Preschool Classroom Aide For Inclusion

Organization & Program Summary
The Center for African Immigrants and Refugees Organization (CAIRO)'s mission is to enhance social justice and achieve parity for the diverse African immigrants and refugee communities in Oregon and Central Minnesota through community organizing, collaborative leadership, and service advocacy. We envision a more just and equitable society in which children, youth, and families live in sustained, supportive communities that reinforce the family's cultural wealth and lived experience.
CAIRO Academy is a decentralized preschool program funded by Preschool Promise and Preschool For All, with 5 classrooms across the Portland metro area. The Academy's focus is to provide a culturally-specific and accessible preschool curriculum that draws on the values and approaches of Reggio Emelia, Montessori and play-based learning. The Academy runs on a school-year schedule from late August - mid June.
Position Summary
Inclusion Aides are responsible for assisting the Lead Teacher and the Assistant Teacher with classroom operations in a team-teaching setting. The Inclusion Aide will assist classroom teachers in the instructional process, reinforcing instruction to individual or small groups of students in a classroom environment and occasionally leading activities.
The Inclusion Aide will be assisting teachers to support children at all levels to help them engage in the classroom activities alongside their peers. The Inclusion Aide will work with Multnomah Early Childhood Program (MECP) to help understand the plan to support the needs of the children who come with the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) plan to meet the learning goals.
This person will also assist in the preparation of instructional materials and implementation of lesson plans and provide routine support throughout the day. The position may also include accompanying drivers on their pick-up and drop-off routes.
This is a part-time, non-exempt position expected to work approximately 20 hours per week for the duration of the school year. Required availability from 8.15 -12.15p or 10.15 - 2.15p depending on site hours. Actual hours may vary based on workload, and additional hours will be required as needed for professional development or events.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities:
In the Classroom

• Assist the Lead and Assistant Teacher in arranging the learning environment, including assembling and putting materials on the classroom learning displays and in keeping such displays current.
• Support the children who need extra support to stay engaged in the group activities.
• Work with the MECP team to understand the plan that comes with individual children with special needs.
• Prepare for classroom activities by distributing and collecting papers and other instructional materials for classroom instruction.
  • May be asked to develop or lead an activity on occasion as a part of professional development.
• Read to students, assist students with letter and word pronunciation and recognition.
• Actively supervise students and ensure student:teacher ratio is maintained at all times, including during outdoor/recess times, in restrooms and hallways, field trips, etc
• Assist students with clothing, wash-up and toilet routines. Assist with meal and snack times and nap time.
• Ensure the health and safety of students by following established practices and procedures and maintain the learning environment in a safe, orderly and clean manner.
• Become familiar with student IFSP goals, actively support students in reaching these goals, and report progress regarding student performance and behavior to the Lead Teacher.
• Perform a variety of cleaning tasks throughout the day.
• Participate in planning and attend classroom field trips and events like Open House, Family night, etc.
• Establish good relationships with families and communicate with parents during pick-up and drop-off times and classroom events
• Assist with daily reporting tasks such as attendance counts, meal counts, etc.
• Substitute in other classrooms as needed, sometimes on short notice.

Other

• Participate in the program's annual self-assessment as required.
• Attend & participate in weekly classroom staff meetings

• Attend all CAIRO Academy all-staff meetings and trainings.

• May accompany bus driver on pick-up and drop-off routes, helping move children in and out of vehicles & contacting parents.

Qualifications/Experience

• REQUIRED: One year of experience teaching 3-5 year old children in an early childhood education setting including a childcare center
• REQUIRED Languages: English
• PREFERRED: AA in Early Childhood Education or CDA; 20 Semester Credits or 30 Quarter Credits in Early Childhood Education, Child/Human Development, Special Education, and/or Elementary Education. Oregon Registry Step 7 or higher.

Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of Google Workspace products and Procare.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to work well as part of a team.
• Preferred: Ability to speak fluently in Somali, Swahili, Arabic, Spanish, or Vietnamese.

Work Environment
The responsibilities described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
The noise level in the work environment is usually noisy. This position requires frequent bending, crouching, lifting up to 30lbs, sitting on the floor.