Preschool Teaching Assistant - Full Time

The Early Education Program (EEP) is looking for a qualified part-time to full-time Preschool Assistant Teacher to join our amazing Bethel Preschool Promise team! Our classroom supports 16-18 children who attend our free full-day care environment in a culturally responsive and high-quality environment as they work on individualized goals and needs.

Assistant teachers assist the lead teacher in providing a safe, organized, nurturing, and highly effective instructional setting for all children. They manage and monitor multiple children at a time, interact in ways that are positive, enrich the child's skills, and promote friendship and problem-solving. This position would begin in early September.

Responsibilities

Ensures that up to 18 children are safe and well-cared for at all times with ratios of 3-4 staff to 18 children. Assists in the set-up, organization, and maintenance of the classroom, materials/supplies; assists with record keeping copying, filing, and communication with families as directed by the classroom teacher. Interacts with children in warm, fun, and positive ways; is nurturing, and shows enthusiasm.

Be flexible, mindful, and responsive to individual child needs. Supports EVERY child in meeting developmental goals outlined in Oregon’s Early Learning and Kindergarten Guidelines (ODE, 2019). Embeds key goals routinely throughout the day. Capitalizes on opportunities. Creates opportunities. Routinely uses strategies that prevent challenging behavior; deals empathetically with child feelings; treats challenging behavior as normative & as communication; helps teach social-emotional skills.

Lesson plans for & leads small groups daily; assists in large groups; leads or assists during free play and other classroom routines including transitions. Assists in assessing child progress (takes data) weekly/as directed by teachers/site director. Assists with record keeping. Welcomes families. Acknowledges, respects, and acts to secure the confidentiality of family records/information.

Acts to maintain required State licensing requirements. Attends other training requested by EEP Director, Site Director, and/or Lead Teacher. Is punctual; attendance is exemplary. Deals mindfully and flexibly with feedback. Skills and Requirements: Currently enrolled on Oregon’s Child Care Central Background Registry (CBR).

Experience as a preschool teacher or working with young children preferred. Communicates well with others; good teaching skills. Cool-tempered, friendly, and reliable. Creative and practical. Understands principles of child development and key preschool teaching methods. Familiarity with safety and sanitation guidelines for classrooms.

Can act as a mediator between children. Spanish-speaking preferred. BS/BA or Associate Degree in education or relevant field preferred.

Compensation

Health insurance and other benefits for full-time work. Paid holidays. Regularly scheduled breaks throughout the year. About Early Education Program: The Early Education Program (EEP) is Lane County’s largest specialized preschool. Since 1981, we have successfully served preschoolers with special needs, including Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, and other developmental delays.

In 2016, our organization expanded to also serve preschoolers from income-eligible families in the Eugene and Creswell communities through Oregon's Preschool Promise program. Currently, over 200 children attend our family of classrooms in Creswell, Eugene, Junction City, and Springfield. EEP offers great benefits, for eligible employees, paid time off, paid holidays, work-life balance, and a hands-on, mission-driven work environment.

See more about our program at www.bethelpreschoolpromise.org