Preschool Lead Teacher

Childswork Learning Center is growing, and we are excited to announce multiple openings across our three Preschool for All (Multnomah County) campuses:

• Cherry Blossom — 10525 SE Cherry Blossom Dr
• Tabor — 6161 SE Stark St
• Hosford-Abernethy (NEW location!) — 1920 SE 28th Ave, near SE 28th & Hawthorne

We are seeking passionate, dedicated early childhood professionals to join our stable, mission‑driven organization. Learn more about us at https://www.childswork.org/employment-opportunities

FLSA & PAY STATUS

Current FLSA Status: Exempt, 245 days a year

Current Pay Status: Salary

Full time 30-40+ hours a week

Work Location: Onsite

About Us

We are a Reggio-inspired, constructivist early childhood center. Our non-profit school is located at three beautiful campuses in Southeast Portland, Oregon. Since 1984, our early childhood education center has served a diverse population of children and families, focusing on the development of the whole child with respect and compassion.

Our programs are rooted in developmentally appropriate practice, emergent constructivist pedagogy, and child‑initiated environments that support confident, capable, and creative learners. We believe each young child is inherently curious and able to take an active role in their learning.

As we continue to grow—including our expansion through Multnomah County’s Preschool for All initiative—we are seeking experienced educational leaders to help support our staff, children, and families across three campuses.

Play is a child’s work. Play is a child’s response to life. It is the way children discover themselves and the world around them.

Position Summary:

This is a full-time, on-site position. The Lead Teacher is responsible for general administrative duties as assigned, for supervision of subordinate staff, and for planning, preparing, and implementing daily activities, monitoring children’s progress, and maintenance of related records for assigned classroom.

The Lead Teacher promotes the center’s philosophy and educational objectives. The Lead Teacher supports the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct. The Lead Teacher reports to the Education Director.

Essential Duties

• - Provide a safe and engaging learning environment.
• - Supervision of assigned group of children at all times.
• - Supervision and training of any classroom aides, volunteers, and interns assigned to class.
• - Maintaining all classroom requirements aligned with laws, regulations, and licensing requirements, to include accurate and up-to-date classroom attendance. Any classroom activities, special needs, attendance rosters, and staff schedule.
• - Responsible for maintaining a 10:1 Student: Staff ratio as per state licensing requirements. This includes communicating with leadership on any classroom needs impacting ratios.
• - Key person in charge to manage, direct, and guide others to ensure each classroom meets the DELC licensing guidelines.
• - Ensure the classroom follows and complies with DELC licensing guidelines, along with any other federal, state, and local laws.
• - Ensure the classroom is a positive learning space, clean, and reflects a safe and secure environment.
• - Ensure all meals, snacks, and other assigned classroom needs are monitored.

Communication:

• - Maintain confidentiality.
• - Plan and conduct parent-teacher conferences twice yearly.
• - Meet with parents/guardians/specialists as needed.
• - Maintain regular communication with the Education Director and/or Support Specialist regarding concerns, referrals, and special needs.
• - Post photos daily to Brightwheel.
• - Communicate daily with caregivers about activities in class.
• - Provide caregivers with an annual progress report that includes a narrative of detailing the child’s growth at the end of the year.
• - Collaborate with administration to reach organizational goals.
• - Attend Lead team meetings, and any other meetings as assigned.

Observation/Documentation:

• - Conduct ongoing observations of children’s developmental levels and patterns of behavior.
• - Conduct formal observations (ASQ) annually or as needed.
• - Document investigations related to concerns raised by children, parents, or other staff, curriculum, and children’s discovery process.

Curriculum Development and application:

• - Create an environment where education is inclusive and designed to address various levels of learning for all children, includes tailoring to the individualized level, when required.
• - Develop emergent curriculum that encourages children to explore, discover, and construct knowledge through thinking, questioning, and experimenting.
• - Interact with children to support play, exploration, and learning.
• - Adapt environment and strategies in response to children’s interests.
• - Provide a variety of developmentally appropriate, hands-on activities and materials.
• - Maintain a weekly lesson plan.
• - Recognize transitions as part of the curriculum.
• - Ensure curriculum reflects support of daily routine tasks such as toileting, eating, and sleeping.

Teamwork and Collaboration with Co-Workers:

• - Maintain consistent weekly planning periods.
• - Provide substitutes with necessary information regarding their classroom schedule and activities.
• - Assist new teachers in acclimating to the culture, language and practices of Childswork.
• - Practice constructive communication skills within the school: Facilitates problem-solving and conflict resolution, displays direct communication skills, and is involved in on-going dialog.
• - Model a professional and positive attitude in relationships with children, families, co-workers and administrators.
• - Collaborates on new ideas and feedback provided by other co-workers.
• - Share ideas and materials with co-workers.
• - Be kind, cordial and professional at all times.

Training, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Anti-Bias Commitment:

• - Attend 15 hours of documented training per year (8 hours in child development).
• - Attend staff meetings, in-service training, and professional growth.
• - Complete all work using a Racial Equity and Anti-bias lens as outlined in school policies
• - Participate in staff development, in-service trainings related to diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace and in early childhood education
• - Model appropriate behaviors

Campus Support

• - Act as Substitute Site Director (for licensing) when needed.
• - Support all classes in maintaining the safety and cleanliness of the campus.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Documentation of attaining at least step 7.5 in the Oregon Registry

○ Bachelor’s Degree (BS/BA) from college or university with a major in early childhood education, child development, elementary education, special education, or

○ Associate’s Degree (AS/AA) from a college with a major in early childhood education, child development, or related degree, or

○ A 1-year state or nationally-recognized credential (CDA) related to preschool‐age care

• - Current enrollment in the Oregon Criminal Registry
• - Current Food Handler's card (within the first 30 days of employment)
• - Current First Aid and CPR cards (within the first 90 days of employment)
• - Participate yearly in at least 15 hours of training or education related to child development or early childhood education
• - Must be able to provide proof of state vaccination requirements

Skills and Knowledge

• - Ability to create and implement a multi-level curriculum using a progressive and constructivist pedagogy
• - Effective classroom management skills
• - Culturally responsive teaching practices
• - Demonstrate standards of moral character and behavior as required of teachers (e.g., to serve as an effective role model for students)
• - Ability to work with children and families from a low-income background and with whom - English is a second language
• - Ideal candidate will have a strong literacy background
• - Awareness of gender and equity issues
• - Ability to create positive, professional relationships with students, parents, caregivers, and colleagues.
• - Ability to work as a team member: The ability to problem-solve, compromise, collaborate, be flexible, and take direction when necessary
• - Ability to provide distance learning in the case of school closure
• - Clear communication skills, both verbally and in written form

BENEFITS

Benefits begin on the first day of the month following a 30‑day waiting period.

• 50% employer-paid medical coverage (employee only)
• 100% employer-paid dental and vision (employee only)
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer contribution
• 2 weeks PTO
• Sick leave and bereavement leave
• 11 paid holidays

Childswork provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applications for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender expression and identification, sexual orientation, national origin, physical or mental disability, genetic information, marital status, age, amnesty, or status as covered veteran or any other classification protected by federal, state, and local laws. QTBIPOC (Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous, People of color) and/or those with lived experience are encouraged to apply.

WORKING CONDITIONS

The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Persons with certain disabilities may be capable of performing the essential duties of this class with or without reasonable accommodation, depending on the nature of the disability.

Work Environment: Work is performed primarily in a standard office environment with extensive student, parent and public contact and frequent interruptions.

Hazards: Potential conflict situations.

Physical Demands: Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in an office setting; dexterity of hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard and other office equipment; sitting or standing for extended periods of time; kneeling, bending at the waist, reaching overhead, above the shoulders and horizontally to retrieve and store files and supplies; lifting, pushing, pulling and carrying children, office equipment, supplies and materials weighing up to 50 pounds; repetitive hand movement and fine coordination to use a computer keyboard; hearing and speaking to exchange information in person or on the telephone; seeing to read, prepare and assure the accuracy of documents.

PAY RANGE

Pay is associated with years of direct experience teaching preschool, a minimum of a 7.5 step in the Oregon Registry, active CBR, and reference checks. This is a salary exempt position that requires 30-40+ hours per week, including meetings, parent teacher conferences, professional development trainings, and special events including some weekend work.

Pay: $44,000.00 - $70,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person