Preschool Teacher, Float - Head Start, Salem

Preschool Teacher, Float - Head Start

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The Float Teacher works with children to promote their growth in the areas of 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.

There are several vacancies for this position. Candidates must submit an application by 7/28/25 to be considered for first-round interviews.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

High School Diploma or GED; and:
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.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

Driver qualifications are required for this position. Valid driver license, insured vehicle available for use on the job, and a satisfactory drive record for the previous three years are required.
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.
Candidate must pass pre-employment physical examination, renewable every two years.
Candidate must pass pre-employment and random drug/alcohol screenings.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Demonstrated proficiencies in Microsoft Office (including Outlook), videoconferencing platforms, and web tools.
Effective interpersonal communication skills, in both oral and written form.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employee will also perform other reasonably related business duties as assigned by immediate supervisor and other management as required.

General Classroom

Functions as a Teacher in assigned classrooms, with emphasis on classroom duties and record-keeping.
Ensures safety in the classroom at all times, with appropriate supervision of children, utilizing the transition and counting form and procedure. Ensures children are released only to parent/guardians, or authorized adults.
When assigned to cover in a particular class for two weeks or longer, the Float Teacher will be responsible for home visits, conferences, emergency drills, IFSP meetings, staffing, observation, screenings, assessments, and lesson planning.
Records children's' daily attendance, working with site team to determine the cause of absences.
Works with classroom team during pre-service, to set up classroom environment, and to maintain the environment by regularly changing/rotating materials, supplies and props.
Creates a supportive climate and positive environment with opportunities for children to make connections with other children and staff. Uses positive redirection and strategies to provide children with a safe, secure and enjoyable experience at school.
Participates in family style meals, taking USDA required meal counts, and leading conversation at the table to enhance the social and emotional growth of children.
Prepares materials, activities, and projects for class.
Integrates developmentally appropriate movement and physical activities and routines that support health and learning.
Maintains a spontaneous and flexible attitude in meeting children's individual needs, encouraging children to verbalize their own feelings and ideas.
Maintains a clean, sanitary, safe, and orderly classroom.

Early Head Start Classrooms

Develops close relationships with children through nurturing and responsive interactions, along with consistent routines to maintain a continuity of care.
Supports the social-emotional growth of infants and toddlers by using individualized responses and approaches based on their temperaments and needs.
Utilizes consistent responses to infants' and toddlers' actions and behaviors to support learning and provide positive redirection.
Builds social-emotional growth and language development through engaging and connecting with children during large- and small-group time, meal times, diaper changing, and bottle-feeding.
Changes children's diapers in accordance with Program procedures.
Works with parents whose children require potty training support.

Office/Paperwork

Effectively uses the ChildPlus and other program databases to enter or obtain information.
Uses office time efficiently to make and receive parent phone calls, order supplies, preparing children's work to go home, preparing materials for activities, and other office work as needed.
Verifies and submits weekly Meal Counts and Attendance forms.

Staff Development/Meetings

Attends a variety of classes, workshops, seminars, pre-service training and other Head Start Teacher trainings, and keeps current on developments in early childhood education, and developmentally appropriate practices.
Attends a variety of meetings including individual reflection meetings, region meetings, site team meetings, debriefing after observations, and other meetings as necessary.
Keeps current on and complies with program and agency policies and procedures, Head Start Performance Standards, and other applicable regulations.
Attends and contributes to child/family staffing meetings.
Complies with MWVCAA safety and personnel policies, including punctuality and attendance.

Parent Involvement

Provides regular opportunities for parent participation by training parents who volunteer in the classroom.
Participates in planning for and implementing monthly parent meetings.
Participates in classroom orientations at the beginning of the school year.
Provides tools, resources and opportunities for parents to observe and practice appropriate redirection skills with their child.
Develops and maintains relationships with parents/guardians, to ensure consistent and frequent communication.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

There are no supervisory duties in this position.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close and distance vision and ability to adjust focus; hearing abilities required.
Regularly lift and/or move 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
Manual dexterity for handling office equipment.
Occasional driving between Agency Head Start and Early Head Start sites.
Ability to remain calm and quickly evacuate children from the classroom in an emergency.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Mostly indoor classroom and bus riding environment.
Frequent outdoor supervision of children and monitoring pick up/drop off.
Occasional exposure to cleaning chemicals, creative substances such as paints.
Occasional exposure to body fluids/biohazards such as saliva, vomit and urine.

**Enrollment in the Central Background Registry is beneficial if you are even considering working with children in the State of Oregon, since it will be required before you can start a position. Enrollment is free and it is recommended that you start now as the process can take time. Start enrollment online at: oregonearlylearning.com

MWVCAA is committed to promoting and achieving diversity, equity and inclusion with employees and with those we serve. The agency strives to be an employer of choice with a vision for all people to be respected for their infinite worth, and supported to envision and reach a positive future.

MWVCAA is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, age, veterans, and people with disabilities or any other protected category. We welcome all people to join us in achieving our Mission. If you require any assistance in the application process, or reasonable accommodations to perform the essential duties of the position, please notify a member of our team at (503) 585-6232.

**This is a partial list of essential duties and responsibilities. To review the full job description, download below.

If you need ADA accommodations to apply for MWVCAA job openings, please contact Human Resources at or call 503-585-6232 to ask for a HR Team Member.

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Location:: Salem

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