Cornell School

Benefits/Perks

• Industry-leading Compensation and Personal Time Off
• Healthcare and Retirement Plans
• Great Work Environment
• Advancement Opportunities

Job Summary
The Cornell School is a small, private preschool in the Cedar Mill / Forest Heights area with 32 children (16 per classroom with 2 teachers per room). We have a new building set on 3 acres of property with a huge natural outdoor play area. Our philosophy is a mix of Reggio and Montessori and you can learn more about out school at www.thecornellschool.com. You can also see the school on Google street view.
We are looking for a qualified Preschool Teacher to prepare small children for kindergarten by easing them into organized education. You will teach them important elements that they will encounter soon after they enter school life. A preschool teacher must have a great love and patience for children. Qualifications needed to teach them effectively include knowledge of best practices and preschool educational methods as well as the ability to engage them and earn their trust and attention. The goal is to contribute to the healthy mental and emotional development of the child so they can more easily acclimate in the next level of education.
We're not a "big box" corporate preschool. We're a small but established school (founded in 2016) and we strongly support our teaching staff with great pay and benefits (healthcare, retirement and continued teacher education), finding the best families, and providing opportunities to grow and develop as an educator.
Responsibilities
Develop a careful and creative program suitable for preschool children
Employ a variety of educational techniques (storytelling, educational play, media etc.) to teach children
Observe each child to help them improve their social competencies and build self-esteem
Encourage children to interact with each other and resolve occasional arguments
Guide children to develop their artistic and practical capabilities through a carefully constructed curriculum (identify shapes, numbers or colors, do crafts etc.)
Organize nap and snack hours and supervise children to ensure they are safe at all times
Track children’s progress and report to parents
Communicate with parents regularly to understand the children’s background and psyche
Collaborate with other educators
Maintain a clean and tidy classroom consistent with health and safety standards
Skills
Proven experience as a preschool teacher or assistant teacher
Understanding of the principles of child development and preschool educational methods
Familiarity with safety and sanitation guidelines for classrooms
Excellent communication and instructional skills
Ability to act as mediator between children
Cool-tempered, friendly and reliable
Balance between a creative mind and a practical acumen
Certification in child CPR
BA in education, Associates degree in early childhood education or relevant nanny experience preferred
We will also consider hiring students who are working part-time on their early childhood degree

The Cornell School is a fully licensed and certified preschool located between Cedar Mill and Forest Heights in NW Portland, offering full day preschool for children, age 3 to 5.

​Set amidst 3 acres of wooded grounds with fruit trees, open green space, a natural stream, trails and wild life, the preschool is surrounded by the beauty of Mother Nature. Located in a new and eco-friendly facility with big windows, bright classrooms, and connection to outdoor learning spaces. This extension of our classrooms is where children are encouraged to be naturalists, imaginative, creative and curious learners as they explore, invent and build within the environment.

Each child is unique and we believe that there is more than one school of thought to meet all of the needs of every child. Our philosophy is based on the best practices of Montessori, Reggio, Play, Creative and STEM curriculums. This reflects a blend of purposeful play and child directed activities. We design our classrooms with the intent to promote independence in children, critical thinking and creative problem solving skills. We achieve these goals through experiential learning activities. Our class size is limited to 16 with 2 teachers. This cultivates a deeper relationship with teachers and peers forging a strong community.

www.thecornellschool.com