Full Time Early Head Start Teacher Assistant/Kitchen Floater Elgin Center

Eastern Oregon University; La Grande (OR); On-site; USD 32,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Eastern Oregon University Head Start program at the Elgin Center seeks a Full Time Early Head Start Teacher Assistant/Kitchen Floater for the 2026–2027 school year. You will support the Teacher in creating a safe, nurturing, and developmentally appropriate classroom, assist in meal preparation, and help maintain compliant health and sanitation practices in line with Head Start/USDA requirements.

Under supervision, you will help implement lesson plans, support transitions and family engagement,

Qualifications

• Enrollment in the Oregon Child Care Division Central Background Registry at time of application
• Pediatric CPR/First Aid certification within 30 days of hire
• Oregon Food Handler’s Card within 30 days of hire
• Work authorization documentation to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States (EOU Heads Start does not sponsor visas)
• Preferred: CDA or AA in Early Childhood Education or Child Development (required within 2 years of hire)

Responsibilities

• Assist in maintaining a safe, healthy, emotionally secure learning environment for children
• Contribute to daily lesson plans and implement age-appropriate activities
• Support food service tasks and sanitary kitchen and classroom practices
• Assist with transitions, assessments, and family communication under Teacher supervision
• Collaborate with Teacher and Family Service staff to engage families and support individual child goals

Education

CDA or AA in Early Childhood Education or Child Development

Job description

Full Time Early Head Start Teacher Assistant/Kitchen Floater Elgin Center

Below you will find the details for the position including any supplementary documentation and questions you should review before applying for the opening.

Please see Special Instructions for more details.

Prior to beginning work, the successful candidate must:
-Enrollment in the Oregon Child Care Division Central Background Registry at the time of application (free)
-Pass Communicable Disease Verification from a qualified Healthcare Provider
-Provide documentation of work authorization documentation necessary to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States as required by the Federal Government. Eastern Oregon University Head Start does not sponsor applicants for employment visas
Within 30 days of hire:
-Pediatric CPR/First Aid certification
-Oregon Food Handler’s Card

Position Information

Position Title

Position Title Full Time Early Head Start Teacher Assistant/Kitchen Floater Elgin Center

Position Number

Full or Part Time

Full or Part Time Full Time

FTE

FTE 1

Position Type

Position Type Academic Year

Posting Number

Posting Number 201037HS

Position Summary Information- Displays to Applicant

Job Description Summary

This position is for the 2026 – 2027 school year. Ensure our youngest children have a solid foundation for life. Encourage the social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development of children and attend to their safety and welfare.

Assist in preparation of daily meals that meet Head Start/Early Head Start and USDA requirements and maintain a sanitary and healthy environment for children.

Under the guidance of the Teacher, contribute to a safe, nurturing, and stimulating learning environment appropriate to the needs of enrolled children. Provide high-quality learning experiences to promote children’s development in the domains of Approaches to Learning, Social and Emotional Development, Language and Literacy, Cognition, and Perceptual, Motor, and Physical Development; implement activities to support individual child goals; participate in the collection of on-going child observations and assessments; create positive connections with students and families. Implement self-regulation and school readiness strategies and support transitions to kindergarten. Help maintain a sanitary and healthy environment for children. Develop good working relationships with families and provide support as guided by the Teacher and Family Service staff.

Adhere to all Head Start Performance Standards, program policies, and procedures.

Responsibilities

ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES : PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

Food Service

• Help cook to prepare meals according to the cyclic menu.
• Foods shall be attractively presented; hot foods shall be served hot and cold foods shall be served cold;
• Food delivery from kitchen to classrooms onsite or offsite;
• Serve meals on time and maintain a sanitary, healthy environment by adhering to regulations for dishwashing and sanitizing surfaces, and by participating in daily custodial duties;
• Follow the Head Start performance standards for Health and Nutrition, and Oregon Health Division Food Sanitation Rules.

Child Contact Time – In collaboration with the Teacher:

• Contribute to the maintenance of a safe, healthy, emotionally secure learning environment.
• Meet individual needs of all children, including children who are at risk, have special needs, are gifted, and are culturally diverse.
• Contribute to the implementation of daily lesson plans and follow a consistent schedule that includes one‑on‑one time, small and large group experiences, choice time, music and movement, large and small motor activities, skill development, two meals, and effective transitions between activities.
• Encourage language use, experimentation, exploration, problem‑solving, cooperation, socialization, and choice‑making.
• Contribute to an atmosphere that promotes and reinforces parental involvement in the classroom.
• Supervise and monitor children at all times.

Written Documentation and Communication

• Attend weekly team meetings with the Teacher and full‑time Teacher Assistant and participate in planning and team‑building activities.
• Under the guidance of the Teacher, contribute to the maintenance of accurate written records, including screening and assessment, special education documentation, anecdotal observations, and documents for transition to public school.
• Maintain open and ongoing lines of communication within the direct service team, with enrolled families, with consultants, and service providers.
• Actively participate in professional development plans, including coaching support, as provided by EOUHS or an EOUHS contractor.

Family Partnerships

• Develop good working relationships with parents under the guidance of the Teacher and the Family Service staff.
• Support family partnership activities as requested.
• Accompany Teacher on Home Visits and participate in Parent Conferences whenever possible.

Classroom Collaboration – In collaboration with the Teacher:

• Attend weekly team meetings with Teachers and participate in planning and team‑building activities.
• Assist in the utilization of information obtained from screening and assessment, observations, and parental input to develop individual child goals, classroom curriculum, lesson plans, and home visit activities.
• Assist in the planning and implementation of learning experiences that advance the development of children in all domains.

All communications are potentially sensitive and are subject to policy on confidentiality.

Physical / Mental Abilities and Processes

• Ability to see and hear.
• Physical ability to manage and interact with preschool children in the classroom and on the playground.
• Ability to lift or move up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to read and understand program policy and procedure.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from staff, managers, and parents.

Program Requirements

• Completion of Orientation Checklist and required trainings
• Presentation of the following documentation is required at the time of hire:
  • Valid Driver’s License or access to reliable transportation.
  • Work authorization documentation is necessary to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States as required by the Federal Government. Eastern Oregon University Head Start does not sponsor applicants for employment visas.
  • Proof of enrollment in Oregon Child Care Division Criminal History Registry.
  • Approval to work based on an initial health examination that includes screeners or tests for communicable diseases, as appropriate
• Current enrollment in the Oregon Child Care Division Criminal History Registry.
• Periodic re‑examination as recommended by a healthcare provider that includes screeners or tests for communicable diseases, as appropriate.
• The following documentation must be provided within 30 days of hire:
  • Pediatric CPR /First Aid certification.
  • Oregon Food Handler’s Card
• Enrollment in an educational program that will result in completion of a Child Development Associate (CDA), a state awarded certificate that meets or exceeds the Oregon Child Care Registry Step 7, or an AA in Early Childhood Education or Child Development within 2 years of hire if not already held.

Preferred Qualifications

- CDA or AA in Early Childhood Education or Child Development is preferred and is required within 2 years of hire (transcripts required if hired) -Experience working with children in a calm, gentle manner, and a willingness to learn appropriate classroom techniques and strategies in working with children.

Special Instructions to Applicants

Prior to beginning work, the successful candidate must:
-Enrollment in the Oregon Child Care Division Central Background Registry at the time of application (free)
-Pass Communicable Disease Verification from a qualified Healthcare Provider
-Provide documentation of work authorization documentation necessary to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States as required by the Federal Government. Eastern Oregon University Head Start does not sponsor applicants for employment visas
Within 30 days of hire:
-Pediatric CPR /First Aid certification
-Oregon Food Handler’s Card

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• * Are you currently registered with the Central Background Registry (CBR)? https://oregonearlylearning.com/providers-educators/providers-educatorscbr/
  • Yes, I have a current registry
  • Yes, but my registry has expired
  • No, I have not registered
• * How did you hear about this employment opportunity?
  • EOU Website Posting
  • Chronicle of Higher Education
  • State Employment Service
  • DiverseJobs.net
  • Referral by EOU Employee
  • HigherEdJobs.com
  • Newspaper
  • Other
• * If you answered "Newspaper" or "Other" above, please give specifics here:

  (Open Ended Question)