Float Preschool Teacher - Head Start

MWVCAA invests in people and their futures to reduce the impacts of poverty. We envision a community where all people are respected for their infinite worth and supported to reach a positive future. Working at MWVCAA means becoming part of a mission-driven community dedicated to equity, dignity, and opportunity for all.

About the role

As a Float Preschool Teacher, you will work with children to promote their growth in social-emotional, physical, cognitive, and language development. The Float Teacher works in all Head Start and Early Head Start classrooms within their assigned region, substituting for absent staff or vacant positions as assigned by the Regional Team Resource Specialist. This team offers growth opportunities and professional development through hands-on experience and education. This is a benefitted full-time position with a $1,500 hiring incentive.

Responsibilities

• Function as a Teacher in assigned classrooms, with emphasis on classroom duties and record-keeping.
• Ensure safety in the classroom at all times, with active supervision of children.
• Ensure children are released only to parents/guardians or authorized adults.
• Perform home visits, conferences, emergency drills, IFSP meetings, staffing plans, observations, screenings, assessments, and lesson planning when assigned to cover a class for two weeks or longer.
• Review notes in PBIS notebook and posted Health Alert Lists to ensure compliance with supportive strategies, IFSPs, and Skill-Building Plans.
• Record children's daily attendance and work with the site team to determine the cause of absences.
• Develop close relationships with children through nurturing and responsive interactions, maintaining consistent routines for continuity of care (Early Head Start).
• Support social-emotional growth of infants and toddlers using individualized responses and approaches based on their needs.
• Provide consistent responses to infants' and toddlers' actions and behaviors to support learning and offer positive redirection.
• Foster social-emotional growth and language development during group activities, mealtimes, diaper changes, and bottle-feeding.
• Change children's diapers in accordance with Program procedures and work with parents on potty training support.
• Use ChildPlus and applicable databases to enter or obtain information.
• Complete regular child assessments using observations and share information with program administration and parents.
• Conduct a minimum of two home visits and two education conferences per year.
• Attend classes, workshops, seminars, pre-service training, and other Head Start Teacher trainings to stay current on early childhood education and developmentally appropriate practices.
• Attend meetings including individual reflection meetings, region meetings, site team meetings, debriefing after observations, IFSP meetings, Skill-Building Plan meetings, and others as necessary.
• Provide opportunities for parent participation by training parents who volunteer in the classroom.
• Participate in planning and implementing monthly parent meetings and classroom orientations at the beginning of the school year.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED.
• Float Teacher I: Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Education or a related degree with a minimum of 18 credit hours of Early Learning coursework.
• Float Teacher II: Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education or a related degree with a minimum of 18 credit hours of Early Learning coursework.
• Two years of experience in early childhood programs.
• Valid driver license, insured vehicle available for use on the job, and a satisfactory driving record for the previous three years.
• Successful registration with the Central Background Registry of the Child Care Division.
• CPR/First Aid Certification or the ability to obtain within 60 days of hire.
• Food Handlers Card or the ability to obtain within 30 days of hire.
• Pass pre-employment physical examination (renewable every two years) and pre-employment/random drug/alcohol screenings.

Skills

• Demonstrates tact, diplomacy, and empathy when communicating with clients, staff, and community partners.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office, videoconferencing platforms, and web tools.
• Ability to remain calm during situations where staff or clients may be escalated.
• Ability to mitigate stress associated with a busy office and regular deadlines.

Benefits

We offer competitive pay, a rich company culture that values diversity, and an array of benefits. The role is full-time and benefitted.

Work Environment

• 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.

Physical and Mental Demands

• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential duties.
• Specific vision abilities required include close vision and ability to adjust focus.
• Occasionally lift up to 10 pounds.
• Manual dexterity for handling office equipment.

Locations include Salem, Stayton, Jefferson, Dallas, Independence, and Woodburn.