What are the responsibilities and job description for the Early Childhood Curriculum Coach (Infants, Toddlers & Twos) position at Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC)?
Are you passionate about helping teachers grow and young children thrive? In this role, you’ll partner closely with educators, working alongside them in learning spaces to share ideas, offer guidance, and support nurturing, play‑driven experiences for infants and toddlers. Through collaboration, mentoring, and creative problem‑solving, you’ll help strengthen classroom practices, learning environments, and teacher confidence. If you enjoy supporting educators, building strong connections, and making a meaningful impact on children and the adults who care for them, this is your chance to do just that. Enjoy weekly pay, on-site clinics, and health benefits. Whatever your career goals may be, let SMSC help get you there!
Job Overview:
The Early Childhood Curriculum Coach (Infants, Toddlers & Twos) provides hands-on, classroom-based coaching and support to teaching staff to strengthen developmentally appropriate practice, deepen implementation of Creative Curriculum, and enhance high-quality learning environments for our youngest learners. This role focuses on building strong relationships with teachers, modeling best practices, and offering practical, creative strategies that support play-based learning, child development, and responsive caregiving. Working in close collaboration with the Early Childhood Curriculum Support & Training Specialist, this position supports classroom layout and environment design, curriculum implementation, professional development, and classroom material needs. A strong understanding of infant and toddler development, Creative Curriculum, and relationship-based approaches (including Conscious Discipline) is essential.
Create Your Path: The Work You’ll Do:
Classroom-Based Coaching & Support
Who We Are: The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community contributes both time and financial resources across the region, state, and country. The SMSC has donated more than $400 million to organizations and causes, provided $500 million in economic development loans to other tribes, and contributed millions more to support regional governments and infrastructure. The SMSC's Native Green initiative annually diverts hundreds of tons of waste from landfills, has implemented compostable containers throughout our properties, and restored hundreds of acres of prairie land. Team members are eligible to participate in SMSC Gives, a community outreach initiative that organizes various opportunities in the local community. To empower its team members to take part in the Dakota tradition of giving, the SMSC provides paid hours to team members to volunteer at events. Learn more at shakopeedakota.org
Job Overview:
The Early Childhood Curriculum Coach (Infants, Toddlers & Twos) provides hands-on, classroom-based coaching and support to teaching staff to strengthen developmentally appropriate practice, deepen implementation of Creative Curriculum, and enhance high-quality learning environments for our youngest learners. This role focuses on building strong relationships with teachers, modeling best practices, and offering practical, creative strategies that support play-based learning, child development, and responsive caregiving. Working in close collaboration with the Early Childhood Curriculum Support & Training Specialist, this position supports classroom layout and environment design, curriculum implementation, professional development, and classroom material needs. A strong understanding of infant and toddler development, Creative Curriculum, and relationship-based approaches (including Conscious Discipline) is essential.
Create Your Path: The Work You’ll Do:
Classroom-Based Coaching & Support
- Provide consistent, hands-on coaching in infant, toddler, and two-year-old classrooms.
- Model developmentally appropriate teaching strategies, interactions, routines, and learning experiences.
- Support teachers in implementing Creative Curriculum with fidelity and flexibility for infants, toddlers, and twos.
- Offer real-time feedback, encouragement, and practical strategies to strengthen classroom practice.
- Help teachers plan and adapt experiences that keep young children engaged in meaningful play and learning.
- Support teachers in capturing authentic documentation during daily routines and play, helping them recognize meaningful learning moments that can be used for Teaching Strategies GOLD observations.
- Collaborate with the Early Childhood Curriculum Support & Training Specialist to support curriculum implementation, classroom goals, and instructional planning.
- Assist teachers in understanding child development and using that knowledge to guide daily practice.
- Support teachers in documenting children’s learning through Teaching Strategies GOLD, including capturing meaningful observations through photos, videos, and written documentation.
- Provide guidance on aligning documentation with GOLD objectives and indicators to ensure accurate and developmentally appropriate assessment.
- Help teachers review and analyze GOLD data to identify strengths, growth areas, and emerging skills within the classroom.
- Support teaching teams in using assessment data to make informed curriculum decisions, adjust learning experiences, and plan intentional activities that support children’s development and engagement.
- Support integration of social-emotional learning and relationship-based practices (including Conscious Discipline strategies when applicable).
- Help identify training needs related to curriculum, child development, and teaching practices.
- Support teachers in creating warm, engaging, developmentally appropriate classroom environments.
- Assist with classroom layouts, interest areas, material selection, and environment updates.
- Provide creative ideas for using classroom materials to extend play, exploration, and learning.
- Help ensure environments reflect best practices for infant and toddler care, safety, and engagement.
- Build trusting, supportive relationships with teaching staff.
- Work collaboratively with leadership and support staff to align classroom practices with program goals.
- Support a culture of reflection, growth, and continuous improvement.
- Participate in planning and delivering curriculum-related training and professional development as needed.
- Strong background in early childhood education, with a focus on infants, toddlers, and twos.
- Demonstrated experience using Creative Curriculum with infants and toddlers.
- Deep understanding of child development, developmentally appropriate practice, and play-based learning.
- Experience coaching, mentoring, or supporting teachers in classroom settings.
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to connect with, inspire, and support educators.
- Passion for creating engaging, nurturing classroom environments.
- Knowledge of or training in Conscious Discipline.
- Experience with classroom environment design and material selection for early childhood settings.
- Experience in coaching, instructional support, or curriculum leadership roles.
Who We Are: The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community contributes both time and financial resources across the region, state, and country. The SMSC has donated more than $400 million to organizations and causes, provided $500 million in economic development loans to other tribes, and contributed millions more to support regional governments and infrastructure. The SMSC's Native Green initiative annually diverts hundreds of tons of waste from landfills, has implemented compostable containers throughout our properties, and restored hundreds of acres of prairie land. Team members are eligible to participate in SMSC Gives, a community outreach initiative that organizes various opportunities in the local community. To empower its team members to take part in the Dakota tradition of giving, the SMSC provides paid hours to team members to volunteer at events. Learn more at shakopeedakota.org