Assistant Preschool Teacher- Prosser

About the Role

This position assists the Lead Preschool Teacher in preparing and executing daily activities and lesson plans for children. The role incorporates children’s home language and culture into center activities, encourages vocabulary development, and provides a clear, respectful language model. The Assistant Preschool Teacher works within Inspire Development Centers, a statewide organization serving over 3,100 children through federally and state-funded programs such as Regional Head Start, Migrant Seasonal Head Start, ECEAP, and Early Head Start.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Lead Preschool Teacher in implementing appropriate curriculum and modeling instructional techniques.
• Reinforce positive communication, respect, and interaction between children and adults.
• Assist with formulating lesson plans and Home Learning Tasks.
• Contribute to evaluating children’s progress and analyzing classroom outcome reports to implement school readiness goals.
• Complete documentation such as Daily Assessment forms, Meal Guides, Health Checks, Home Visits, and Parent/Teacher Conferences within set timelines.
• Assist in daily completion of USDA Meal count and safe release of children.
• Maintain a safe and healthy learning environment, following state and federal regulations on instruction, fire, health, and safety standards, including proper sanitization.
• Enhance physical, intellectual, and creative competence in children, including those requiring special services.
• Communicate with and involve parents in center activities through Home Visits, Parent Teacher Conferences, Open House, and other events.
• Follow established program curricula, procedures, documentation, and service plans in coordination with program staff.
• Perform administrative duties as assigned and participate in age-appropriate interactions and classroom activities.
• Administer educational screenings, identify and refer children with potential health, disability, or behavioral concerns.
• Maintain confidentiality of personnel, health, and participant records.
• Review and comply with center policies and procedures for the safe receive and release of children.
• Pursue professional growth through ECE classes, staff meetings, workshops, trainings, and seminars.
• Contribute to activities that foster in-kind funds through donations, volunteerism, and community engagement.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Current Preschool Child Development Associate Certificate (CDA) or equivalent Preschool certificate; or AA/BA Degree in ECE or an AA/BA Degree with 30 ECE-related college credits and experience teaching infant/toddler and/or preschool children (*).
• High School Diploma or GED, with a requirement to obtain an AA in ECE or related field, Initial CDA, within two years if minimum education is not met at hire.
• Extensive knowledge of child development theories and practices.
• Experience working in a federally funded and regulated environment.
• Experience in policy and procedure processes, planning, and facilitating groups.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Experience in classroom risk management and understanding of service interrelationships.
• Ability to learn new tasks quickly, handle multiple tasks, and meet deadlines.
• Strong customer service focus and ability to work with culturally diverse populations.
• Proficiency with personal computers, including Microsoft Office, and accurate data documentation skills.
• At least six months of experience in a childcare setting.

(*) Candidates who do not meet the minimum education requirement must fulfill it within two years of hire.

Position Requirements

• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Valid Washington State driver’s license and current driving abstract.
• Ability to travel to perform job duties.
• Must pass initial and periodic background checks and health clearances.
• Subject to initial and periodic TB screen and drug/alcohol testing if on-the-job accident or injury occurs.
• Must obtain fifteen hours of continuing in-service training annually.
• Must sign a Confidentiality Agreement.
• Must complete required training, including CPR/First Aid, Child Abuse and Neglect, Supervision, and Emergency Response.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous Head Start experience.
• English/Spanish bilingual fluency.
• AA/BA Degree in Early Childhood Education (ECE) or an Associate’s/Bachelor’s Degree with 30 ECE-related credits and experience teaching infant/toddler and/or preschool children.

Benefits

A summary of benefits associated with this position can be found at https://inspirecenters.org/careers/. Temporary employees are not eligible for benefits.