curriculum that meets Colorado State Standards and activities for preschool aged children.
• Incorporate activities that include numeracy and literacy concepts.
• Continually monitor rooms for best practice arrangements of age appropriate learning activities.
• Monitor and provide suggestions to assure playground and classrooms are maintained to the highest standards of safety and appearance.
• Maintain positive engagement with parents when appropriate during drop off and pick up times.
• Perform daily housekeeping duties to maintain a clean, sanitized, safe and organized preschool environment; clean/sanitize equipment to meet health department or accreditation standards.
• Maintain a global room awareness of classroom activities; engaging with children unless supporting a transition (i.e. setting up snack).

Other Functions

• Assist in other capacities as determined by Rivendell leadership.

Working Conditions

• Typical hours are Monday-Friday 7:45-3:45 with additional time for meetings outside these hours.
• Position requires speaking, listening, moving oneself about the campus, and maneuvering uneven surfaces for up to 8 hours or more per day. Frequently required to stand, walk, use hands and fingers, reach, stoop, kneel, and crouch. Frequently lift and/or move up to 15 pounds; occasionally lift up to 25 pounds.

Location Requirements

• Position is designated as 'onsite' and not conducive to remote work.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• In a multi-topic learning environment, apply appropriate child development theories and best practice methods in the classroom to meet individual students needs both socially and academically.
• Demonstrates solid communication skills with all stakeholders, leveraging all relevant methods (verbal, written, presentation, etc).
• Clearly and effectively communicate in a manner that children understand.
• Ability to work collaboratively to maintain positive relationships with parents, children, and coworkers.
• Ability to create clear and consistent classroom expectations that support students in being able to work independently and with other students.
• Successfully integrates special needs children positively and respectfully.
• Pursues professional development to maintain expertise in performance of teaching responsibilities.
• Cultural competence skills for working with a diverse and dynamic community.
• Demonstrates responsibility for the classroom's maintenance and necessary housekeeping duties and common use areas.
• Solid organization skills and digital literacy skills to support use of email, file sharing, file storage, instructional technology, Google Drive, presentations, spreadsheets, etc.), and any other technology as required by Rivendell leadership.
• Ability to implement positive discipline when required; leveraging Love and Logic methodologies where appropriate.
• Ability to follow all policies and procedures to ensure that children are supervised and safe.
• Demonstrates passion in work with children as evidenced by Instructor's enthusiasm, attitude, curiosity and perseverance.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks with frequent interruptions, use time efficiently, demonstrate attention to detail, follow instructions, and respond to management direction
• Ability to facilitate a safe and secure environment for children; ensure children are supervised at all times.
• Ability to implement Rivendell's individualized curriculum while creating fun, interactive learning experiences for the children.
• Ability to develop positive relationships with children and parents
• Ability to follow all licensing guidelines and school standards to ensure the daily care of every child in your classroom.

Required and/or Preferred Experience

Preferred:

• Minimum of twelve months professional experience working in a preschool classroom
• Required and/or Preferred Education / Credentials / Licensure

Required:

• Colorado Early Childhood Teacher Qualification Requirements (with the expectation to maintain state in-service requirements).
• Colorado teacher’s certification or equivalent licenses will also be considered.
• Employment is conditional upon a background check report in compliance with school requirements; reporting may include employee’s credentials, experience, criminal convictions or other requirements by law
• Completed certification in Child/Infant CPR, First Aid, Universal Precautions, and Medical Administration (Rivendell offers twice annually)
• Completed Colorado Shines Professional Development Information System training (PDIS) - all designated online modules
• MAT2

Preferred:

• Current Colorado Teaching License
• Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education or Elementary Education