Position: Rainbow Garden Preschool and/or Aftercare Assistant - School year 26/27
Program: Early Childhood Education
Reports to: Early Childhood Education Director
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt (Hourly)
Date: July 2026
Position Summary
The afternoon portion of Shining Mountain's Early Childhood Education (“ECE”) program consists of Rainbow Garden (children ages 3 to 6 years from 12:15pm to 3:15pm) and Aftercare (children ages 2.5 to 5th grade from 3:00pm to 5pm). Our programs accommodate the needs of the children of various ages. The Rainbow Garden and Aftercare Assistant Teacher is responsible for supporting the Lead Teacher in providing an age-appropriate Waldorf extended day program that provides for the health, well-being, and safety of the children in their care.
Rainbow Garden Assistant
The Rainbow Garden Assistant supports the Rainbow Garden Lead Teacher in providing an age appropriate Waldorf lunch and rest program that encourages the health, well-being, and safety of the children in their care. The Rainbow Garden Assistant position is part of the Early Childhood Education (“ECE”) program held after morning program hours from 12:15 pm to 3:15 pm, 5 days a week.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
● Assist Rainbow Garden Lead Teacher with set up for rest, helping children (ages 2.5-4 or 4-6) with their lunch, and clean up
● Assist in maintaining a warm and nurturing environment
● Oversee play with children on the playground
● Help with daily preparations of classroom, restocking materials and general order, cleanliness, and aesthetics in classroom
● Guide and encourage children with self-care as needed -toileting, dressing, and social behavior
● Direct parent communications about student behavior and concerns to Rainbow Garden Lead Teacher
● Become knowledgeable about campus Emergency Plan and be ready to implement
● Maintain confidentiality in all student/parent situations
● Complete monthly online timesheet
Additional Responsibilities
● May be asked to substitute for morning program if available
● Attendance at once a month full ECE meeting on Thursdays at 2:15 pm
● Attendance at scheduled Early Childhood meetings and August In-Service is mandatory
● Attendance at February conference and June In-Service is encouraged but not mandatory
● Attendance in the August licensing meeting is mandatory.
● Mentoring and development provided by Rainbow Garden Lead teacher and ECE Director ● Participate in the annual Saturday work day in August to prepare the classroom
Education and Qualifications
● Early Childhood Education experience preferred
● Waldorf Early Childhood experience preferred
● Have, or working towards, an ECT (Early Childhood Teacher) designated by State of Colorado ● Reliable, consistent, and adaptability to changes
● Experienced interpersonal and communication skills
● Ability to work cooperatively with colleagues and parents
● Possess a warm, friendly, professional and joyous demeanor
Early Childhood Licensing Requirements
● Complete requirements for Colorado ECE regulations of Colorado Department of Human Services, Division of Child Care. Must be an ECT (Early Childhood Teacher) as designated by the State of Colorado or working toward this qualification.
● CPR, First Aid, Standard Precautions, Physical, Background check, fingerprinting, mandatory licensing classes, registration in Colorado Shines PDIS and Early Childhood Educator qualified per the State of Colorado’s requirements.
● Submission of a medical physical by a licensed physician or other health care professional as required per licensing regulations
Work Setting
● Early Childhood classroom and playground
● Hours are 12:15 pm to 3:15 pm M-F.
● Work schedule follows the SMWS annual school calendar - late August through early June ● Because of the classroom setting, there are limited breaks offered during the day
Aftercare Assistant
The Aftercare Assistant is responsible for helping to create a pleasant after school experience for a mixed age aftercare program - students ages 2 ½ years through 5th grade. The Aftercare Assistant will work with the Aftercare Lead Teacher by assisting in classroom management and supervision of the class, engage appropriately with students, take direction from the Lead Teacher, and engage in day to day responsibilities according to the principles of Waldorf Education. This position requires a high level of comfort and appreciation for spending time outdoors with children in all kinds of weather.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Assist in curriculum activities and maintaining a warm and nurturing environment
- Assist in maintaining orderly storage area in the classroom and outdoor storage sheds
- Oversee children on the playground and maintain a safe environment
- Help maintain general order, cleanliness, and aesthetics in classroom
- Assist with snack and organizing clean up
- Guide children with self-care (diapering, toileting, dressing, and social behavior)
- Follow signing in and out procedures with parent drop off and pickup
- Provide first aid as needed
- Become knowledgeable about campus Emergency Plan and be ready to implement
- Direct student behavior and parent communication to the Lead Teacher
- Complete, acquire signatures, and file Accident/Incident Report as needed
- Maintain confidentiality in all student situations
Additional Responsibilities
- May be asked to substitute for morning program if available
- Can be combined with Rainbow Garden Assistant position (ECE afternoon program)
- Attendance at once a month full ECE meeting on Thursdays at 2:15 pm
- Attendance at scheduled Early Childhood meetings and August In-Service is mandatory
- Attendance and February conference and June In-Service is encouraged but not mandatory
- Attendance in the August licensing meeting is mandatory.
- Mentoring and development provided by Aftercare Lead teacher and ECE Director
- Participate in the annual Saturday work day in August to prepare the classroom
Education and Qualifications
- Early Childhood Education experience preferred
- Waldorf Early Childhood experience preferred
- Have, or working towards, an ECT (Early Childhood Teacher) designated by State of Colorado
- Reliable, consistent, and adaptability to changes
- Experienced interpersonal and communication skills
- Ability to work cooperatively with colleagues and parents
- Possess a warm, friendly, professional and joyous demeanor
Early Childhood Licensing Requirements
- Complete requirements for Colorado ECE regulations of Colorado Department of Human Services, Division of Child Care. Must be an ECT (Early Childhood Teacher) as designated by the State of Colorado or working toward this qualification.
- Within 30 days CPR, First Aid, Standard Precautions, Physical, Background check, fingerprinting, mandatory licensing classes, registration in Colorado Shines PDIS and Early Childhood Educator qualified per the State of Colorado’s requirements.
- Submission of a medical physical by a licensed physician or other health care professional as required per licensing regulations
Work Setting
- Early Childhood classroom, playground, hikes, and neighborhood walks.
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, hours of 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm and Thursday 1:45 pm to 5:00 pm
- Possibility for additional hours in our ECE programs
- Work schedule follows the SMWS annual school calendar - late August through early June
- Because of the classroom setting, there are limited breaks offered during the day
Salary and Benefits
● Hourly rate of $25.00 per hour when teaching
● Substitute rate of $25.00 per hour (ECT required)
● Hourly rate of $18.00 per hour when participating in meetings/trainings
● Three (3) paid Holidays include: Fall Break Holiday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and Memorial Day
● Colorado Paid Sick Leave - 1 hour for each 30 hours worked - up to 48 hours per calendar year
● 401(k) - SMWS offers a match (determined annually) when 1,000 hours are worked in a fiscal year) ● Professional Development - will be paid time . Required 15 hours of classes paid at $18.00 per hour
● Because this is a part time position we do not offer additional benefits
Physical Requirements
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the Essential Duties and Responsibilities of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to:
● Frequent walks; use of hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; speaking and listening ● Daily requirement to stand and sit; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, bend, squat or crawl
● Ability to lift and carry up to 25 pounds and in case of emergency a 40-pound child
● Vision requirements include: close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception
● Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
Shining Mountain Waldorf School is fully committed to Equal Employment Opportunity and to attracting, retaining, developing and promoting the most qualified employees without regard to their race, religion, gender, gender identity, disability, familial status, sexual orientation or nation or ethnic origin, citizenship status, veteran status, or any other characteristic prohibited by state or local law. We are dedicated to providing a work environment free from discrimination and harassment, and where employees are treated with respect and dignity.
Interested candidates should send a cover letter, resume, and three references to [email protected]
Pay: $25.00 per hour
Benefits:
License/Certification:
- Waldorf Certifications (Required)
Work Location: In person
