Head Start Program Jobs in Portland, OR (NOW HIRING)

Description

Description

Opening Date: May 4, 2026

Closing Date: Open Until Filled

Job Title: Head Start Teacher-Portland

Salary/Wage: $27.54

Tribal Level TL 116

Location: Portland, OR

Classification: Full-time (36 hrs/wk), Seasonal, Exempt

Job Posting Number: 4139444 

INTRODUCTION:

The Siletz Tribal Head Start Program provides a developmentally appropriate and Native American culturally relevant preschool experience which promotes school readiness skills for children who are 3 and 4 years of age. The program provides comprehensive services to children to ensure they are up-to-date on all well child care and to promote their physical, social emotional and cognitive development. The Head Start Program offers families the support they need to connect with community resources to further their personal growth and to support them in their role as their child's first and most important teacher. The Head Start Program supports the professional development for staff and can assist with pursuing further credentialing requirements.

DUTIES:  

• Plans and maintains a developmentally appropriate classroom environment as supported by daily lesson plans and culturally relevant activities.  
• Works in a team setting with all other staff involved with the family, in assessing the needs of the family and child in order to identify appropriate services and assist, as needed, with the acquisition of such resources. 
• Must provide follow-up to families to evaluate the effectiveness of referrals for services. Must develop Family Partnership Agreements to assists families in identifying needs and/or problems and during home visits, gathers information, conducts problem solving and refers as appropriate.  
• Develops an Individualized Education Plans (IEP) for each child in partnership with the parent and implements IEP goals through classroom curriculum and regularly scheduled home visit activities.  
• Maintains an accurate and up-to-date file on each child and family. Children's records include classroom activities and progress within the classroom, developmental screening, behavioral anecdotes, observations, evaluation records, applications, physicals, growth assessments, immunization records, dental screening and follow up for any identified need and/or treatment. Family records include monthly contact, referrals for community services, follow up of referrals, Family Partnership Agreements, and documentation of program's efforts to support parent in meeting of the child's health requirements.  
• Demonstrates to parents, effective ways to guide young children through home visits and classroom modeling.  
• Actively recruits parents as volunteers within the classroom, Parent Committees, and Policy Council, and actively supports all parent activities. 
• Assists with planning and implementation of parent training activities. 
• Assists with the recruitment and enrollment of children into the program.
• Supports the Head Start goals, objectives, and performance standards.  
• Must complete 15 clock hours of professional development annually.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

REQUIREMENTS:  

Associate's or advanced degree in early childhood education, - OR - an associate's degree in a field related to early childhood education and coursework equivalent to a major relating to early childhood with experience teaching preschool-aged children, - OR - bachelor's degree in any field and has been admitted into the Teach For America program, passed a rigorous early childhood content exam, participated in a Teach For America summer training institute that includes teaching preschool children and is receiving ongoing professional development and support from Teach for America's professional staff, and one year of experience in a structured early childhood education setting (Preschool, Head Start, Kindergarten, Daycare Center, etc.).  

Must pass a criminal history background check which includes a sex offender registry check and obtain one of the following through the Central Background Registry: State or tribal criminal history records, including fingerprints; or, Federal Bureau of Investigation criminal history records, including fingerprints; and Child abuse and neglect state registry check, if available, and all of these checks must also be performed for every state where the individual has resided within five years.

Knowledge in:

• Early Childhood Development.
• Developmentally appropriate early childhood practices.
• Positive methods of child guidance.
• Curriculum Development.
• Effective classroom management strategies.
• Guiding and directing classroom staff.

Experience in:

• Head Start standards and practices and/or pre-K standards and practices.
• Early learning teaching practices and classroom management.
• Student and family engagement.
• Curriculum implantation and design.

Ability to:

• Work effectively with families from a variety of social, economic, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds to establish and maintain mutually supportive relationships for the betterment of child and family.  
• Develop a thorough understanding of the Head Start Program Performance Standards, Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework, and Parent, Family, Community Engagment Framework.
• Develop a working knowledge of the Creative Curriculum System.
• Develop a working knowledge of the Teaching Strategies Gold System.
• Use a positive approach in directing child behavior and to model positive child guidance to staff and parents.
• Able to work cooperatively as a team member.  
• Initiate contact with community agencies to gather information and secure services to meet child and family needs.  
• Establish and maintain professional boundaries.
• Work some evenings and weekends.
• Accept direction. 

Other:

• Obtain First Aid/CPR within first 30-days of hire.  
• Obtain Food Handlers card within 15-days of hire.  
• Must complete a physical and TB testing within first 30 days of employment to verify physically able to perform the duties of this position.
• Must possess a valid Oregon State driver's license, insurance and be eligible to drive a GSA vehicle.