Lead Teacher

About the role

Lead Teachers at ChildRoots work Monday through Friday, 8 hours per day, offering care and teaching for classrooms of children between the ages of zero to five years old.

Responsibilities

• Provide primary care and educational support for a consistent group of children.
• Foster a safe, engaging, and child-centered learning environment.
• Design and implement developmentally appropriate activities, lesson planning, and curriculum.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with families, ensuring clear and supportive communication.
• Participate in ongoing professional development and contribute to a positive workplace culture.
• Act as a professional role model for support staff.
• Direct all support staff within your classroom to ensure smooth operations, classroom function, and routine.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Be a Step 7 or higher in the Oregon Registry Online (ORO) system
• Be currently enrolled in Oregon's Central Background Registry (or begin the process and complete it upon receiving confirmation)
• At least 4 years of experience in an ECE classroom setting.
• Meet the teacher-qualification criteria as outlined by the Office of Child Care requirements, which may include:
• Previous experience in a structured childcare environment.
• Completion of college-level courses in early childhood education-related subjects.
• Degree in Early Childhood Education (or equivalent) preferred.
• Complete Oregon’s Safety Set Trainings and required certifications:
• Pediatric CPR/First Aid Course (hybrid or fully in-person)
• Oregon Food Handler's Card (online course)
• Introduction to Child Care Health & Safety (online course)
• Recognizing & Reporting Child Abuse & Neglect (online course)
• Prevention is Better than Treatment (online course)
• Safe Sleep for Oregon's Infants (online course)

Work Culture

At ChildRoots, we believe that children are authentic, powerful individuals. Our mission is to guide their social and emotional development and to foster a sense of wonder about the world around them. We know that teaching is more than just meeting physical needs—it is about understanding each child’s unique experience and supporting them on their journey.

The Challenges of COVID

The challenges of COVID reminded us how vital it is to center our employees’ well-being. We know we still have much to do to be the BEST place to work in child care in Portland, but that’s what we’re working toward.

Benefits

• 1-3 weeks of Paid Time Off per year, depending on how long they've been with ChildRoots.
• 25 paid holidays and all-school days off
• Company-provided continuing education
• 401(k) retirement savings plan with generous company match and 100%, immediate vesting
• Full-time employees are eligible to enroll in our insurance plans, including:
• Providence Health, including vision, naturopathic, chiropractic, acupuncture, AND massage
• Principal or Willamette Dental

Commitment

We value commitment and invite you to stay with us for at least a year.

Learn More

To learn more about us, explore our website, take a virtual tour of our facilities, and review our COVID-19 Health & Safety Guidelines.

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement

We're a pro-vaccination community and require all employees and enrolled parents to be fully vaccinated against COVID. We still practice extraordinary safety protocols like daily health checks, masks, stable groups, and extra cleaning, and will do so for as long as it takes to keep our community safe.