Early Learning Educator Lead

Title:

Early Learning Educator Lead

DBM Classification:

B21/Grade 6

Department:

Community Education

Salary Range:

$24.47 - $33.29 per hour

Employee Group:

CE Educators

Prepared Date:

August 2026

Reports to:

Early Learning Supervisor

FTE/FLSA Status:

.83 FTE | 33.25 hours per week

PROGRAM SUMMARY

Early Learning 3's is a half-day preschool program. Early Learning Preschool is part of the St. Louis Park Public Schools Community Education at the Central Early Learning Community Center, a state-of-the-art building designed for our youngest children and families. Early Learning Preschool serves children from 33 months to 5 years. The mission of St. Louis Park Public Schools is to see, inspire, and empower each learner to live their brilliance in an environment that centers student voice and experience, creating racially equitable learning that energizes the spirit of community.

SUMMARY OF RESPONSIBILITIES

The Early Learning 3''s Educator plans and implements engaging, developmentally appropriate, and culturally responsive learning experiences that support the whole-child development of young children. As the Class Lead, the educator provides instructional leadership to classroom staff, creates a safe and inclusive learning environment, uses observation and assessment to guide instruction, and builds strong partnerships with families. The educator collaborates with colleagues and families to meet individual children''s needs and promotes positive social-emotional development, curiosity, independence, and a love of learning.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Instruction and Curriculum

• Plan and implement culturally responsive, developmentally appropriate learning experiences that support whole-child development.
• Develop curriculum aligned with the Early Learning Scope and Sequence, ECIPs, program goals, and district priorities.
• Facilitate hands-on learning across literacy, math, science, art, music, movement, sensory exploration, writing, and dramatic play.
• Use observation, documentation, assessment, and differentiation to guide planning and support individual needs.
• Promote curiosity, independence, problem-solving, communication, and self-regulation through play-based learning.

Learning Environment and Child Development

• Create a safe, welcoming, inclusive environment that reflects and affirms children's identities, cultures, families, abilities, and experiences.
• Apply knowledge of early childhood development to support individual needs through play, relationships, routines, and group learning.
• Support positive relationships, self-regulation, conflict resolution, and communication while actively supervising children throughout the day.

Classroom Leadership and Collaboration

• Serve as Class Lead by providing direction, support, and instructional leadership to classroom staff, substitutes, volunteers, and other adults.
• Coordinate classroom routines, responsibilities, schedules, and daily learning experiences while modeling responsive interactions.
• Collaborate with staff, specialists, and supervisors to address behavioral, developmental, social-emotional, and instructional needs.
• Participate in staff meetings, team meetings, professional learning, and collaborative planning.

Family Partnerships and Communication

• Build respectful family relationships and communicate regularly about children's learning, development, strengths, and classroom experiences.
• Partner with families to support individual needs and continuity between home and school using culturally responsive communication.

Professional Responsibilities

• Maintain accurate and timely attendance, observations, assessments, and other required program records.
• Complete ongoing professional development, including 50 hours annually as required by Parent Aware, and apply current best practices.
• Demonstrate professionalism, reliability, flexibility, continuous improvement, and perform other duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Knowledge of early childhood development, play-based practice, ECIPs, culturally responsive approaches, and whole-child development.
• Knowledge of observation, documentation, assessment, and individualizing instruction.
• Ability to create safe, inclusive learning environments and build positive relationships with children, families, colleagues, and community partners.
• Ability to plan engaging learning experiences that promote curiosity, communication, problem-solving, independence, and social-emotional development; strong communication skills.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described are representative of those required to perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made. The employee regularly sits, uses hands, talks, and hears, and occasionally stands, walks, reaches, and lifts or moves up to 50 pounds.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here represent those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• Required Education: Child Development Associate''s degree (CDA) or Baccalaureate degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Elementary Education, Early Childhood Special Education, Child Psychology, or a related field.
• Required: Three (3) years of related early childhood experience.

BENEFIT INFORMATION

St. Louis Park Schools provides a comprehensive benefits package for employees working 20 or more hours per week. Key benefits include:

• Health and Dental Insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for medical and dependent care expenses
• Life Insurance
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance
• Short- and Long-Term Disability Insurance

The cost of benefits varies based on the employee group and full-time equivalent (FTE) status. For detailed information, including specific benefits and associated costs, please refer to the applicable group or bargaining unit contract Employment Contracts.