Classroom Aide - Early Head Start - Stayton

About the role

MWVCAA invests in people and their futures to reduce the impacts of poverty. Working at MWVCAA means becoming part of a mission-driven community dedicated to equity, dignity, and opportunity for all. We offer competitive pay, a rich company culture that values diversity, and an array of benefits—but we consider the best benefit here to be the reward of helping those in our community live better lives.

Responsibilities

As an Early Head Start Classroom Aide, your main responsibilities will be working with Teachers, Teacher Assistants, and Family Educators to provide support in one or more of the following program areas: education, food service, and cleaning. This team offers a lot of growth opportunities and professional development through hands-on experience. You will get to support a free preschool program.

• Support teacher in maintaining classroom environments.
• Create a supportive social-emotional climate which enhances children's understanding of themselves as individuals and in relation to others.
• Develop children's cognitive skills.
• Provide a language and literacy rich environment, enhancing children's excitement about language and literacy, and developing positive relationships with those learning English as a second language.
• Participate with children in gross motor activities.
• Maintain a positive demeanor when working with children; talking, playing, laughing and singing.
• Participate in children's activities.
• Be spontaneous and flexible in meeting children's individual needs, encouraging children to verbalize their own feelings and ideas.
• Anticipate and act upon children's needs and difficulties.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED.
• Successful registration with the Central Background Registry of the Child Care Division.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination, renewable every two years.
• Must pass pre-employment and random drug/alcohol screenings.
• Experience in early childhood education or Head Start programs is preferred.
• Demonstrated ability with computer software including Microsoft Office (Teams, Word, Outlook, Excel) and video conferencing platforms.

Work environment & physical demands

• Specific vision abilities required include close vision and ability to adjust focus.
• Occasionally lift up to 10 pounds.
• Manual dexterity for handling office equipment.
• Able to remain calm during situations where staff or clients may be escalated.
• Able to mitigate stress associated with a busy office and regular deadlines.
• Mostly indoor classroom environment.
• Frequent indoor and outdoor supervision of children, including high-needs children who exhibit difficult behaviors.
• Frequent outdoor supervision of children and monitoring pick up/drop off.

Benefits

• 401k with matching after 1 year
• Employee Assistance Program
• Life insurance
• Health, Vision and Dental Insurance
• AFLAC coverage
• Pet insurance through Metlife
• For some positions, employees may be eligible for company-sponsored continuing education