HEAD START Preschool Teacher

Join Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action's Head Start team! The Preschool Head Start Teacher works with children to promote their growth in the areas of social-emotional, physical, cognitive, and language development.

MWVCAA Head Start offers tuition benefits for staff pursuing Early Childhood Education Certification at Chemeketa, and/or ECE Associate's and Bachelor's Degrees.

We offer 8 hours of sick pay per month, 8 hours of vacation accrual per month for year-round staff, hiring and retention pay, 401k retirement contributions of 4% salary, mileage reimbursement, **Free** Individual Kaiser medical and EBMS dental after 30 days of employment; as well as Flex Account benefits, Life Insurance, and Employee Assistance Plan benefits.

MWVCAA offers 12 holidays per year. School year child care staff receive paid winter and spring break and personal days. Bilingual differential pay is available for staff as needed by Program. All of this plus amazing teams, and a Mission to serve others with Compassion in Motion!

The Preschool Teacher position has multiple openings available at multiple sites around Marion and Polk counties. Come join us where we have 5 Star Spark Ratings for childcare and happy kids that are waiting for you!

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• Associate's or Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education, or a related field (Education, Human Development, Family and Consumer Studies, Child and Family Studies, Psychology, Sociology, Social Work).
• Two years of experience in early childhood or childcare programs.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

• Driver qualifications are required for this position. Valid driver license, insured vehicle available for use on the job, and a satisfactory drive record for the previous three years are required.
• Successful registration with the Central Background Registry of the Childcare Division.
• CPR/First Aid Certification or the ability to obtain within 60 days of hire.
• Food Handlers Card or the ability to obtain within 30 days of hire.
• Candidate must pass pre-employment physical examination.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Intermediate proficiencies in Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook, database software, online tools, and video conferencing platforms.
• Effective interpersonal communication skills, in both oral and written form.
• Demonstrates tact, diplomacy and empathy when communicating with parents, staff and community partners.

*ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employee will also perform other reasonably related business duties as assigned by immediate supervisor and other management as required.

Classroom (50%)

• Ensures safety in the classroom at all times, with appropriate supervision of children, utilizing the transition and counting form and procedure. Ensures children are released only to parent/guardians or authorized adults.
• Records children's daily attendance, working with site team to determine the cause of absences.
• Provides for the development of children's cognitive, physical, social-emotional and language skills through implementation of curriculum, lesson planning and individualization.
• Conducts developmental and social-emotional screenings for each child, with input from parents. Provides follow up to concerns, including the provision of resources, or referrals for children with identified developmental or social-emotional needs.
• Conducts and records child observations to utilize in setting goals, individualizing and creating assessments.
• Creates lesson plans utilizing a variety of curriculum to address children's individual goals, taking into account each child's characteristics, strengths, and needs.
• Works with classroom team during pre-service, to set up classroom environment, and maintain the environment by regularly changing/rotating materials, supplies and props, utilizing the Creative Curriculum, and the Monthly Environment Checklist.
• Creates a supportive climate and positive environment with opportunities for children to make connections with other children and staff. Uses positive redirection and strategies to provide children with a safe, secure and enjoyable experience at school.
• Prepares materials, activities, and projects for class.
• Participates in family style meals, taking USDA required meal counts, and leading conversation at the table to enhance the social and emotional growth of children.
• Conducts, in the cla