Position Summary
We are currently seeking highly motivated Substitute Teachers to join our cause. Substitute Teachers support Lead Teachers and Teaching Assistants in order to provide a high quality, multicultural, inclusive educational experience to prepare all children and families for life and school. This position may rotate through different classrooms based on staffing needs and may work in the Infant and Toddler (birth-3 years) or Preschool (3-5 years) classrooms.
Essential Functions
- Assist the teaching team in maintaining a healthy, safe, and warm classroom environment through effective supervision, developmentally appropriate practices that allows learning through curiosity, experimentation, play and implementation of individualized plans.
- Assist the teaching team in delivering weekly lesson plans by preparing materials, organizing supplies, and helping keep children on task.
- Assist teaching team in completion of Teaching Strategies Gold observations and checkpoint data to assess child growth and development.
- Engage in warm, caring interactions and fun, imaginative play with children.
- Provide support for children's behavior with evidence-based strategies.
- Adhere to all city, state, federal, OSPI and Head Start/Step Ahead requirements relating to program operation.
- Assist with facilitation of special events and meetings.
- Assist in maintaining children’s file documents in a secure, organized system for easy reference by other staff.
- Promptly communicate any problems or concerns regarding children to the Teaching Assistant or Lead Teacher.
Note: The job duties listed here are not intended to be an exhaustive list. Incumbent may be required to perform other duties in order to meet the needs of DLEC.
Skills, Competencies and Experience
- High School diploma or equivalent.
- Early childhood education coursework preferred.
- Previous work or volunteer experience working with children ages 5 and under.
- Able to communicate in English verbally and in writing.
- Bilingual in a language spoken by DLEC parents (Spanish, Portuguese, Tigrinya, Amharic, Cantonese, and Vietnamese) preferred.
Physical Demands and Working Conditions
- Physical Demands: To perform the job, the employee must be able to lift and potentially carry a child weighing up to 50 pounds, routinely kneel, bend, crouch, and sit on the floor for extended periods and stand, walk and sit on child-sized chairs throughout the day.
- Working Conditions: The work is typically performed in an early childhood school environment, with moderate to loud noise.
- The physical demands described here must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. The working conditions are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
- Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Employment Requirements
All staff must comply with state vaccination guidelines, including MMR, and provide a negative TB test (within the last 12 months) or an x-ray, as well as a pre-employment physical. Medical or religious exemptions may be requested, and if approved, weekly testing will be required.
Employment or volunteer service at Denise Louie Education Center is conditioned on a criminal background check as required by child care licensing and Head Start Performance Standards. The 60 categories of criminal convictions or pending charges disqualifying a person from having access to children in child care are in WAC 388-330-040.
Certain positions require degrees, coursework, or other certifications. You will be asked to provide proof of your stated education prior to hire.
Pay Rate
This position offers a fixed rate of $25.00 per hour, with no flexibility in the pay rate.
Leave Benefits
A substitute employee is one who is not regularly scheduled to work and is considered for work “as needed.” Substitute employees are eligible for leave which may only be used for Sick and Safe Time purposes as required by law. In accordance with Seattle’s Paid Sick and Safe Time (PSST) ordinance, we are a Tier 2 employer.