Assistant Teacher

Agency Overview

At Neighborhood House (NH), our vision is a healthy, diverse, and welcoming community, free of poverty and racism, where all people thrive. We serve over 16,000 individuals in Seattle/South King County in the areas of early learning, youth development, citizenship, employment, health, housing, resource navigation, and aging adults. In addition to direct services, we use our experience and deep connection to our communities to advocate for equitable access to services, and policy changes that advance equity for all.

When one of us succeeds, we all succeed!

Neighborhood House is on a mission to becoming a multi-cultural, anti-racist agency. We are achieving this by sharing power, listening to and learning from each other and our communities, and working to repair past inequities. We are building a culture where equity is the foundation, inclusiveness is the default, and access for marginalized communities is the norm.

Our Agency Values include Community, Equity, Integrity, Relationships, and Sustainability. More information about our Agency Values can be found here.

Click here for more details about our benefits program.

Job Summary

Child Development Department staff support the Neighborhood House mission framework and Strategic Plan by contributing to the school readiness of low-income children and supporting their parents, care givers and community. The primary responsibility is to provide the highest quality early childhood education services with the overall goal of building a child's social competency.

Responsibilities

• Actively participate in the planning, implementation and evaluation of a creative classroom program.
• Assist in creating a safe learning environment reflecting the diverse backgrounds of the participating families.
• Involve families in the classroom in meaningful ways which demonstrates the belief that parents are the principal influence on their child's education and development.
• Assist in ensuring family engagement and/or awareness in program planning through regular open communications, monthly center meetings, parent newsletters, and parent conferences.
• Help complete and maintain current records ensuring confidentiality is observed.
• Assist in completing the requested reports in an accurate and timely manner.
• Seek opportunities to take on primary responsibility for specific tasks assigned and supervised by the Lead Teacher.
• Assume overall responsibilities of the classroom in the absence of the Lead Teacher.
• Assist the classroom staff in ensuring classroom preparation and complete classroom cleaning requirements.
• Shows a commitment to professional development and engages in ongoing learning with meaningful activities leading to growth.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Current CDA (Child Development Credential) from the Council for Professional Recognition or equivalent.
• One year experience working or volunteering with children birth-5.
• Ability to communicate effectively and relate sensitively to adults and children from diverse ethnic and socio-economic groups.
• Proficiency in oral and written English language.
• Willingness to comply with the established agency performance standards which may include: productivity/personal responsibility, client/customer service-orientation, embracing a team player orientation, entrepreneurialism, and maintaining a professional demeanor.
• Willingness to comply with Head Start Standards of Conduct by promoting the unique identity of each child and family; conforming with program confidentiality; following child supervision and guidance policies; and refraining from soliciting or accepting personal gratuities, favors, or anything of significant monetary value from contractors or potential contractors.
• Must have reliable transportation and be able to travel independently to Child Development services sites.
• The usual methods of performing the job's functions require the following physical demands: lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling, frequent stooping, kneeling, and/or crouching and significant fine finger dexterity. Generally, the job requires 10% sitting, 45% walking, and 45% standing.

Desired Qualifications

• Current or former Head Start and Early Head Start parents receive preference for employment vacancies for which they are qualified.
• Experience working with groups and/or families from diverse cultural, economic and ethnic backgrounds.
• Bilingual ability.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to sit on the floor for long periods of time and to get up and down out of a sitting position regularly throughout the day.
• Ability to stand, walk and get down to the child level (3-5 year old) unassisted repeatedly throughout the day.
• Ability to move quickly including running for short periods if needed to ensure child safety and/or respond to an emergency.
• Ability to walk up and down stairs unassisted while holding children’s hands.
• Ability to lift, hold, and carry a child up to 50 pounds as needed throughout the day.

Required Credentials

• Must pass Neighborhood House background check requirements.
• Position requires Washington State bi-annual criminal background re-check.
• Current Health Exam, Tuberculosis Screening, and record of Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccination or immunity (must be obtained prior to employment).
• Department of Early Learning portable background check.

Post-Hire on-the-job Training Requirements

• Child Abuse and Neglect training (within 2 weeks of hire).
• Current First Aid Certificate within 30 days of hire.
• Current CPR Certificate within 30 days of hire.
• Sexual Harassment Training within 30 days of hire.
• Current Food Handlers certificate within 30 days of employment (maintain current certificate during employment).
• Current Blood Borne Pathogens training certificate within 30 days of employment (maintain current certificate during employment).

Employment Practice

Neighborhood House is committed to diversity and to equal opportunity employment. As an equal opportunity employer, we support and follow federal, state and local laws prohibiting employment discrimination. Neighborhood House does not exclude, deny benefits to, or otherwise discriminate on the basis of race, age, sex, color, creed, religion, caste, disability, national origin, marital status, mental or physical ability including HIV status, height, weight, veteran status, military obligations, sexual orientation and expression of gender identity, or any other classification protected by law. Management and HR staff are committed to ensuring that all personnel decisions that affect employees, clients, volunteers, and board members are made in accordance with the equal employment opportunity principles of nondiscrimination.

Support

Inquiries may be directed to People and Culture at (206) 461-8430 or by e-mail to nhjobs@nhwa.org.