Assistant Teacher, Floater - Leave Replacement

Puget Sound Educational Service District (PSESD); Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 36,000 - 48,000; Part time

Job summary

Puget Sound Educational Service District (PSESD) seeks an Assistant Teacher, Floater – Leave Replacement to support Lead Teachers in Plan-Do-Review cycles and family partnerships within a Head Start/early learning setting.

The position follows the school-year calendar (approximately 100 days/600 hours annually) and is benefit-eligible. Best consideration date is Thursday, October 1, 2026; interviews tentatively October 8, 2026.

Qualifications

• Early childhood experience in a childcare center, child development center, or preschool program.
• Head Start, Early Head Start, or other comprehensive child development/family support program experience.
• Experience with diverse and/or low-income populations.
• Experience working with children birth to 5.
• Current or former Head Start and/or ECEAP parent.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Lead Teacher to design and support children’s learning and document developmental outcomes.
• Maintain classroom documents, files and records for efficient operation.
• Communicate with families to encourage involvement and share information.
• Assist with health screenings and daily classroom routines.
• Model respectful interactions and support safe, positive learning environments.
• Support activities aligned with weekly curriculum plans and schedules.

Skills

Early childhood experience

Head Start parent experience

Experience with diverse populations

Birth to 5 experience

Family engagement

Job description

Join us as our next Assistant Teacher, Floater – Leave Replacement (SCHOOL SCHEDULE POSITION) and help create just and humanizing educational communities where every child thrives and succeeds, benefiting future generations. In this role, you will work in close partnership with Teachers and Lead Teachers to design and support children’s learning, document developmental outcomes, and build meaningful relationships with families. At Educare, you will join a collaborative community of learners committed to providing high-quality care and early childhood education while supporting the growth and development of every child. If you are passionate about creating nurturing learning environments and partnering with children, families, and fellow educators, we encourage you to apply.

PSESD is one of nine regional educational agencies serving school districts and state approved charter and private schools in Washington. Serving over 39% of Washington’s K-12 public school students, our agency provides critical services designed to ensure that our students are ready to enter school, achieve at high levels in the K-12 system, and succeed in postsecondary endeavors. To learn more about PSESD, visit www.psesd.org/about-psesd.

About This Leave Replacement Assignment

Leave replacement is a recruitment category for a limited-duration assignment that covers an employee’s absence. The assignment is expected to end when the employee returns. If circumstances change, the position may be updated to full and continuous. The position is benefit-eligible and is expected to conclude on April 30, 2027.
Open until filled; for best consideration, please submit a complete application by best consideration date of Thursday, October 1, 2026. Interviews are tentatively scheduled for Thursday, October 8, 2026.

Work Schedule: This position follows the school-year calendar (approximately 100 days / 600 hours annually).

Essential Functions

• Acts as a support and resource person for families for the purpose of assisting the Lead Teacher or Teacher in case managing specific needs with families, advocating for parents, and encouraging parent involvement in the program.
• Assists in instructing children (e.g., self-care, social, motor skills, language skills, etc.) for the purpose of optimizing development of each child.
• Assists in maintaining a variety of documents, files, and records (e.g., student records, meal counts, attendance, observations, etc.) for the purpose of ensuring an efficient and effective work environment, under the direction of the Teacher and Assistant Teacher.
• Assists with the administration of health screenings (e.g., hearing, vision, height/weight, etc.) for the purpose of identifying areas of concern and/or providing information to the appropriate personnel.
• Assists children with hand washing, tooth brushing, diapering (as assigned), etc. for the purpose of modeling appropriate personal hygiene.
• Attends meetings and/or workshops for the purpose of conveying and/or gathering information required to perform functions and/or maintaining their professional knowledge.
• Cleans facilities, equipment, and playground area for the purpose of ensuring a safe and sanitary environment.
• Communicates with parents and family members of the children in the classroom for the purpose of sharing relevant information and encouraging parent involvement in the program, under the direction of Lead Teacher or Teacher.
• Engages in Active Supervision, as defined by the Head Start National Center on Health, with focused attention and intentional observation of children at all times for the purpose of providing a safe and positive learning environment.
• Implements weekly curriculum plans with individualization for students in collaboration with classroom team that includes: indoor and outdoor instruction, quiet and active learning opportunities, group, small group and individualized instruction, environmental adaptations and use of daily routines for learning for the purpose of supporting individual and group needs, maximizing child outcomes and delivering services in compliance with established guidelines.
• Maintains classroom equipment, work areas, student files/records (e.g., instructional materials, meal counts, dental/health screenings, cleaning work areas/playground, observations, etc.) for the purpose of ensuring availability of items, providing reliable information and/or ensuring a safe and sanitary environment.
• May assist with home visits with children and families for the purpose of assisting the Lead Teacher or Teacher in providing information and resources to families on a schedule in compliance with program requirements.
• Models conversations, respectful interactions, manners, clean-up activities, listening, etc. for the purpose of demonstrating appropriate social behavior.
• Monitors students in a variety of educational settings (e.g., classroom, playground, field trips, nap times, etc.) for the purpose of providing a safe and positive learning environment.
• Organizes and serves meals and snacks in coordination with the Lead Teacher and Teacher for the purpose of meeting nutritional needs of students.
• Participates in local and national evaluation activities for the purpose of continuous program improvement.
• Participates as a team member in interdisciplinary planning for children and families for the purpose of conveying and/or receiving information related to program plan.
• Participates in activities with small groups of children for the purpose of providing classroom activities and routines that support individual/group needs and/or delivering services in compliance with established guidelines.
• Performs functions of Head Start Lead Teacher or Teacher for the purpose of ensuring adequate coverage in his/her absence, as requested.
• Responds to emergency situations for the purpose of resolving immediate safety concerns and/or directing to appropriate personnel for resolution.

Other Functions

• Assist other personnel as may be required for the purpose of ensuring an efficient and effective work environment.

JOB-SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES

CHILD GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT:Demonstrates knowledge and expertise related to child/youth development and growth.
CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT: Demonstrates knowledge and expertise related to State and Federal learning standards and curriculum adaptation and implementation. Utilizes evidence-based research regarding teaching strategies to advance practices that meet the needs of all students.
TEAMWORK: Works collaboratively with others to achieve shared goals and make decisions.

CONTINUOUS LEARNING AND SELF-DEVELOPMENT:Engages a growth mindset through learning and input from others, and takes responsibility to actively pursue self-development.
COURAGEOUS CONVERSATIONS: Engages in uncomfortable or difficult conversations to explore others’ views in order to gain a shared understanding.
CRISIS MANAGEMENT: Anticipates potential crises and implements best practices in prevention, using available avenues and resources. Responds appropriately and with a sense of urgency when a crisis occurs. Fulfills commitments made during a crisis and establishes avenues of learning to prevent, mitigate, and/or better prepare.

• Early childhood experience in a childcare center, child development center, or preschool program

• Head Start, Early Head Start, or other comprehensive child development/family support program experience
• Experience with diverse and/or low-income populations
• Experience working with children birth to 5
• Current or former Head Start and/or ECEAP parent