Assistant Teacher - Vestal Elementary

Salary Grade/Level/Family/Range

$22.50 - $24.50 per hour, depending on experience.

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 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

Organization and Position Summary:

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.

Education and Experience 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).

Travel:

• Staff in all positions may be scheduled to work at any of our CAIRO Academy sites to fulfill program operation requirements and may be given short notice. CAIRO Academy Sites are located on the outer limits of: Hillsboro, Beaverton, Gresham, Northeast and Southeast Portland
• Travel may be required to attend appropriate training as assigned.

Language Requirements:

• Required: Fluency in speaking/reading/writing English proficiently
• Preferred bilingual, ability to speak/read/write: Somali, Arabic, Swahili, Farsi, Spanish, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Cantonese, American Sign Language.

Additional Eligibility Requirements:

Central Background Registry Requirement:

To be offered any position, you must be currently enrolled in Oregon's Central Background Registry. If you are not currently enrolled, you may still be considered for this position, but no offer of employment may be extended to you until this requirement has been completed. For information on how to enroll in Oregon's Central Background Registry, please visit https://secure.emp.state.or.us/ccd/ or call the Office of Child Care at 1.800.556.6616.

Physical Requirements of the Job:

• 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 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

NOTE: This agency believes that each employee makes a significant contribution to our success. This job description in no way implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee. At all times, employees will be required to follow any instruction and perform any other duties within this or a lower job level upon the request of the supervisor. At times, employees may also be required to perform higher-level duties.