Asst Teacher, Preschool

Puget Sound Educational Service District (PSESD); Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 30,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Puget Sound Educational Service District seeks a Head Start Assistant Teacher (SCHOOL SCHEDULE POSITION) to join our team of educators and work in a strong collaborative partnership with the Teacher and Lead Teacher. Job duties include collaborating with the Lead Teacher in designing and leading children’s learning, documenting children’s outcomes, and working with families.

Educare is a research-based early learning program implementing best and most promising new practices.

Qualifications

• WA State ECE Initial Certification or a current CDA is required.
• 0–1 year of relevant early childhood experience.
• Experience in Head Start or similar program preferred.
• Ability to work with families and collaborate with Lead Teacher.

Responsibilities

• Assist Lead Teacher in planning and delivering daily learning activities for young children.
• Document children's outcomes and maintain records under supervision.
• Support health and safety practices and supervise children at all times.
• Engage families through communication and involvement activities.
• Follow school schedule and contribute to curriculum planning.

Skills

Bilingual Spanish

Education

WA state ECE Initial Cert

CDA

Job description

Puget Sound Educational Service District seeks a Head Start Assistant Teacher (SCHOOL SCHEDULE POSITION) to join our team of educators and work in a strong collaborative partnership with the Teacher and Lead Teacher. Job duties include collaborating with the Lead Teacher in designing and leading children’s learning, documenting children’s outcomes, and working with families.

At Educare you will join a community of learners focused on providing high quality care and early childhood education, while working closely with families to support the growth and development of their children.

At Educare, you will join a community of learners focused on providing high quality care and early childhood education, while working closely with families to support the growth and development of their children. Educare is a research-based early learning program implementing best and most promising new practices. We hold high expectations for achieving child and family goals and offer reflective practices so that teachers reach and sustain those goals. We are part of a support system that enables personal and professional growth within an intentional culture of inclusion and diversity. We encourage you to join us in achieving a vision of excellence, innovation, creativity, and equity for the children and families we serve.

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. We are committed to becoming an Antiracist Multicultural Organization driven by equity in education. To learn more about PSESD, visit www.psesd.org/about-psesd.

Work Schedule: This position follows the school-year calendar (approximately 192 days / 1,536 hours annually).

This job reports to Lead Teacher.

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

• 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.

• WA state ECE Initial Cert, short Cert. of specialization OR Current CDA (Any focus)
• Minimum years of relevant experience 0-1 year
• Early childhood experience in a childcare center, child development center, or preschool program

• Bilingual speaking ability though Spanish language