Elementary K-2 Teacher

KairosPDX is a non-profit organization focused on delivering excellent, equitable education to underserved children, their families, and their communities. Through innovative pedagogy, community collaboration, and family partnership, we work to close Portland’s persistent achievement and opportunity gaps in measurable and sustainable ways. Our mission is to eliminate the prolific racial achievement and opportunity gaps by cultivating confident, creative, compassionate leaders.

About the role

The Early Learning Teacher Assistant will support the Teachers to implement the curriculum in a safe, healthy, and nurturing classroom environment that supports each child's social, emotional, physical, and cognitive growth and development. The Assistant will perform activities that ensure the safety, involvement, and creativity of each individual in the group. The Assistant will work cooperatively with the teachers to discuss and aid in the implementation of daily plans in accordance with the current curriculum.

Overall Staff Responsibilities

• Share responsibility with a team of colleagues and families to honor the mission: To eliminate the prolific racial achievement and opportunity gaps by cultivating confident, creative, and compassionate leaders.
• Practice the values of KairosPDX in professional conduct and daily interactions: respect, responsibility, honesty, excellence, and service to community.
• Incorporate the beliefs of KairosPDX in all approaches and instruction:
  • Every child is uniquely capable, innately curious, and inherently creative.
  • Character and agency are essential to achievement and are developed through relationships and service to others.
  • A multi-cultural context delivers a strong sense of self and is a requirement for participation in our global society.
  • Children must be supported in the context of their families.
• Support multicultural practice and inquiry-based approaches that are:
  • Actively anti-racist – confronting bias in all of its forms.
  • Education for social justice – acknowledging history and studying the present to make informed decisions regarding a more equitable future.
  • Pervasive – Examining practices in all levels of school culture and organization.
  • Personal – Beginning with the necessary consideration of self as a cultural being.
  • Critical Pedagogy – Pursuing multiple perspectives, anticipating contradictions, and challenging assumptions.
  • Empowering – Providing children with the ego strength to challenge racist societal views.
  • Helping children think deeply about themselves and others.

Responsibilities

• Support the teaching team and a group of preschool children.
• Provide individual and/or small group instruction for children.
• Support the exchange of information between home and school (e.g., creation of flyers, conference reminders).
• Support teachers to communicate with families regarding student behavior, needs, and growth.
• Perform activities that ensure the safety, engagement, and creativity of each individual in the group.
• Work cooperatively with the teachers to discuss and aid in the implementation of daily plans in accordance with the current curriculum.
• Nurture the social-emotional intelligence of children.
• Follow daily lesson plans for appropriate age teaching and learning, making adjustments when needed.
• Support set up, maintenance, and clean up of daily provocations.
• Partner with teachers to cultivate a warm, welcoming, and safe environment for students, families, and colleagues.
• Support classroom expectations and agreements.
• Guide children through the process of exploration, collaboration, and reflection.
• Support outdoor education in all weather.
• Support teachers in keeping an organized and orderly classroom that promotes creativity and learning.
• Support teachers to maintain weekly communication with parents through a weekly email.
• Cultivate positive relationships with families, teachers, state licensing authorities, community contacts, and corporate partners.
• Participate in supervising students during recess and other non-classroom times.
• Assist in planning and supervising walking and local field trips.
• Attend several KairosPDX staff and family events.
• Participate in professional development to facilitate the growth of each student, staff members, and the organization overall.
• Participate in continuous improvement practices, including observations, reflections, and collaborations.
• Perform other related duties as needed and assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree; Master’s preferred.
• Valid TSPC license for the grade level(s) taught.
• Documentation of “Highly Qualified Teacher Status” under the No Child Left Behind Act.
• At least one or two years of experience teaching in an elementary classroom; three to five years preferred.
• At least one or two years relevant experience working with children from diverse racial and cultural backgrounds.
• Training in early education and/or human development, preferred.
• Experience working with children ages 5 to 11, preferred.
• Training and/or experience with at least one special population such as children with disabilities, Talented and Gifted children, and/or English Language Learners, preferred.

Skills

• Effective interpersonal skills in managing and interacting with diverse groups of stakeholders.
• Excellent time management and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage conflict through equitable decision-making and effective problem solving.
• Willingness to learn about and adapt to KairosPDX culture.
• Open to learning and practicing a constructivist approach to teaching and learning.
• Commitment to culturally relevant practices.
• Commitment to professional reflection and ongoing collaboration.
• Commitment to implementing teaching practices that maximize student learning.
• Share KairosPDX’s stance that excellent public education is a civil right of all children and families.
• Possess a passion for helping each child reach his or her social, emotional, and academic potential, including a commitment to differentiated instruction and ongoing assessment.
• Current Food Handlers Card and CPR/First Aid Certificate required (cost paid by applicant).
• Ability to pass a criminal background check.
• Experience working with diverse populations, specifically people of color.
• Passion for KairosPDX’s mission.

Pay

Salary Range: Dependent on experience, ranging from $57,228 - $111,359.

Benefits

• Up to nine weeks of building closure breaks.
• Paid sick/personal leave days.
• Paid holidays.
• Participation in Public Employees Retirement System (PERS).
• Employer contribution for health insurance.
• Professional development opportunities.