Assistant Preschool Teacher 2026-27 Ardmore Elementary

Bellevue School District • Bellevue, WA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Assistant Preschool Teacher assists and supports students of all abilities by providing instructional support, implementing planned activities, ensuring student safety, and helping implement components of Individual Education Programs (IEPs). The role supports students in their least restrictive environment and provides social-emotional, behavioral, educational, and daily living assistance as needed. The position is assigned to a 192-day school-year schedule of 31.25 hours per week.

Requirements

• High school graduation or equivalent.
• Early Childhood Education Initial Certificate (12 credits) or DCFY equivalent.
• Valid First Aid and CPR certification.
• Registration in the state electronic workforce registry (Merit).
• Completion of a Merit Portable background check.
• TB skin test.
• Food Handler Permit.
• Proof of MMR vaccination or immunity to measles.
• Completion of applicable training requirements, including Child Care Basics.
• Knowledge of reading, writing, and arithmetic.
• Knowledge of child development, behavior management, and behavior modification programs, including restraint techniques.
• Knowledge of health, safety, injury prevention, and sanitary practices.
• Knowledge of safety procedures for students and staff, including proper lifting techniques.
• Knowledge of adaptive technological equipment.
• Knowledge of non-violent crisis intervention and de-escalation strategies.
• Computer proficiency and familiarity with various software programs.
• Knowledge of physical therapy techniques and procedures.
• Knowledge of functional life skills instruction.
• Ability to meet the position’s physical demands, including stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, finger dexterity, grasping, talking, hearing, seeing, and repetitive motions.
• Ability to exert up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, up to 20 pounds frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds constantly.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working individually with students with diverse aptitudes and levels of achievement, including behaviorally disabled students.
• Right Response training.
• Bilingual Spanish.
• Willingness to learn braille and experience working with students with vision impairment.

Responsibilities

• Ensure students’ physical, health, and safety needs are met from arrival through departure.
• Support and interact with children during age-appropriate and developmentally suitable activities.
• Provide social-emotional, behavioral, and educational support for students of all abilities.
• Deliver specially designed instruction provided by a Special Education Teacher.
• Support students of all abilities in their least restrictive environment.
• Maintain auditory and visual supervision of children at all times.
• Help maintain a clean, organized, and safe environment.
• Establish appropriate rapport with families.
• Assist students with emotional regulation challenges and foster independence in all settings.
• Support students with daily living skills, including toileting, changing, tube feeding, and medical assistance as needed.
• Monitor children’s educational, recreational, and rest activities, ensuring proper hygiene and diapering when necessary.
• Communicate effectively with staff and collaborate on planning and implementing activities.
• Work with diverse student populations, including students with special needs.
• Provide comfort and nurturing to children.
• Stay current on emergency procedures and child safety drills.
• Attend staff meetings and professional development training.
• Help maintain records of children’s daily activities, including incident reports, medication logs, and attendance sheets.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, long-term disability, and life-insurance eligibility based on 630 hours worked within a school year.
• Retirement through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED