Infant Teacher -Assistant Position Summit Early Learning Center | Durango, CO
Pay: $16.00–$20.00 per hour, depending on experience and qualifications
Schedule: Full-time, Monday-Friday
Our center is open 7:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Applicants should have flexibility to work opening or closing shifts as needed.
Who We AreAt Summit Early Learning Center, we believe every child deserves to be known, valued, and loved. We are committed to creating a nurturing, safe, and engaging environment where children can learn, grow, and develop meaningful relationships.As a ministry of Summit Church, our work is guided by values of compassion, integrity, service, and respect. We welcome families from all backgrounds and strive to create a community where every child, family, and staff member feels they belong.We are more than a childcare center—we are a team that believes relationships come first. We value collaboration, open communication, creativity, continuous learning, and supporting one another. We are looking for someone who is passionate about early childhood education and wants to make a meaningful difference in the lives of infants and their families.
About the Position We are seeking a warm, dependable, and passionate Infant Teacher to join our team. This position works closely with fellow teachers to create a nurturing environment where our youngest learners feel safe, loved, and secure while reaching important developmental milestones. The ideal candidate understands that caring for infants is much more than meeting physical needs—it is about building trusting relationships, responding with patience and compassion, partnering with families, and creating joyful learning experiences every day. This is a Monday–Friday position. Teachers should be available to work opening or closing shifts between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.
What You'll Do Working alongside your teaching team, you will:
- Build loving, responsive relationships with infants while supporting their individual development.
- Plan and implement engaging, developmentally appropriate experiences that encourage cognitive, physical, social-emotional, language, and spiritual growth.
- Provide attentive daily care including feeding, diapering, comforting, soothing, and maintaining healthy sleep routines.
- Create a classroom that is safe, welcoming, organized, and engaging.
- Observe children's development and celebrate milestones.
- Communicate openly and respectfully with families, building trusting partnerships through daily conversations and updates.
- Work collaboratively with your teaching team, supporting one another with flexibility, encouragement, and a positive attitude.
- Maintain a clean, healthy, and organized classroom environment.
- Follow all Colorado Department of Early Childhood Licensing Regulations and Colorado Shines quality standards.
- Model kindness, patience, respect, and compassion in every interaction with children, families, and coworkers.
Who You Are The right person for this position:
- Sees every child as unique, capable, and deeply valued.
- Builds relationships first and understands that connection is the foundation for learning.
- Finds joy in caring for infants and celebrating the little moments that matter.
- Communicates with compassion and professionalism.
- Thrives on teamwork and believes everyone succeeds together.
- Is dependable, adaptable, and willing to jump in wherever needed.
- Brings creativity, patience, warmth, and a sense of humor to each day.
- Is eager to continue learning and growing professionally.
- Supports families with empathy, respect, and without judgment.
Qualifications
- Must be Lead Teacher Qualified through the Colorado Department of Early Childhood or be willing to become qualified through Colorado Shines as quickly as possible.
- Previous experience working with infants is strongly preferred.
- Ability to communicate effectively with children, families, and coworkers from diverse backgrounds.
- Ability to lift children, sit and play on the floor, and actively participate throughout the day.
- Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to adapt to changing needs.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and professionalism.
- Commitment to maintaining a safe, clean, and nurturing classroom.
Our Ideal Team Member We can teach curriculum, classroom routines, and licensing regulations—but we can't teach a heart for children. We're looking for someone who is dependable, eager to learn, kind under pressure, and willing to jump in wherever needed. Someone who celebrates teamwork, communicates with honesty and grace, and believes every child deserves to feel safe, loved, and known. Our ideal team member is excited to grow professionally, values strong relationships with families, and wants to be part of a supportive team that encourages one another every day. If you're passionate about helping infants thrive and are looking for more than just a job, we'd love to meet you.
Benefits & Perks We believe that when teachers feel supported, children thrive. That's why we invest in our team by offering:
- Competitive pay of $16.00–$20.00 per hour, depending on experience and qualifications
- 75% childcare tuition discount for employees
- Paid Time Off (PTO)
- Retirement benefits for full-time employees after one year of employment
- Annual self-care allowance
- Ongoing professional development, including support with Colorado Shines qualifications
- A collaborative, encouraging team culture where your ideas and contributions are valued
Pay: $16.00 - $20.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Employee discount
- Flexible schedule
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
Experience:
- Teaching: 1 year (Preferred)
- Early childhood education: 1 year (Preferred)
License/Certification:
- Teaching Certification (Preferred)
- Early childhood education credential (Preferred)
Work Location: In person
