Preschool Teacher Assistant - Pagosa Springs Head Start

Preschool teacher assistant: $2,500 hiring bonus

Join Tri-County Head Start as a Preschool Teacher Assistant and receive a $2,500 hiring bonus after completing six months of successful employment, subject to the eligibility requirements outlined below.

Are you passionate about supporting high-quality early childhood education, collaboration, and care? This is a wonderful opportunity to be a Difference Maker in the lives of children and families.

Position Summary

The Preschool Teacher Assistant supports the lead teacher in creating a safe, nurturing, and developmentally appropriate learning environment for young children. This position works in a classroom-based setting and supports daily classroom routines, active supervision, child engagement, lesson planning, and the social, emotional, and developmental needs of children.

Anticipated Start Date

August 2026 Schedule: Full-time, part-year; 35 hours per week for 42 weeks, August through May Hours: Monday–Thursday, 7:15 a.m.–3:00 p.m.; Friday, 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. Pay Range: $17.92–$25.43 per hour, depending on education and experience

Apply at www.tchs4c.org/career.

• Minimum requirements
• Must be at least 18 years old
• High school diploma or equivalent required
• Willingness to obtain a Child Development Associate Credential within the first year of employment
• Previous experience working with young children ages one through five preferred
• Successful completion of all required background checks and pre-employment requirements

Tri-County Head Start provides training support, CDA coaching, and opportunities to grow into teacher-qualified positions.

• Eligible employee benefits
• Paid professional development
• Generous leave package, including paid sick and personal time
• Paid breaks and holidays, including Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Thanksgiving break, winter break, spring break, and Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• 403(b) retirement savings plan
• $2,500 hiring bonus after six months of successful employment

Hiring bonus eligibility

• The $2,500 hiring bonus is available to eligible new hires for this position. To receive the bonus, the employee must:
• Complete six consecutive months of employment in the position;
• Remain actively employed by Tri-County Head Start on the scheduled payment date;
• Maintain satisfactory job performance, attendance, conduct, and compliance with organizational policies;
• Successfully complete all required background checks, training, credentialing steps, and other conditions of employment; and
• Not have submitted a resignation notice or received notice of termination before the payment date.

Approved protected leave or another legally protected absence will not, by itself, disqualify an employee. However, the bonus payment date may be adjusted when necessary to allow the employee to complete six months of active employment and demonstrate successful performance.

The bonus will be paid through payroll and is subject to all required taxes and withholdings. The hiring bonus is a one-time payment and does not increase the employee’s regular hourly rate or establish eligibility for future bonuses. Employees who resign, are terminated, fail to meet performance or attendance expectations, or otherwise cease employment before satisfying all eligibility requirements will not receive a prorated or partial bonus.

Tri-County Head Start reserves the right to interpret, modify, suspend, or discontinue the hiring-bonus program at any time, subject to applicable law and any written offer already accepted by an eligible employee. Eligibility should be confirmed in the employee’s written offer of employment.

We are eager to invest in your career through training, coaching, and advancement opportunities so you can grow, thrive, and feel good about your work.

Apply at www.tchs4c.org/career

Durango 4C Council/Tri-County Head Start is an Equal Opportunity Employer.