Lead Assistant Teacher, Elementary

Job DetailsJob Location

• Forest
• Grove
• Campus -
• Forest
• Grove,
• OR 97116Position
• Type:
• Non-ExemptJob
• Category: Faculty and Staff Pacific University achieves excellence and distinction by investing in exceptional people to think, care, create, and pursue justice in our world. We embrace discovery in a close and nurturing environment that leads to genuine transformation. Our community is diverse, sustainable, and dedicated to discovery and excellence in teaching, scholarship, and practice. At Pacific University, we thrive in an extraordinary environment, surrounded by the beauty of the great Pacific Northwest, with campus locations in Forest Grove and Hillsboro. We humbly acknowledge and thank the original caretakers of the lands on which we live, work, teach, and acquire and share knowledge.
• ABOUT
• THE
• EARLY
• Learning
• COMMUNITY: The Early Learning Community (ELC) is a vibrant, joyful place where over 100 children engage in rich, hands-on learning activities from preschool through 4th grade. We believe that giving children access to beautiful classrooms, inspiring curriculum, and expert teachers allows them to thrive in school and develop a lifelong love of learning. We work hard to know each and every child as an individual while also building a deep sense of community and belonging. As a demonstration school, we are responsible not only for teaching our students but also for helping to prepare the next generation of educators by serving as a practicum site for Pacific undergraduate and graduate students as well as high school volunteers.

About the Role

Classrooms in the elementary grades at the ELC are blended, meaning that two grade levels are combined so that students have the chance to dig deeply into topics over the course of two years, to work at their level regardless of calendar age, and to practice leading the younger students. In order to provide individualized support for 20-24 students, we have two adults guiding the group - a Lead Teacher who plans and facilitates the curriculum and an Assistant Teacher who provides vital support to ensure that all children’s needs are met. The Assistant Teacher also leads the delivery of a high quality aftercare program for a cohort of elementary students and collaborates with all staff on all-school programs and events. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS/MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES: Lead 10-15 children in scripted 30 minute literacy and/or math lessons Independently and safely supervise the full group of 20-24 students during outdoor recess time and lunch Lead the group to safely and efficiently transition between spaces, keeping students within sight at all times Maintain agreed upon behavioral expectations and classroom/outdoor space rules with a focus on teaching students the social-emotional skills needed to do better next time instead of just punishing them for mistakes During lunch time, engage students in read-alouds, lunch time chats, and/or show & tell circles as appropriate Assist the Lead Teacher in delivering the curriculum to the whole group of students Help to prepare and distribute materials for the lesson Independently identify and respond to classroom needs during the lesson so that the Lead Teacher can stay focused on the group as a whole Work with individual students and small groups of up to 15 students on assigned classwork and learning assessments as needed Collaborate with the Lead Teacher to monitor student progress and effectively implement curricula After gaining experience in the classroom, take over the classroom in the Lead Teacher’s absence, typically with the support of a substitute teacher filling in for the Assistant Teacher role​​​​​​​ Plan and implement the elementary aftercare program, in partnership with the other Elementary Aftercare Teachers Plan and implement activities for the roughly 2 hours of care, providing opportunities for snack, outdoor play, creative exploration, and time to complete school work (as needed) Follow licensing regulations and guidelines related to teacher/child ratio, sign in/out, supervision requirements, and health/sanitation procedures reviewed during orientation and initial training Collaborate with other elementary aftercare staff and any university student workers present during this time to maximize student engagement and support​​​​​​​ Maintain a healthy and attractive classroom space Tidy up throughout the day, including students in these efforts, and sanitize tables for meals Perform additional tasks as needed such as putting up chairs, retrieving and folding completed laundry, and running dishes through the sanitizer at the end of the day​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Contribute to a welcoming, positive school environment that is a great place to learn and to teach Interact with students in a manner that is warm and engaging yet still clear and firm Ensure families, visitors, and volunteers feel welcome in the classroom Ask questions, share ideas, and implement feedback from the Lead Teacher Communicate appreciations, questions, and challenges to other colleagues and the Head of School From time to time and as able, demonstrate an openness and flexibility to take on additional duties or shift hours slightly as needed for the smooth operation of school and well-being of the children ​​​​​​​ SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: None. QualificationsREQUIRED EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE: Must be at least 18 years of age and have successfully graduated from high school. Candidates should have a solid understanding of K-2 math and literacy concepts including place value, adding and subtracting within 100, telling time, money, early multiplication, early reading skills to decode and spell grade-level vocabulary, and conventions of writing such as capitalization and punctuation. Demonstrated experience leading groups of 10-20 children independently for at least 30 minutes of time in a school, camp, tutoring, or school-aged child care setting Candidates must be able to successfully enroll in the Oregon Central Background Registry and complete licensing trainings Must meet the requirements of the Department of Early Learning and Care for a Teacher who is qualified to independently supervise school-aged children, such as having 240+ hours of experience with school-aged children; an Associate’s Degree or higher in an education/child development field; or a Step 6+ in the Oregon Registry. REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES & BEHAVIORS: Strong oral English communication skills required to lead break-out groups in literacy and math Demonstrated ability to help children learn a new concept Demonstrated ability to successfully manage a group of children during unstructured play to both ensure safety and teach children social-emotional “friendship” skills as the need arises High degree of reliability and commitment to work hours scheduled Can establish and maintain pleasant, effective working relationships with children and colleagues PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: Some college coursework in education or related disciplines or 5+ years of experience in an educational setting Demonstrated experience leading groups of 10-20 elementary-aged children. Candidates with previous experience with K-4 learners and/or managing groups of students during outdoor activities/recess/PE strongly preferred Bilingual in English and Spanish or English and Mandarin Previous academic or work experience with hands-on play and/or project-based curricula Valid Oregon Driver’s license and willingness to take drive Pacific van for field trips, including completing Pacific’s driver certification process WORKING CONDITIONS: Classroom and outdoor playground environment, in all weather conditions Position involves a public interface and continual interaction with parents, children, university students and faculty Work hours between approximately 9:00 and 5:00pm, Monday through Friday Annual schedule will closely follow the public school calendar, late August through mid-June with optional hours in July PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES/REQUIREMENTS: x Light work x Medium work Moderate and continuous physical activity, including standing, walking, quick movements in response to needs of children, lifting (up to 50 pounds), getting up and down from floor, bending, squatting, kneeling, crawling, reaching, speech and hearing, light housekeeping. APPLICATION PROCESS To apply, please upload your resume, cover letter and three professional references along with your Paycom application. Persons who do not follow and complete the application process are not applicants and will not be considered for employment. Only qualified applicants will be contacted for an interview. During the selection process, we will strive to provide timely notifications. The selection process may vary from recruitment to recruitment but typically includes multiple interviews and may take several weeks depending on the position. All qualified applicants will be notified once the selection process has closed. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire and continue to work without employer visa sponsorship, now or in the future. At Pacific University, we are dedicated to offering experiences that are authentic, holistic, equity-minded, and responsive. Our communal success rests on the recognition that complex problems and effective solutions are best approached by teams with a variety of diverse perspectives. and life experiences. As we continue to develop our equity practices, we actively promote access to opportunities and equitable pay for all employees. Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs where they are unsure if they can perform every function in the job description. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job and that candidate may come from a variety of backgrounds and lived experiences. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about how your background and skill set may qualify you for the role. We, who make up Pacific University, aspire to become a community of purpose where everyone is enabled to be wholly and comfortably who they are; accountable for inclusive behaviors and practices; built on trust, civility, care, openness, and honest conversations often around critical subjects. We know that these values are critical to prepare for a global world with complex problems, through an asset-based mindset so that everyone is afforded an opportunity to succeed. We believe in fostering a workplace where every employee is respected, their contributions are valued, and they are provided opportunities to succeed. COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS We offer a comprehensive benefits package for qualifying employees. Current benefits include: Generous paid time off (for vacation, holidays—including winter break—and sick leave) Medical coverage with alternative care options (with in-network services covered at 100% after payroll deduction) Comprehensive dental and vision plans Generous retirement contribution after one year of service with no match required Free mental health appointments Tuition remission for employees and their dependent child(ren) who meet eligibility requirements On-campus benefits, including free access to our sports facility and library Discounts on campus food, bookstore purchases, clinic services, and outdoor program gear rentals (including kayaks, snowshoes, and bikes) EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYMENT Pacific University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to complying with all applicable laws, including those concerning employment and workplace policies. We are committed to fostering a non-discriminatory and inclusive work environment. We are proud to encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including those from historically underrepresented groups. NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY Pacific University makes all employment decisions without regard to race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, religion or religious creed, disability, sex, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other characteristics protected by applicable law. Applicable laws include, but are not limited to, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Questions or complaints may be directed to the Vice President for Academic Affairs at 2043 College Way, Forest Grove, OR 97116 or via email at provost@pacificu.edu.