Lead Teacher - Floater

CAIRO • Portland, OR

2d

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. Lead Position Summary: The Lead Teacher is responsible for developing a cohesive teaching team, coordinating the curriculum, and managing the day-to-day operational activities of the classroom. Lead 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 Lead Teacher must be skilled in communicating with both children and adults in order to meet the needs of the children, effectively guide the teaching team, and resolve parent/guardian concerns. The Lead Teachers in our program serve as the Site Director and must remain on the premises during all hours of operation. This position will work in collaboration with the 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 8
• Must meet the following criteria: (A) At least a bachelor’s degree in: (i) Early childhood education or a field related to early childhood education; or (ii) A field not related to early childhood education, but teacher has completed coursework that is equivalent to a major in early childhood education and has sufficient training in early childhood education as determined by the Division; or (B) An associate’s degree with additional training or additional certification in early childhood education or a field related to early childhood education, as determined by the Division; or (C) Until sufficient alternative credentialing to indicate that the teacher is highly trained is developed by the Division, in partnership with the Educator Advancement Council and affected stakeholders, the lead preschool teacher must have a Child Development Associate (CDA) Preschool Credential or at least Step 8 on the Oregon Registry Online (ORO).
• Must have knowledge or experience in: Management and Supervision of Adults Financial management and budgeting Record keeping Staff evaluations and training
• Fluency in speaking/reading/writing English proficiently
• To be offered any position, you must be currently enrolled in Oregon's Central Background Registry.
• Must be able to lift up to 50lbs
• Frequent bending/crouching down to the floor, sitting in small chairs, sitting on the floor actively engaging in activities with children.
• Physical ability to move quickly in order to redirect children for the purpose of ensuring a child's safety or the safety of others in the environment.
• Ability to respond appropriately both physically and mentally to an emergency or a crisis-situation, such as to provide CPR and/or First Aid to a pre-school age child, to evacuate a building, etc.
• In a normal workday, may stand/walk 6 hrs./day
• May use hands for repetitive grasping, pushing and pulling, may use hands at or above shoulder level.
• Must be able to communicate with children at their eye level.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

• Developing a cohesive teaching team
• Coordinating the curriculum
• Managing the day-to-day operational activities of the classroom
• Ensure a safe and stimulating classroom environment where children are actively engaged and encouraged to succeed
• Communicate with both children and adults in order to meet the needs of the children, effectively guide the teaching team, and resolve parent/guardian concerns
• Serve as the Site Director and must remain on the premises during all hours of operation
• Work in collaboration with the 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

Benefits

• Up to 7 days of accrued Paid Time Off per year
• Up to 40 hours of accrued sick leave per year
• 5 days of Paid Time Off for paid spring break - in alignment with school district
• 16 paid company holidays
• Medical and Dental insurance with employee-only premiums covered 100% by CAIRO
• Vision Insurance low-cost employee premium
• 401(k) plan with up to 3% employer match
• Paid professional development opportunities

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Number of Employees: 51-100 employees