What are the responsibilities and job description for the Early Childhood Curriculum Coach (Preschool & Pre-K) position at Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC)?
Are you passionate about helping teachers grow and young children thrive? In this role, you’ll be an encouraging, relationship‑focused partner to educators—working comfortably side‑by‑side in classrooms to share ideas, coach in the moment, and support nurturing, play‑based experiences for infants and toddlers. You’ll bring creativity, strong communication skills, and a thoughtful, solution‑oriented approach as you help strengthen classroom practices, learning environments, and teacher confidence. If you’re organized, reflective, and committed to child‑centered practice and ongoing teacher development, this is your chance to make a meaningful impact. 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 (Preschool & Pre-K) provides hands-on, classroom-based coaching and support to teaching staff serving children ages 3–5. This role focuses on strengthening developmentally appropriate teaching practices, supporting high-quality implementation of Creative Curriculum studies, and enhancing engaging classroom environments that support kindergarten readiness through play-based learning. Working in close collaboration with the Early Childhood Curriculum Support & Training Specialist, this position supports classroom environments, curriculum implementation, assessment practices, and professional development for preschool and pre-kindergarten teaching teams. The Curriculum Coach works alongside teachers in classrooms, modeling instructional strategies, helping analyze child assessment data, and offering creative approaches to keep children actively engaged in exploration, collaboration, and learning.
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 (Preschool & Pre-K) provides hands-on, classroom-based coaching and support to teaching staff serving children ages 3–5. This role focuses on strengthening developmentally appropriate teaching practices, supporting high-quality implementation of Creative Curriculum studies, and enhancing engaging classroom environments that support kindergarten readiness through play-based learning. Working in close collaboration with the Early Childhood Curriculum Support & Training Specialist, this position supports classroom environments, curriculum implementation, assessment practices, and professional development for preschool and pre-kindergarten teaching teams. The Curriculum Coach works alongside teachers in classrooms, modeling instructional strategies, helping analyze child assessment data, and offering creative approaches to keep children actively engaged in exploration, collaboration, and learning.
Create Your Path: The Work You’ll Do:
Classroom-Based Coaching & Support
- Provide consistent, hands-on coaching in preschool and pre-kindergarten classrooms.
- Model developmentally appropriate teaching strategies that support social-emotional development, language development, and early academic foundations.
- Support teachers in implementing Creative Curriculum studies and Intentional Teaching Experiences in meaningful, engaging ways.
- Model strategies for leading effective large group, small group, and interest area learning experiences.
- Offer real-time feedback, encouragement, and practical strategies to strengthen classroom practice.
- Help teachers extend children’s play and inquiry through open-ended questions, materials, and experiences.
- Support teachers in capturing authentic documentation during daily activities and play to use 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 planning intentional learning experiences that align with Creative Curriculum studies and developmental objectives.
- Support teachers in documenting children’s learning through Teaching Strategies GOLD, including photos, videos, and written observations.
- Provide guidance on aligning documentation with GOLD objectives and indicators to ensure accurate assessment.
- Help teaching teams review and analyze GOLD data to identify classroom trends, strengths, and areas of growth.
- Support teachers in using assessment data to make informed curriculum decisions, guide lesson planning, and provide differentiated learning opportunities for children.
- Assist teachers in integrating social-emotional learning practices, including Conscious Discipline strategies when appropriate.
- Help identify professional development needs related to curriculum implementation, assessment, and child development.
- Support teachers in creating engaging, well-organized preschool and pre-k classroom environments that promote exploration and independence.
- Assist with classroom layouts, interest area development, and material selection aligned with Creative Curriculum.
- Provide creative ideas for materials and learning provocations that extend children’s thinking and problem-solving.
- Support classrooms in maintaining environments that encourage collaboration, creativity, and meaningful play.
- Build supportive and collaborative relationships with preschool and pre-k teaching teams.
- Work alongside teachers to reflect on classroom practices and identify opportunities for growth.
- Support a culture of continuous learning, collaboration, and professional reflection.
- Participate in planning and delivering curriculum-related training and coaching opportunities.
- Collaborate with leadership and support staff to align classroom practices with program goals.
- Strong background in early childhood education with experience working with children ages 3–5.
- Demonstrated experience implementing Creative Curriculum for Preschool.
- Deep understanding of child development, developmentally appropriate practice, and play-based learning.
- Experience mentoring, coaching, or supporting teaching staff in classroom settings.
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build supportive relationships with educators.
- Passion for creating engaging classroom environments and supporting teacher growth.
- Knowledge of or training in Conscious Discipline or other social-emotional learning frameworks.
- Experience supporting assessment and documentation using Teaching Strategies GOLD.
- Experience with classroom environment design and curriculum planning.
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