What It Means to be an Infant Teacher

As early childhood educators, our primary responsibility is to provide exceptional care and quality education to each and every child. Infant care involves creating a safe and nurturing environment, engaging their minds with stimulating and enjoyable activities, and closely monitoring significant developmental milestones to ensure their growth reaches its fullest potential! Infants develop their communication skills by expressing their needs through various cues and relying heavily on human interaction to foster bonding relationships. As caregivers, we harbor valuable experience in understanding and interacting with infants on a daily basis, learning to decipher their cues and respond promptly. Here at The Little Red Barn Nursery, our goal is to provide attentive care and create a space for infants to explore, engage in messy play, make mistakes, and take giant leaps towards a successful future.

Developmental Milestones through Frogstreet 

We delve deep into the fascinating world of developmental and individualized learning! For our infants, we embark on an exciting journey of introducing concepts in four key areas: language development, physical development, cognitive development, and social-emotional development within our Frogstreet Curriculum. 

Language Development:

We nurture language development in infants by encouraging healthy and trusting teacher-child interactions. We use engaging activities in order to build oral language and vocabulary through sign language, photo cards and songs. These play a major role in helping infants grasp language concepts. 

Physical Development:

Intentional activities support physical development by encouraging gross and fine motor skills. Infants engage in activities that promote reaching, grasping, and manipulating objects, while using descriptive language to vocalize positive gestures. 

Cognitive Development:

Infants explore and learn through interactive play and exploration. Kids participate in activities that encourage infants to discover different textures, sounds, matching, and sizes! 

Social-Emotional Development:

Social-emotional development plays a prominent role in Frogstreet infant curriculum. It fosters strong teacher-child interactions through building trust and encouraging responsive caregiving. 

The Conscious Discipline Way 

At The Little Red Barn, we are dedicated to positive reinforcement in our interactions with children. We firmly believe in framing interactions constructively and supportively, rather than resorting to negative reinforcement. Positive choice language empowers children to make decisions and comprehend their consequences positively. Through

Conscious Discipline, we introduce early concepts of positive self-expression, coping strategies, and stress management techniques, not only for our infants but also for our teachers. 

Nurturing Natural Talents 

Nurturing a child’s natural talents and abilities through extracurricular activities is a significant aspect of our identity. You never know if a child has musical talent unless you provide them with an instrument. Engaging in enjoyable activities like Music with Munchkins, Tiny Tots Dance, and Creative Critters allows infants to develop and explore their unique skills and foster a sense of self-discovery! 

Early Education Vs. Daycare 

How young is too young to receive a quality education? At the Little Red Barn, we strive to create a safe, nurturing, and stimulating environment for infants to make cherished memories through playful exploration and discovery. Unlike traditional daycares, we offer personalized care that meets the unique needs of each infant, fostering their growth and potential by establishing a solid educational foundation through the FrogStreet Curriculum and Conscious Discipline! Check out our sister school’s blog for more information on what it means to attend an Early Learning Center vs. a Daycare.

Welcome to the Family!

Welcome to The Big Red Barn family! Our teachers are more than teachers. You are the foundation, the building blocks, and the heart and soul of our school. Without teachers, a school cannot be a school.

This is our staff portal where you will find onboarding instructions, important updates, schedules, trainings, Frog Street portal access, and the employee handbook.

We will update saff news regularly with any school updates, events, and reminders.

Be sure to take a moment to explore and get familiarized with the tabs at the top as they will help you navigate through our portal. It may look like a lot, so please don’t hesitate to reach out to our admin team and we can assist you with any questions.

We are beyond excited that you are here and chose to be a part of The Big Red Barn!

back to staff portal home

Dominique Harris | Director

Early Childhood Education has been an incredible journey for me, expanding the minds of young children and enriching their lives. Although my path didn’t begin with ECE, I’ve always yearned to work with children and wouldn’t want it any other way!

In January 2021, I embarked on an exciting new adventure as an assistant infant teacher. After a few months of training and absorbing as much knowledge as possible, I set my sights on becoming an Infant Nursery Supervisor (INS). I jumped at the opportunity to create a nurturing learning environment for each child’s growth. It became my mission to prioritize each infant’s unique needs and focus on how I could provide them with a high-quality learning experience.

As an INS, I discovered the significance of infant development and cultivated a passion for ensuring every child felt loved and cared for. Providing a high-quality education for my students enhanced my teaching skills and positioned me to mentor and give back to the community. I yearn to build trusting relationships with families who have become my friends, making my teaching experience truly meaningful.

Inspired by this, I decided to elevate my education and pursue director qualifications in October 2021. I officially received my director certification in December 2022! This dual role as a teacher and administrator provided me with valuable insights into the world of Early Childhood Education, transforming me into a passionate advocate for children, parents, and educators.

At The Little Red Barn Nursery, we value strong relationships with our families and strive to provide each infant with the best possible opportunities for a successful future. I am excited to share my passion for Early Childhood Education with you and eagerly anticipate the chance to introduce you to the exceptional offerings of The Little Red Barn!

dominique harris

director

Cheryl Harris | Infant Aide

I am Ashley’s mom, so the Big Red Barn has been a huge part of my heart since day one. I have been married for almost 33 years to the love of my life. We were high school sweethearts, so we have been together for a total of 38 years. We have been blessed with 3 children, and a niece whom we love like our own. My faith and family are the two most important things in my life. I ran my own childcare center out of my home years ago when my children were young. Being able to continue that passion years later makes me so happy! Seeing these kiddos every day just melts my heart! I am so grateful God has put me on this path, to GET TO love His children unconditionally every day!

-Children are a gift from the Lord, they are a reward from Him.
Psalm 127:3

cheryl harris

infant aide

Jayna Reneau | Infant Teacher

I’ve always been a natural nurturer. My younger brother and I are 12 years apart! So, I played a big role in his upbringing. However, through that, I learned that the best part of my day is watching children discover new skills and with that spark of joy and accomplishment you feel when they share their excitement with you, is the cherry on top.

I have been a qualified Early Childhood Educator since 2018 and through that time, I have worked with a variety of age groups enjoying each little quirk they have to offer! Watching each child grow and overcome challenges with my gentle guidance is my absolute favorite part of being a teacher 🥰

Outside of work, I have a 5 year old daughter and a 2 year old dog that constantly keep me on my toes! I enjoy reading, crafting, and writing. But most of all, I am so looking forward to this journey with you and your family at The Big Red Barn!

My Favorite quote: “It’s a leap of faith.” – Peter B. Parker

jayna reneau

infant teacher

Anna Dahlstrom | Infant Teacher

Hello, I’m Anna! I have been working with kids since 2021 and have loved every moment of it! Most of my experience has been working with infants and toddlers, which is an age group I’m very passionate about. I have such a soft spot for babies and can’t imagine doing anything else. I have been rewarded in ways so much greater than money. Watching a child grow, learn, and laugh is an absolutely priceless gift. I am honored and excited every day that I get to be a Lead Teacher.

Besides teaching, I love to read, write and spend time with family. I danced competitively growing up and still like to boogie when I get the chance. I am excited to get to know your precious bundle of joy!

anna dalhstrom

infant teacher

Hailey Bloyd | Infant Teacher

I enjoy spending time with young children, as their perspective on the world is always fresh and exciting. I believe that the love and care you show towards children today will shape how they treat others for the rest of their lives.

I enjoy creating art and exploring the outdoors with my family in my free time. I love doing my nails, scrap booking, baking- I refer myself as a professional mess maker, watching ROM coms, walking, grocery shopping alone, and I also enjoy skating. However, I am not a big thrill seeker, road tripper, or reader, as the last book I read was Toddler 411! I am also a mother of a 3-year-old who has been my absolute joy and has taught me alot.

My favorite Quote is,
“I am a
Diaper changing,
Booger wiping,
Hug giving,
Tear wiping,
Book reading,
Lunch giving,
Early Childhood Teacher”❤️

As I plant my seed here, at The Big Red Barn, I plan to go to school to get my degree in Early Childhood Education with a Minor in Special Education. I am so excited to begin this new chapter and meet all the students and families.

hailey bloyd

infant teacher

Assistant Teacher

Requirements

  • Must be over 16 years old

Responsibilities

  • Maintains constant communication/interaction with children throughout the day
  • Responsible for upholding all state, county, and center health and safety protocols
  • Expected to uphold open communication with co-teachers, the administrative team, and parents
  • Maintain and update daily communication portal in a timely manner
  • Responsible for assisting in maintaining a clean and organized center
  • Uphold constant communication and engagement with children throughout the day
  • Assist lead teachers with daily routine and duties which included, but is not limited to: Diapering, feeding, potty training, curriculum, circle times, nap time, etc.
  • Responsible for always maintaining state ratios within the classroom and for supervising children
  • Assist in schoolwide maintenance

Compensation

  • $17.00 — $19.00 an hour
  • Full-time or part-time

Lead Infant Teacher

Requirements

  • Must be Colorado Lead Teacher qualified
  • Must be over 18 years old

Responsibilities

  • Responsible for overseeing all daily routines (feedings, naps, diapering)
  • Expected to uphold open communication with co-teachers, the administrative team, and parents
  • Responsible for upholding all state, county, and center health and safety protocols
  • Will observe and document individual children’s development
  • Responsible for maintaining a clean and organized classroom that helps optimize child development
  • Maintains constant communication with children throughout the day
  • Responsible for carrying out all curricular activities and will be responsible for planning age-appropriate activities to support each child’s social, emotional, cognitive, and physical aspects of development
  • Maintain and update the daily communication portal in a timely manner
  • Responsible for always maintaining state ratios within the classroom

Compensation

  • $17.00 — $21.00 an hour
  • Full-time or part-time