GELC Teacher's Assistant

Puyallup Tribe; Tacoma, Northern (WA, KY); Hybrid; USD 38,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employer-paid medical

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Retirement/401(k) with profit sharing

Paid holidays

Paid time off including birthday leave

Job summary

Puyallup Tribe of Indians seeks a Teacher’s Assistant for GELC at Grandview Child Care Center. You will assist in the care and early education of children birth to age 5, creating a safe, healthy, and culturally appropriate learning environment.

The role requires HS Diploma or GED, WA 47-credits certificates within three years, and completion of STARS within one year. Salary is market-competitive with benefits; call or email for details.

Qualifications

• HS Diploma or GED required.
• Must complete WA state stackable certificates (47 credits) within three years of hire.
• Must complete STARS training within one year of hire.
• Must pass drug and alcohol screening upon hire and during employment.

Responsibilities

• Assist in planning and implementing daily program activities.
• Greet parents, children and staff with a positive attitude.
• Assist in planning learning environments and materials for culturally relevant activities.
• Supervise bathroom and meal-time activities, maintain discipline policy.
• Attend trainings and staff meetings for professional growth.

Skills

Warm personality

Cultural sensitivity

Confidentiality

Education

HS Diploma/GED

WA stackable certificates (47 credits)

Job description

• Open: September 23, 2026 Close: October 7, 2026

  Job Title: Teacher’s Assistant Department: GELC

  Reports To: Director Hours: 40 Hrs/Wk – Full Time

  Salary: Based on Salary Matrix+Benefits Requisition: 810

  *Salaries are market competitive. For accurate salary information, call [phone] or email [e-mail]. The Puyallup Tribe of Indians provides a generous benefits package that includes employer paid medical, dental, vision, life insurance, a retirement/401(k) plan with profit sharing, paid holidays, and paid time off including birthday leave.

  POSITION SUMMARY

  Assists in the care and early education of children (birth to age 5) and school age children at the Grandview Child Care Center. Creates and maintains a safe, healthy, and culturally appropriate learning environment for young children.

  ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Assists in planning and implementing the daily program in all group and outdoor activities.
  • Greets arriving and departing parents, children and co-workers with a smile and positive attitude.
  • Encourages parents to record daily arrival and departure times for all children enrolled at the Center.
  • Assists in planning and preparing the learning environment, setting up interest centers and preparing materials and supplies emphasizing cultural learning activities.
  • Supervises and provides assistance in the bathrooms.
  • Treats children with dignity and respect and maintains the Positive Discipline Policy of the Center.
  • Oversees all meal-time activities of the children to encourage and foster the use of good table manners.
  • Assumes and initiates an equal share of the joint housekeeping activities to maintain a clean environment center-wide.
  • Assists lead classroom teacher.
  • Maintains professional attitudes and loyalty to the Center at all times.
  • Attends Staff Meetings, workshops, conferences, courses, all in-service training and other aspects of professional growth when recommended by the Center Manager.
  • Utilizes Center materials and teaching supplies constructively and resourcefully.
  • Considers individual children in relationship to their cultural and socio- economic background and developmental level.
  • Keeps information about families confidential.

  REQUIREMENTS / QUALIFICATIONS

  • Must be actively taking Puyallup Language classes from the Puyallup Tribal Language Department.
  • Attends special trainings that help serve the special needs of children at GELC including but not limited to orientations and trainings on meeting the special needs of children with autism, trauma affected children, etc.
  • Maintain a positive and warm classroom environment.
  • Abide at all times to the GELC policies and procedures.
  • Teachers follow the recommendations and trainings of the Tribe’s language and culture program, making materials available for children and including lessons and activities in daily plans.
  • Assist with the outdoor classroom lessons and activities, to create and implement educational experiences in the child’s natural environment.
  • Follow recommendations of a Support Plan, and implementation of support strategies.
  • Teachers will treat each child with individual needs, special needs or diagnose undiagnosed disabilities with dignity and respect at all times.
  • Teacher will attend necessary training or educational courses to enhance their ability to provide quality child care, meet the individual child’s needs, offer intervention strategies and the classroom supports necessary for all children’s developmental needs from birth to twelve. It is the goal of GELC to support Tribal children to learn and be cared for in a Tribal cultural practice, including language. The person in this position is required to take Puyallup language and culture classes as scheduled throughout the year.
  • Responsible for housekeeping duties.
  • Performs other duties as assigned.

  This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

  EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

  Must meet the following requirements:

  1. • HS Diploma/GED and 6 months experience working with groups of young children required;
     • Must complete basic STARS training within one year of hire;
     • Must complete all three steps of the WA state stackable certificates (47 credits) within three years of hire and meet all milestone requirements during required timeframes.

  LANGUAGE SKILLS

  Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos. Ability to write simple correspondence. Ability to effectively present information in one‑on‑one and small group situations to customers, clients, and other employees of the organization.

  MATHMATICAL SKILLS

  Ability to add and subtract two-digit numbers and to multiply and divide with 10's and 100's. Ability to perform these operations using units of American money and weight measurement, volume, and distance.

  REASONING ABILITY

  Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions. Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.

  LICENSES OR CERTIFICATES

  Must have and maintain a Food handler’s permit.

  Within two weeks of employment, must provide proof of CPR and first aid training, and TB testing. Must have and maintain a valid Washington State driver’s license and proof of auto insurance. Driver’s license must not contain any restrictions that would otherwise prevent an employee from operating a GIS vehicle.

  Must attend and complete all GELC mandatory trainings.

  Must complete and pass a drug and alcohol screening upon hire and throughout employment. Must be in good health and current with immunizations.

  OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES

  Must have warm, welcoming, and friendly personality, be sensitive to the feelings and needs of others, be respectful of all cultures, and be able to relate positively to both young children and adults. Ability to discipline in a kind and respectful manner.

  PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS

  1. • Model exemplary professionalism and work ethics. Warmly greets visitors to the Center; maintains a professional demeanor at all times.
     • Maintain strict confidentiality about issues regarding all staff members, children and families, or GELC management or Center operations. Never involve parents in Center concerns.
     • Do not participate in gossip.
     • Report to work on time for assigned shift(s) and maintain consistent daily attendance at work.
     • Arrange and communicate all leave requests in advance per policy.
     • Assume a fair-share of work and demonstrate a willingness to assume additional classroom and Center responsibilities as needed.
     • Establish positive, respectful and professional relationships with co-workers, supervisors, management, children, parents, and others.
     • Demonstrate flexibility and respect for individual differences; including learning styles, cultural differences, point of views and individual preferences. Avoid stereotyping and labeling.
  1. • Demonstrate adaptability and openness to new ideas in child care practices. Actively and positively works to implement changes.
     • Actively and cooperatively participates in Center’s planning meetings, events and training sessions.
     • Demonstrates flexibility with work schedules and assignments as needed to meet the needs of the Center.
     • Models conflict resolution by communicating directly with individuals involved and collaborating in good‑faith to develop solutions.
     • Continues professional growth by attending courses, workshops and reading professional literature.
     • Receives constructive criticism with an attitude that indicates a willingness to improve. Asks for feedback and gives feedback in a respectful manner.
     • Conducts self in a manner that is not detrimental to the children or the reputation of the Center or the Tribe.
     • Demonstrates an ability to remain calm and follow the Center’s Emergency Care Plan in the event of an emergency.
     • Demonstrates good judgment and acts responsibly and attentively to avoid any injury or endangerment to anyone at the Center.
     • Follows State and Federal guidelines with regard to immunizations, required safety and health training, CPR/First Aid certification, Food Handler’s certification (if required), or any other guidelines identified by the Tribe.
     • Refrain from being under the influence of any legal or illegal substance that may impair judgment, alertness or responsiveness.

  PHYSICAL DEMANDS

  The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

  1. • While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and talk or hear.
     • The employee frequently is required to taste or smell.
     • The employee occasionally required to sit and climb or balance.
     • The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
     • Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

  WORK ENVIRONMENT

  The work environment characteristics described here 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.

  1. • While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions and outside weather conditions.
     • The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.
     • The physical exertion is moderate.
     • Work is performed in a classroom setting.

  The Puyallup Tribe of Indians reserves the right to revise or change job duties and responsibilities as the need arises. This position description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.

  I D I A N R E F E R E N C E E M P L O Y E R A S R E Q U I R E D B Y L A W