TEACHER ASSISTANT - HEAD START

Spokane Tribe of Indians; Wellpinit (WA); On-site; USD 28,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

The Spokane Tribe of Indians Head Start program in Wellpinit, WA seeks a Teacher Assistant to support the Lead Teacher in daily classroom operations. Responsibilities include helping implement the education plan, documenting observations, and maintaining a safe, clean learning environment.

Requirements include a High School Diploma or GED and a CDA credential (or enrollment in a CDA program to be completed within two years). Indian Preference applies.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• CDA credential or enrollment in CDA program within two years of hire.
• Criminal history clear of child abuse/neglect findings.
• Maintain strict confidentiality and regular attendance.

Responsibilities

• Assist Head Start Lead Teacher in daily classroom operation.
• Support implementation of the Education Plan and curriculum.
• Document daily observations per Head Start standards.
• Ensure safety, sanitation, and appropriate behavior in the classroom.
• Encourage parental involvement in education activities.

Skills

CDA Credential

Confidentiality

Classroom management

Team collaboration

Observation & documentation

Education

High School Diploma or GED

CDA credential or equivalent

Job description

VACANCY ANN #: STOI-25-100

TITLE: TEACHER ASSISTANT

DEPARTMENT: HEAD START

LOCATION: WELLPINIT, WA

STATUS: REGULAR, FULL-TIME

SALARY LEVEL: $20.22 / PER HOUR

OPENING DATE: NOVEMBER 4, 2025

CLOSING DATE: NOVEMBER 12, 2025

SUMMARY:

The Spokane Tribe of Indians Head Start Program is designed to promote the school readiness of low-income children by enhancing their cognitive, social and emotional development—in a learning environment that supports children’s growth in language, literacy, mathematics, science, social and emotional functioning, creative arts, physical skills, and approaches to learning; and through the provision to low-income children and their families of health, educational, nutritional, social, and other services that are determined, based on family needs assessments, to be necessary.

The Head Start Teacher Assistant reports to the Director and receives direction from the Lead Classroom Teacher. The Teacher Assistant is responsible for assisting the Head Start Lead Teacher in the daily operation of the classroom and program while contributing to the classroom team in a positive and productive manner with reliability, patience, and consistency.

KNOWLEDGE and SKILLS REQUIRED FOR POSITION:

• Ability to work cooperatively as part of the Head Start team to provide comprehensive and professional services in the best interest of children and families and the Head Start community.
• Willingness to participate in the process to document, report and record daily observations as required by the Head Start Child Outcomes Framework and Head Start Performance Standards.
• Positive Attitude, patience, friendliness and professional appearance.
• Active contribution to the classroom with resourcefulness, organization, effective time management and cooperation.
• Model appropriate behaviors and responses to challenging situations.
• Assist in planning, coordinating and implementing the Education Plan.
• Proven ability to provide effective and nurturing teacher-child interactions
• Perform job duties with the highest level of confidentiality, ensuring safety of all children, family and staff records and information in accordance with Tribal Policy.
• Assist the Lead Teacher in implementing a curriculum that promotes children’s cognitive development and language skills, social and emotional development and physical development.
• Help children learn to get along with others and encourage feelings of empathy and mutual respect among children and adults.
• Willingness to attend to the basic needs of the children—to include hygiene, diapering, and feeding
• Encourage parental involvement in the education program in the classroom and at home.
• Maintain sanitation and safety practices throughout the program that ensure a safe environment.
• Assist other staff in the coordination of transition services and other activities.
• Demonstrate ability to relate well to and coordinate with the population served, especially low-income Spokane Indian Reservation population.
• Assist in supporting Head Start Teaching staff concerning issues of classroom environments, behavior management and inclusion of children with special needs. This includes, but is not limited to providing one on one attention, written reports, record keeping and tracking of data.
• Comply with applicable laws, policies and procedures (State, Federal and Tribal).
• Report cases of child abuse and neglect by serving as a mandated reporter.
• Contribute to the effort of recruiting and enrolling children and families into Head Start.
• Take pride in the appearance of the Head Start facility and help to maintain the necessary daily upkeep—to include, assisting with the daily sanitizing/cleaning of the Head Start building

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• High School Diploma or GED.
• Child Development Associate (CDA) credential or a state-awarded certificate that meets or exceeds the requirements for a CDA credential, are enrolled in a program that will lead to an associate or baccalaureate degree or, are willing to enroll in a CDA credential program to be completed within two years of the time of hire.
• Successful clearance of Criminal History and Background inquiry with no findings of child abuse and neglect.
• Able to adhere to a strict confidentiality policy.
• Must be physically present to work a regular, reliable and predictable work schedule in accordance with program demands and maintain a consistent and regular attendance record.
• Must contribute to the Head Start team in a positive and productive manner with reliability, patience and consistency

• Ability to lift and maneuver small children on an ongoing basis and the necessary physical dexterity to work with small children 30-50 lbs on average (bending, stooping, kneeling, crawling, lifting, etc.)

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Possess a basic understanding of the scope of the Head Start effort—to include familiarity with Head Start Performance Standards.
• Understanding of Early childhood Developmental Stages and appropriate preschool practices
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to relate well to, and coordinate with the population served, especially low-income Spokane Indian Reservation population.
• Possess skills adequate to serve children with disabilities.
• Maintain a high degree of professionalism in the workplace, including appearance, communication, attendance, reliability and teamwork.
• Work well with others.
• Ability to demonstrate kindness, patience and understanding even in stressful situations.

Indian Preference Applies – Indian Preference grants preference to any enrolled member of a federally recognized tribe.

FBI Background – Positions involving regular contact with, or control over, Indian Children in accordance with the Federal Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Act, Public Law 101-630

The Spokane Tribe reserves the right to hire according to its Indian Preference Policy

All Applicants are subject to a Pre-Employment Drug Test

All Positions with the Spokane tribe of Indians are subject to a 90-day orientation period