Early Learning Teacher Assistant (Aide Ii)

Overall Staff Responsibilities:

Share responsibility with a team of colleagues and families to honor the mission: 

• to eliminate the prolific racial achievement and opportunity gaps by cultivating confident, creative and compassionate leaders;

• Practice the values of KairosPDX in professional conduct and daily interactions: 

  • respect, responsibility, honesty, excellence and service to community 

• Incorporate the beliefs of KairosPDX in all approaches and instruction Every child is uniquely capable, innately curious and inherently creative,

  • Character and agency are essential to achievement and are developed through relationship and service to others,

  • A multi- cultural context delivers a strong sense of self and is a requirement for participation in our global society,

  • Children must be supported in the context of their families; 

• Support multicultural practice and inquiry based approaches that are:

• Actively anti-racist – confronting bias in all of its forms,

• Education for social justice – acknowledging history and studying the present to make informed decisions regarding a more equitable future,

• Pervasive – Examining practices in all levels of school culture and organization,

• Personal –Beginning with the necessary consideration of self as a cultural being,

• Critical Pedagogy – Pursuing multiple perspectives, anticipating contradictions and challenging assumptions,

• Empowering – Providing children the ego strength to challenge racist societal views,

• Helping children think deeply about themselves and others.

Core Position Responsibilities:

• Support the lead teaching team and support a group of preschool children

  • Individual and/or small group instruction for children 

• Support for the exchange of information between home and school ie: creation of flyers, conference reminders, etc.

• Supporting lead teacher to communicate with families regarding student behavior, needs and growth 

• Perform activities that ensure the safety, engagement, and creativity of each individual in the group

• Work cooperatively with the lead teacher to discuss and aid in the implementation of daily plans in accordance with the current curriculum and covid related sanitation standards

• Nurture the social-emotional intelligences of children

• Follow daily lesson plans for appropriate age teaching and learning, making adjustments when needed

• Set up, maintain and clean up daily provocations

• Cultivate a warm, welcoming and safe environment for students, families and colleagues

• Support classroom expectations and agreements

• Guide children through process of exploration, collaboration and reflection

• Comfortability getting outside and creating a positive light on outdoor education in all weather

• Keep an organized and orderly classroom that promotes creativity and learning

• Maintain weekly communication with parents through a weekly email

• Cultivate positive relationships with families, teachers, state licensing authorities, community contacts and corporate partners.

• Participate in supervising students during recess and other non-class times and

• Assist in planning and supervising walking and local field trips local trips.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Attend several KairosPDX staff and family events

• Participate in professional development to facilitate growth of each student, staff member and the organization overall

• Participate in continuous improvement practices including observations, reflections and collaborations 

• Perform other related duties as needed and assigned

Required Qualifications:

• Early Childhood Education degree or equivalent experience

• Relevant experience in child development and early childhood education

• Agility to work across multiple, simultaneous projects and meet deadlines with attention to detail and deadlines

• Excellent organizational, analytical and problem-solving skills

• Compassionate and confident leader

• Eagerness to work collaboratively with the early childhood teaching team

• Documentation of attaining at least step 4 in Oregon registry

• Enrollment in Oregon’s Criminal Background Registry through the Office of Child Care (cost paid by applicant).

Knowledge & Skills:

• High tolerance for ambiguity, changing work priorities and deadlines, and a willingness to take on responsibilities and to prioritize work on multiple projects;

• Highly detail-focused and results-oriented;

• Ability to communicate and interact effectively with multiple constituencies including families, parents, staff and students;

• Team-player attitude and strong customer-service orientation;

• Excellent organizational, planning, and implementation skills;

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills;

• Highly proficient in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word;

• Demonstrated initiative, leadership, and tenacity; 

• Willingness to learn about and adapt to KairosPDX culture;

• Commitment to culturally relevant practices;

• Commitment to professional reflection and ongoing collaboration;

• Current Food Handlers Card and CPR/First Aid Certificate required (cost paid by applicant);

• Ability to pass a criminal background check.

• Enrollment in Oregon’s Criminal Background registry.

• Ability to adhere to Governors Vaccination Requirements for Teachers and School Staff, note this applies to all KairosPDX non-Instructional staff.

• Share KairosPDX’s stance that excellent public education is a civil right of all children and families;

• Experience working with diverse populations, specifically people of color; and

• Passion for KairosPDX’s mission.