Preschool Classroom Assistant: Head Start to Success

Preschool Classroom Assistant, Head Start To Success
Location: Lee Elementary - Canby, OR
Schedule: 7.5 hours per day/ 5 days per week/ Instructional School Year Calendar
*Hiring for multiple vacancies*
FOR 2025/26 SCHOOL YEAR

Clackamas ESD strives to infuse equity in all our programs and bodies of work by maintaining an inclusive, barrier-free environment in which everyone participates and fully benefits.

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every one of the qualifications as described in the job description. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be the one who comes from a less traditional background. We would encourage you to apply, even if you don't believe you meet every one of our qualifications described. If you are unsure whether you meet the qualifications of this position, or how this would be determined, please feel free to contact Human Resources at hr@clackesd.org to discuss your application.

Find your "why" with Clackamas ESD
At Clackamas Education Service District, our mission is to lead, serve and innovate for learning. Clackamas ESD provides services in early learning, special education, technology and teacher/staff support to Clackamas County school districts. We ensure students and families in all of our communities — big and small — have access to equitable education services. Learn more.

About the program:
Head Start is built upon the understanding that child and family development takes place in a community and effective programs build upon and link families with community resources. For this reason, Head Start to Success is designed to link with schools, social service agencies, health services and childcare services. In this way, Head Start to Success achieves the Head Start mission of supporting families in preparing their children for kindergarten success. Enrolled children receive a quality preschool experience in their own community and the family is supported through home visits and offered comprehensive education, nutrition, health and social services. The program’s funding comes from the state of Oregon and follows all of the Federal Head Start guidelines and standards.

About this position:
The Preschool Classroom Assistant supports the Lead Teacher in providing a successful, safe, and supervised learning environment for children in the school district preschool setting. With guidance from the Lead Teacher, promotes the social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development of enrolled children through age-appropriate instruction and progress monitoring/assessment of each child. The Classroom Assistant follows program requirements consistently.

Essential functions:

• Follows curriculum plans, which reflect developmentally appropriate practice, parental and cultural influences, and promote the social, emotional, physical and cognitive development of enrolled children
• Supports the lead teacher in providing a consistent schedule, to include small and large group experiences, choice time, music and movement, large and small motor activities, skill development, snacks, and effective transitions between activities
• Encourages experimentation, exploration, problem solving, cooperation, socialization, and choice-making; asks open-ended questions and listens respectfully to the answers
• Assists in preparing classroom materials to support developmentally appropriate curriculum plans; assists in changing learning centers as needed
• Supports family involvement by promoting and reinforcing parental participation in the classroom, parent meetings, and open communication
• Assists in providing a safe learning environment in which children are supervised and monitored at all times
• Supports the lead teacher in documentation of children’s progress

Minimum qualifications:

• CDA credential, or at Step 7 or above on the Oregon Registry, or enrolled in a program that will lead to an associate degree, bachelor’s degree, or a CDA credential to be completed within two years of the time of hire
• Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively with families, program staff, the district, Clackamas ESD and community resource personnel
• Ability to manage time, prioritize, and schedule multiple activities across settings, and to coordinate these activities with others
• Ability to obtain a Central Background Registry number
• Ability to acquire and maintain a valid first aid and infant/child CPR card
• Demonstrated skills in communication, collaboration, and cooperation with other disciplines, community based professional teams, and families
• Ability to acquire computer skills for word processing and use of database
• Physical and mental attributes sufficient to perform the essential functions
• Written and oral communication skills sufficient to perform essential functions

Preferred qualifications:

• Bilingual. Bilingual candidates must pass a language proficiency assessment at an intermediate high to advanced level per CESD guidelines to be eligible for bilingual salary placement

Salary: Range 13 of the classified salary schedule. Bilingual candidates for eligible languages (Spanish, Russian, Vietnamese, Cantonese, Mandarin, ASL) will be paid per Range 14 of the classified salary schedule. New hires are eligible to come in at up to Step 4 of the classified salary schedule, depending on experience. Range 13: $20.92 - $22.71 per hour. Range 14: $21.91 - $23.92 per hour.
2025-26 School Year Salary Schedule is still to be determined.

Benefits:

• Full medical, dental, and vision insurance with generous district-paid contribution (most employees pay $0 out of pocket to maintain health insurance coverage)
• Retirement through the Oregon Public Retirement System (PERS) includes pension and individual account program
• Paid time off, including paid holidays, sick leave, and other personal leave
• Opportunities to grow with us with generous professional development expense reimbursements
• Clackamas ESD covers the full cost of fingerprinting for new employees, saving you $82.50 - a benefit not offered by most other districts
• Read more about our benefits here

Retirement plan contributions:
Clackamas ESD employees working 600 or more hours in a calendar year are eligible for the Oregon Public Employee Retirement, or PERS. There are two components to PERS, including the pension, which is primarily funded by CESD and The Individual Account Program, or IAP, which is funded by a six-percent deduction from your paycheck. If you are new to PERS, your PERS deduction will begin automatically after a six-month waiting period.

How to apply:
Submit your application at https://www.applitrack.com/clackesd/onlineapp/. Applications for this position must be submitted by 11:59 PM on the listed closing date and must include:

• Cover Letter
• Resume
• Completed application form

Clackamas Education Service District is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We respect and seek to empower each individual and support the diverse cultures, perspectives, skills and experiences within our workforce along with the students and families that we serve.

Clackamas ESD policy provides veterans and disabled veterans with preference as required by law.
Clackamas ESD Notice of Nondiscrimination

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $20.92 - $23.92 per hour

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person

Salary : $21 - $23