Assistant Teacher - Vestal Elementary

CAIRO•Portland, OR

2d•$23 - $25

About The Position

The Center for African Immigrants and Refugees Organization (CAIRO)’s mission is to enhance social justice and achieve parity for the diverse African immigrants and refugee communities through community organizing, collaborative leadership, and service advocacy. We envision a more just and equitable society in which children, youth, and families live in sustained, supportive communities that reinforce the family's cultural wealth and lived experience. At CAIRO Academy, we believe every child deserves a chance to flourish in a safe environment designed to encourage creativity, equity and learning. Our program implements Creative Curriculum, and Second Step Social Emotional teaching tools in a play-based learning environment. With this approach teachers thoughtfully attend to the interests of children, believing that fostering student-led curiosity and reflection strengthens the children’s capacity to continue as life-long learners. Students in our care are encouraged to express themselves and expand on what they are learning through verbal and non-verbal language, music, visual art, writing, movement, and experimentation. CAIRO Academy is a non-profit preschool program funded by Preschool Promise and Preschool For All. We have multiple preschool classrooms located within different elementary schools throughout Multnomah and Washington County including outer Northeast and Southeast Portland, Gresham, Beaverton, and Hillsboro. The Academy’s focus is to provide a culturally specific and accessible preschool curriculum. Our program follows a school-year schedule operating from late August - mid June. Assistant Position Summary: The Assistant Teacher is responsible for participating as part of a cohesive teaching team, assisting the Lead Teacher in coordinating the curriculum, and managing the day-to-day operational activities of the classroom. Assistant Teachers must understand children’s cognitive, social, emotional and physical development in order to ensure a safe and stimulating classroom environment where children are actively engaged and encouraged to succeed. The Assistant Teacher must be skilled in communicating with both children and adults in order to meet the needs of the children, effectively participate on the teaching team, and support the Lead Teacher to resolve parent/guardian concerns. The Assistant Teacher will assume the duties and responsibilities if the Lead Teacher is off on leave. Staff may be required to administer medication or be trained to do so by an RN nurse through the PFA program. This position will work in collaboration with the Lead Teacher, and Multi-Site Coordinators to ensure standards set by the Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC), the Environmental Health Authority, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)Preschool Promise (PSP) and Preschool For All (PFA) are met and maintained.

Requirements

Minimum of 1 year experience working in a Certified Childcare Center with students ages 3-5 years old - will be verified.
Previous experience teaching in a setting that focuses on inclusion and supporting students with individual needs ranging from low-support to high-support needs.
Must be at least 18 years of age
Minimum ORO step 6
Must meet the following criteria: (A)At least 750 hours of qualifying teaching experience in a Certified Child Care Center, or comparable group care program in the appropriate age level or; (B) One year or 1,500 hours of qualifying teaching experience in Registered Family or Certified Family childcare or; (C) Documentation of attaining at least step 6 in the Oregon Registry; OR 9 quarter credits in two CKCs (3 must be in HGD or UGB) or; (D) A minimum of an associate’s degree from a college or university with a major in: Early childhood education; Child development; Special education; Elementary education; Human development; Child and family studies or; (E) A state or nationally recognized credential, e.g. Child Development Associate (CDA).
Fluency in speaking/reading/writing English proficiently
To be offered any position, you must be currently enrolled in Oregon's Central Background Registry.

Nice To Haves

Preferred bilingual, ability to speak/read/write: Somali, Arabic, Swahili, Farsi, Spanish, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Cantonese, American Sign Language.

Responsibilities

Participating as part of a cohesive teaching team
Assisting the Lead Teacher in coordinating the curriculum
Managing the day-to-day operational activities of the classroom
Understanding children’s cognitive, social, emotional and physical development in order to ensure a safe and stimulating classroom environment where children are actively engaged and encouraged to succeed
Communicating with both children and adults in order to meet the needs of the children, effectively participate on the teaching team, and support the Lead Teacher to resolve parent/guardian concerns
Assuming the duties and responsibilities if the Lead Teacher is off on leave
Administer medication or be trained to do so by an RN nurse through the PFA program (if required)
Work in collaboration with the Lead Teacher, and Multi-Site Coordinators to ensure standards set by the Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC), the Environmental Health Authority, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)Preschool Promise (PSP) and Preschool For All (PFA) are met and maintained.