Lead Teacher

Location: Fairplay, Colorado
Reports to: Head of School
Employment Type: Full-Time, Exempt
Salary: $43,000-60,000 per year

About High Rockies Community School

High Rockies Community School (HRCS) is a community-focused, innovative charter school opening in Fall 2025 to serve grades K-8. Located in Fairplay and authorized by the Colorado Charter School Institute, HRCS is deeply rooted in outdoor, place-based education. Our model integrates the breathtaking landscapes and cultural heritage of Park County into daily learning, using the outdoors as a classroom to foster curiosity, resilience, and a profound connection to the natural world. Teachers will guide multi-age cohorts in hands-on, interdisciplinary projects that build critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving skills while encouraging students to explore and engage with their environment and local community.

At HRCS, educators will be part of a school that prioritizes outdoor learning as a cornerstone of its mission. From hiking and ecology studies to history lessons at local landmarks, our curriculum brings education to life through direct interaction with the outdoors. Our commitment to community engagement extends beyond the classroom, as we collaborate with local organizations, families, and community members to create meaningful, real-world learning opportunities for students. With a family-centered calendar and schedule, teachers will have the flexibility to design impactful, community-driven educational experiences that balance academic excellence with the joy of exploration.

If you’re passionate about teaching in an environment where nature, community, and creativity intersect, HRCS offers a unique opportunity to inspire students and be inspired in return.

Position Summary

The Lead Teacher will play a vital role in delivering high-quality, engaging instruction in a multi-age classroom setting while embracing HRCS’s mission to integrate outdoor and experiential learning. Using Colorado Academic Standards as a foundation, the Lead Teacher will design creative, standards-aligned lessons that foster curiosity, critical thinking, and a growth mindset. Working collaboratively with the Head of School, other Lead Teachers, and Assistant/Intern Teachers, the Lead Teacher will create a supportive and inclusive learning environment that promotes the academic, social, and emotional growth of every student.

This role requires a self-starter with strong reflective practices, a passion for outdoor education, and a commitment to continuous improvement and personal growth. The Lead Teacher will also contribute to the development and evolution of the school, helping to shape HRCS into a model of place-based and student-centered education.

Key Responsibilities

Curriculum Development & Instruction

• Design and implement engaging, standards-aligned lesson plans based on the Colorado Academic Standards, incorporating personalized learning, project-based education, and outdoor exploration.
• Use innovative teaching strategies to foster curiosity, creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving in students.

Multi-Age Classroom Management

• Effectively manage a multi-age classroom with students of varying abilities, grade levels, and learning styles.
• Differentiate instruction to ensure all students are challenged and supported in their learning.

Student Assessment

• Conduct ongoing assessments using observations, formative methods, and project-based evaluations to track and support student progress.
• Analyze assessment data to inform instruction and ensure student growth and success.

Collaboration

• Collaborate regularly with the Head of School to align classroom practices with HRCS’s mission and goals.
• Work closely with other Lead Teachers and Assistant/Intern Teachers to plan and deliver interdisciplinary, hands-on learning experiences.
• Contribute to the creation of a cohesive and innovative school culture through teamwork and shared decision-making.

Family Engagement

• Build strong relationships with families through regular communication about student progress, classroom activities, and upcoming events.
• Conduct home visits at the start of each year and hold quarterly student learning meetings, as well as other conferences, to foster school-family partnerships.

Classroom Environment

• Create a positive, inclusive, and respectful classroom culture that encourages exploration, teamwork, and a love of learning.
• Support students’ social-emotional growth and foster a sense of belonging and self-confidence.

Outdoor Education Integration

• Leverage HRCS’s outdoor setting and natural resources to design lessons and activities that connect students with their environment.
• Incorporate outdoor and experiential learning opportunities into the daily curriculum to enhance academic and personal growth.

School Improvement & Professional Growth

• Contribute to the school’s development and improvement by sharing innovative ideas, reflecting on practices, and supporting new initiatives.
• Participate in ongoing professional development to stay current on best practices in multi-age instruction, outdoor education, and student-centered learning.
• Model a growth mindset, curiosity, and a commitment to lifelong learning.

Qualifications

• Required:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Education or a related field.
  • Valid Colorado teaching license or certification.
  • Minimum of 3 years of classroom teaching experience, ideally in multi-age, outdoor, or experiential education settings.

• Preferred:

  • Experience in progressive, project-based, or place-based education.
  • Strong classroom management skills with experience working with diverse student populations.
  • Passion for outdoor education and integrating it into daily learning.

• Key Attributes:

  • Excellent communication, collaboration, and reflective practices.
  • A curiosity-driven, self-starter mindset with a dedication to continuous improvement.
  • A commitment to fostering a student-centered, inclusive, and positive learning environment.

Benefits

• Competitive salary, reflective of experience, qualifications, and contributions to the school’s mission.
• Stipend for health, dental, and vision benefits.
• Generous paid time off (PTO) and vacation days to support work-life balance and personal renewal.
• Access to specialized professional development in outdoor education, place-based learning, and multi-age instruction.
• Opportunities to take on leadership roles and actively shape the growth and development of HRCS as a community-centered, innovative school.

Application Instructions

To apply, please submit your resume, cover letter, and references to laurel.dumas@highrockiescommunityschool.org. In your cover letter, we invite you to share how your experience, values, and teaching philosophy align with HRCS’s mission of providing a community-focused, outdoor, and place-based education. Please reflect on how you would contribute to our multi-age, student-centered learning environment and your passion for fostering curiosity, resilience, and a connection to the natural world. We will be collecting applications until February 15 and will begin conducting interviews shortly, so we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. HRCS is an equal opportunity employer.