Teaching Support Staff (NW)

ChildRoots; Portland, Northern (OR, KY); Hybrid; USD 26,000 - 37,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Vision insurance

Dental insurance

Life insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Paid time off

Continuing education

Job summary

ChildRoots is seeking Support Staff in Portland, OR. Roles include Assistant Teacher, Break Support, and Substitute Teachers. Workdays are Monday through Friday, 8 hours per day, with pathways from NW/SE and Fremont locations.

Compensation starts at $23.16/hour with merit raises and employer-supported benefits. Must be licensed, enrolled in the Oregon Background Registry, and meet ECE qualifications. We offer extensive benefits including health, dental, vision, 401(k), paid time off, and

Qualifications

• Be a Step 4+ in the Oregon Registry Online (ORO) system.
• Be currently enrolled in Oregon's Central Background Registry.
• At least 2 years of experience in an ECE classroom setting.
• Meet the teacher-qualification criteria per Office of Child Care requirements, including a degree in Early Childhood Education (or equivalent) preferred.
• Complete Oregon’s Safety Set Trainings and required certifications (CPR/First Aid, Food Handler, Health & Safety, Recognizing & Reporting Child Abuse, Prevention is Better than Treatment, Safe Sleep).

Responsibilities

• Provide care and educational support for the students.
• Foster a safe, engaging, and child-centered learning environment.
• Design and implement developmentally appropriate activities.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with families, ensuring clear and supportive communication.
• Participate in ongoing professional development and contribute to a positive workplace culture.

Skills

Step 4+ in ORO

Background Registry enrollment

2+ years ECE experience

Child development knowledge

Education

Degree in Early Childhood Education (or equivalent)

Job description

Join Our Team at ChildRoots NW

1740 NW Flanders Street, Portland, OR 97209

Are you an experienced early childhood educator looking to inspire young minds and build lasting connections? Do you believe in fostering a sense of wonder and curiosity in children while working in a supportive, co-teaching environment?

ChildRoots, a small family of locally and woman-owned childcare centers in Portland, Oregon, is seeking, Support Staff members for our Northwest location. Since 2007, our progressive, play-based schools have focused on guiding children's social and emotional development while encouraging exploration and inquiry. Our awe-inspiring classrooms are designed to provoke curiosity, but it is our teachers who make ChildRoots truly outstanding.

About the Role

Support Staff at ChildRoots works Monday through Friday, 8 hours per day (unless hired as an on-call Substitute), offering care and teaching for classrooms of children between the ages of zero to five years old at our NW and SE locations, and two to five years old at our Fremont location. All support staff roles are supported in the classroom directly by the direction of the Lead Teachers, while they are supported through coaching and learning opportunities via their direct managers.

Support Staff roles include:

• Assistant Teacher, working within a single classroom
• Break Support, working with multiple (2-3) classrooms
• (On-Call or Full-Time [FTE 1.0]) Substitute Teachers

This role is perfect for educators who:

• Value collaborative classroom environments that focus on child-led learning and inquiry.
• Have a strong understanding of child development and pedagogy theory.
• Are passionate about mentoring young learners and guiding them through social and emotional development.

Compensation & Benefits

At ChildRoots, we value fair, predictable compensation. Support start at $23.16/hour, regardless of experience or education.

And receive:

• Standardized annual merit-based raises and annual PFA wage adjustments
• Long-term commitment bonuses to incentivize teachers to remain with their cohort

Our comprehensive benefits package includes:

• Health & Vision Insurance – majority employer-paid
• Dental Insurance – majority employer-paid
• Life Insurance – 100% employer-paid
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Generous company match
• Paid Time Off – Including holidays, a weeklong Winter Break, and professional development opportunities

Responsibilities

• Provide care and educational support for the students.
• Foster a safe, engaging, and child-centered learning environment.
• Design and implement developmentally appropriate activities.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with families, ensuring clear and supportive communication.
• Participate in ongoing professional development and contribute to a positive workplace culture.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Be a Step 4 or higher in the Oregon Registry Online (ORO) system
• Be currently enrolled in Oregon's Central Background Registry (or begin the process and complete it upon receiving confirmation)
• At least 2 years of experience in an ECE classroom setting.
• Meet the teacher-qualification criteria as outlined by the Office of Child Care requirements, which may include:
  • Previous experience in a structured childcare environment.
  • Completion of college-level courses in early childhood education-related subjects.
    • Degree in Early Childhood Education (or equivalent) preferred.
  • Complete Oregon’s Safety Set Trainings and required certifications:
    • Pediatric CPR/First Aid Course (hybrid or fully in-person)
    • Oregon Food Handler's Card (online course)
    • Introduction to Child Care Health & Safety (online course)
    • Recognizing & Reporting Child Abuse & Neglect (online course)
    • Prevention is Better than Treatment (online course)
    • Safe Sleep for Oregon's Infants (online course)

Our Work Culture

At ChildRoots, we believe that children are authentic, powerful individuals. Our mission is to guide their social and emotional development and to foster a sense of wonder about the world around them. We know that teaching is more than just meeting physical needs—it is about understanding each child’s unique experience and supporting them on their journey.

We also understand that a successful school depends on supported, valued educators. Our workplace culture emphasizes stability, emotional support, and a collaborative environment where every teacher is seen and appreciated.

To work with us, you must be teacher-qualified and currently enrolled in Oregon's Central Background Registry.

These easy, online trainings are required within 30 days of hire:

• Pediatric CPR/First Aid Course
• Oregon Food Handler's Card
• Introduction to Child Care Health & Safety online course
• Recognizing & Reporting Child Abuse & Neglect online course
• Prevention is Better than Treatment online course
• Safe Sleep for Oregon's Infants online course

The challenges of COVID reminded us how vital it is to center our employees’ well-being. We know we still have much to do to be the BEST place to work in child care in Portland, but that’s what we’re working toward.

All employees are eligible for:

• 1-3 weeks of Paid Time Off per year, depending on how long they've been with ChildRoots.
• 25 paid holidays and all-school days off
• Company-provided continuing education
• 401(k) retirement savings plan with generous company match and 100%, immediate vesting

Full-time employees are eligible to enroll in our insurance plans, including:

• Providence Health, including vision, naturopathic, chiropractic, acupuncture, AND massage
• Principal or Willamette Dental

We value commitment and invite you to stay with us for at least a year.

To learn more about us, explore our website, take a virtual tour of our facilities, and review our COVID-19 Health & Safety Guidelines.

We're a pro-vaccination community and require all employees and enrolled parents to be fully vaccinated against COVID. We still practice extraordinary safety protocols like daily health checks, masks, stable groups, and extra cleaning, and will do so for as long as it takes to keep our community safe.

Thank you for your consideration. We hope to hear from you!