Relief Nursery Teacher

About the role

This position manages a caseload of 5–8 families with children ages 2–4 years, co-plans and implements developmentally appropriate and therapeutic curriculum for a classroom of 8–11 children, monitors each child’s development and the family’s functioning, conducts at least monthly home visits for each family, and maintains accurate files on each child. The position allocates approximately 65% of time to direct service, 30% to documentation, and 5% to other duties. Classrooms are managed by two individuals who share responsibility for all aspects of the classroom.

Responsibilities

• Interact with children while showing respect and dignity.
• Apply principles of diversity, equity, and racial justice for all families.
• Apply principles of the least restrictive environment for children with disabilities.
• Plan, implement, and post developmentally and therapeutically appropriate classroom curriculum for 8–11 children ages 2–4 years.
• Set up and clean up classroom (including stocking towels, baby wipes, and plastic bags; making bleach bottles daily to spray diaper changing area and all objects at day end; washing all used blankets and towels; sanitizing objects put in children’s mouths; vacuuming carpets).
• Promote and encourage family growth and development via home visit curriculum, referrals to necessary community resources, and advocacy for the family’s needs and interests.
• Conduct at least monthly home visits to each family for approximately one hour, focusing on parent–child interaction, child development, positive discipline, referrals to other services, and any other topic of importance to the family’s functioning.
• Maintain accurate and complete data on all children and their families in individual child files (including required “My Day at AFP” forms for all children under 3 years of age; attendance records; Client Contact Logs; Child Status Summaries; weekly child observations; home visit records; family and child assessments; risk assessment; child developmental screenings; child and family goals; etc.).
• Ensure that proper and current documentation is complete on each family (including release of information, data on allergies and medical conditions, release and emergency contact information, and other pertinent data).
• Establish and maintain positive communication with parents; provide information about their child’s progress and relevant guidance/discipline techniques; reinforce parent education group topics; model appropriate interactions with others.
• Report any suspected instances of abuse or neglect to the supervisor, make reports to Child Welfare Program, and to other supervisors and team members who are also working with that family.
• Represent A Family Gathering Place at county/community meetings to coordinate services for families (e.g., Child Welfare Program meetings, special education/IFSP meetings, etc.).
• Maintain open, positive communication and promote individual/group problem-solving skills with children, families, co-workers, and the community.
• Model and encourage direct, professional communication among staff members and facilitate the development of a positive staff support network.
• Demonstrate awareness and sensitivity in the delivery of client services as it relates to the cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of the populations served.

Requirements

• Must be able to work in a multicultural setting.
• Bachelor’s degree or Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Education, Special Education, Psychology, Social Work, or another related field is preferred.
• Two years of experience in an early childhood program working with children and families, including home visitation duties is required.
• Current clearance from the Central Background Registry.
• Current First Aid Certification, CPR card, Food Handler’s Card, Annual Mandatory Reporter/Child Abuse and Neglect training.
• Must have a current driver’s license, car insurance, and access to a vehicle.

Schedule

Flexible schedule to meet family needs; meetings with families can occur during the day, evenings, and weekends. Services are offered in homes and within the community. Travel within the community requires a valid Oregon State driver’s license, car insurance, and access to a vehicle.

Benefits

• 37.5-hour work week to ensure work/life balance.
• Medical, dental, vision, and prescription benefits.
• Employer-paid short- and long-term disability insurance.
• Life insurance coverage at no cost.
• Up to 2 weeks of vacation in the first year (based on hours worked).
• Up to 2 weeks of sick leave (based on hours worked).
• 12 paid agency-recognized holidays.
• 2 floating holidays.
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer matching (eligibility applies).
• Access to Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for you and your family.
• Potential eligibility for Student Loan Forgiveness through 501(c)(3) nonprofit status.

Qualifications

• Excellent communication skills, written, verbal, and non-verbal.
• Ability to work effectively with data, work independently, and work closely as a team member.
• Ability to adapt, work effectively under pressure, and work with adults who have a variety of stresses/challenges (e.g., cognitive delays, chemical dependency, mental illness).
• Comprehensive knowledge of indicators and effects of maltreatment, abuse and neglect on children; nutrition; health; safety; special needs; generational poverty; and the distinct needs of low-income families; and community/county resources.
• Knowledge of early childhood development (birth to six years), curriculum development and implementation, positive discipline, and early childhood learning strategies.
• Good stress management, self-care, active listening, analytical, and conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to relate to diverse at-risk children and families with sensitivity and respect; identify and record significant individual and group behaviors; conduct objective assessments and evaluations; and learn and apply Therapeutic Principles.
• Ability to work with parents and their children in a warm, calming, respectful, encouraging, and patient manner.
• Ability to educate and oversee groups of parents and children; be flexible in schedule of work hours and days; respond effectively to emergent situations; and willingness to seek and accept supervision and implement recommendations in a timely manner.

Clearances

• Meets LCSNW criminal background clearance requirements and other job-relevant clearances as required by the State or program.
• Must be enrolled in the Central Background Registry (CBR) and the Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care Registry.