Employment
Please read below, then follow the Application Details Link to pursue job opportunities at CCS!
CRESTONE CHARTER SCHOOL
The Crestone Charter School is located in the small, rural town of Crestone Colorado, tucked into the western foothills of the Sangre De Cristo Mountain Range, in the northeastern corner of the San Luis Valley. Crestone is an open-minded, adventurously unique, isolated, and tight-knit community with a population of 1,200 residents. The Charter School is a centerpiece of this community, and as such, the faculty and staff have a shared and very public sense of responsibility for creating and maintaining the highest standards in education. Meanwhile, we are also an awesome place to work, with a focus on the virtues of respect, integrity, and creativity. We strive to foster a healthy work environment including providing professional development and growth opportunities. The Crestone Charter School is an equal-opportunity employer.
crestone-charter-school.org/employment
Learn more about the CCS learning model here
NEW K-12 Guidance and Social Emotional Learning lead, open through 4/21/25 (full-time, 2025/26 SY)
K-1 Lead Classroom Teacher Currently PAUSED
MS Humanities Teacher (ELA/SS) PAUSED
Secondary Math/Science Currently open through 4/21/25
ParaProfessionals (Class aides, interventionists, specialists) (part- to full-time, 2025/26 SY)
Substitute Teachers OPEN and Mentors FALL
K-12 Guidance and Social Emotional Learning Lead (full-time, 2025-26 SY)
Crestone Charter School seeks an inspired and experienced Guidance Coordinator/ Social Emotional Learning Specialist to deliver services to our K-12 student population of ~100 students, including social-emotional lessons and academic guidance such as high school credit audits, transcripts, and scheduling. Other duties may include working with families to support attendance and working with adults and students on conflict resolution utilizing Restorative Practices. Knowledge or Experience with MTSS and PBIS also helpful. The position is part of a Student Support Services team consisting of a full-time Counselor, a Special Education Coordinator, and an Instructional Coach. Successful applicants will have excellent communication and listening skills, writing skills, and be proficient in using Google Suite; related education and experience is preferred. Growth opportunities exist. Applicants will be able to work with an innovative and motivated professional collaborative team in a school that emphasizes differentiated instruction through child-centered approaches and student-directed learning. Salary $42-62,000 for a 170-day contract with excellent benefits. Learn more at bit.ly/CCSguidance25.
K-1 Lead Classroom Teacher (full-time, 2025-26 SY)
CCS Seeks an inspired K-1 Teacher. Successful applicants will have excellent communication and listening skills, writing skills, and be proficient in using Google Suite; experience and an Elementary Teacher's License is preferred. Applicants will have or pursue their Colorado Teacher's License. Applicants will be able to work with an innovative and motivated professional team in a school that emphasizes differentiated instruction through child-centered approaches and student-directed learning.
Read more below. Detailed Job description
MS ELA/SS Lead Classroom Teacher (full-time, 2025-26 SY)
CCS Seeks an inspired Middle School Humanities Teacher. Successful applicants will have excellent communication and listening skills, writing skills, and be proficient in using Google Suite; experience and a Secondary Teacher's license is preferred. Applicants will have or pursue their Colorado Teacher's License. Applicants will be able to work with an innovative and motivated professional team in a school that emphasizes differentiated instruction through child-centered approaches and student-directed learning. Detailed Job Description
NOTE: As of Jan 2025, there is a current classroom aide position to work with the outgoing MS (and HS) ELA/SS teacher(s) with an immediate/ASAP start date.
Secondary Math and Science Lead Classroom Teacher (full-time, 2025-26 SY)
CCS Seeks an inspired secondary Math/Science Teacher. Successful applicants will have excellent communication and listening skills, math and science content knowledge, and be proficient in using Google Suite; experience and a Secondary Teacher's license along with a bachelor's or higher degree in a related area is preferred. Applicants will have or pursue their Colorado Teacher's License. Applicants will be able to work with an innovative and motivated professional team in a school that emphasizes differentiated instruction through child-centered, experiential, and student-directed learning. Detailed Job Description
ParaProfessional (Classroom Aide, Specialists, Interventionists) (part-time, 2024-25 SY)
CCS seeks energetic classroom support staff. Employee will follow classroom teacher’s lead to assist with lesson delivery and to support students who need extra time or extra challenge. Position includes working closely with teachers and individual students, a focus on specific grade levels or grade bands, recess and lunch supervision, copies and office tasks, ordering supplies, and occasional driving. Regular work hours average 18-32 hours each week at competitive starting wages ($16.50-18.00/hr) based on experience.
NOTE: As of Jan 2025, there is a current classroom aide position to work with the outgoing MS (and HS) ELA/SS teacher(s) with an immediate/ASAP start date.
Duties and Responsibilities
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Support classroom teachers by assisting with instruction and clerical tasks
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Work with students who need additional instruction
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Prepare materials and equipment for activities
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Discussing student's progress with their teacher
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Support teachers and students with in-person learning
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May be required to drive a 12-14 passenger van/bus (clean driving and insurance record, CCS will train)
Job Qualifications Preferences:
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Experience with working with children
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Pass a background check
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Ideally two years of college minimum
Application Details
Timeline: position remains open until filled.
Substitutes and Mentors (part-time, SY 2024/25)
CCS is always looking to expand our Substitute roster. Call 719-256-4907
At the beginning of each Semester (August and December), CCS seeks mentorship opportunities for our HS students. This semester long commitment allows you to explore a personal passion and area of expertise with a curious HS student for 2-4 hours/week (plus 1-2 hours of prep time)
Expected openings include:
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Substitute Teachers
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Mentors
Application Details
Hiring Timeline: Positions remain open until filled.
Please submit the following (in one file, preferably PDF):
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Cover letter
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Resume
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2-3 recent letters of recommendations
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2-3 additional references
Send to Thomas Cleary at tcleary@crestonecharter.com
Please call 719-256-4907 with any questions
Learn more about the CCS learning model here
At CCS, we have implemented a progressive form of proficiency-based education that centers around standards-, projects,- and experiential-based education. In addition to facilitating learning for all the commonly tested content areas of traditional education, CCS teachers and staff guide students through six non-academic content areas specific to our charter school. These are self-awareness and character development, artistic skills, service learning, environmental awareness, life-skills / health / body awareness, and cultural awareness. These “core values” are woven into everything we do and are emphasized through and during our outdoor and travel programming. Read more below.
Our small number of about 100 students in grades K-12, within the seven multi-age grade-banded classrooms in our environmentally conscious schoolhouse, requires all faculty and staff to closely work together and participate in decision making. Teachers are empowered and expected to guide their group of learners along the path of self-discovery and academic growth. Teachers are also expected to use their professional ethics and best judgment when designing projects and thematic units, including field trips to engage student learning.
One of the major benefits of Crestone Charter School is the awesome trips designed by the lead teachers to expose the students to a world outside of our community. Teachers must be capable of planning the logistics, including budgeting, for short term and long term field trips. The CCS Lead Teacher will facilitate and go on these trips and must be comfortable driving our twelve- to fourteen-passenger vans and mini-busses. High school trips are longer and more intense than other grades and include international travel experiences every other year. Additionally, most of our teachers come to us with a love for outdoor education, including camping, hiking, swimming and/or skiing/snowboarding.
Our decisions are driven by the immediate needs of the children we serve. Our staff have the voice and choice that some teachers in traditional schools have lost. Our teachers are not burdened with scripted lessons. Our school has the trust and support of the Governing Council that we serve. Our students encompass individuality and creative expression. They are extremely bright, and good-natured, especially with one another. They encourage one another and support each other’s academic success. Our school progressively redefines the possibilities of rural academic excellence; for those in the industry functioning at the level of change agent, this is an amazing place to be.