Neighborhood House·Portland, Oregon
Provide classroom support by supervising children and collaborating with the teaching team to foster healthy development. Assist with lesson planning, routine care, and family engagement activities within a Head Start environment.
$19.13 per hour
Classroom: Preschool (ages 3-5)
Status: 35 hours per week (benefits eligible), part-year position with an unpaid 9-week summer break
Location: SW Portland
Neighborhood House is a non-profit agency providing social services for children, families, seniors, and people experiencing food and housing insecurity. We have been engaging in anti-poverty work for a 120 years, offering a safety net to ensure that our community has the support they need to thrive.
Neighborhood House’s Head Start program provides an opportunity for participants to learn, grow, and thrive in an environment that emphasizes parents as primary teachers, a co-operative environment between families, teachers, family advocates, home visitors, and other staff, connection to community resources, and learning through child-led play. Our program is designed to meet the needs of and to provide school readiness skills to all eligible children, including those with special needs and disabilities, so our community’s children and families are stronger for life.
This position provides classroom support to children and the teaching team. The Classroom Aide collaborates with the teaching team to support students’ learning and healthy development, adhering to Oregon Childcare Division licensure requirements and Head Start Performance Standards, using effective Creative Curriculum, nurturing the well-being of children, and implementing Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support (PBIS) strategies, under the direction of the Head Teacher.
The Classroom Aide models positive and appropriate interactions with children and other adults, fostering effective communication with individuals from diverse communities and cultures, including communicating effectively with those whose English language skills are limited.
Responsibilities: are generally categorized as follows:
Classroom Support – 90%
Supervise and engage with children.
Maintain classroom cleanliness and assist with classroom set up.
Maintain positive classroom environment and assist with lesson planning.
Assist with general routine care of children and follow a consistent routine.
Use meal and outdoor time as learning opportunities.
Protect students, staff, equipment, materials, and facilities as needed.
Family Engagement and Support – 5%
Support family involvement in the classroom and support families as the first and primary teacher.
Participate in family engagement events.
Other – 5%
Attend weekly meetings with classroom team, monthly all staff meetings, and 1:1s with supervisor.
Participate in required trainings.
Assist in the maintenance and cleaning of common workspace areas.
Minimum Required Qualifications
At time of hire, must be enrolled in the Oregon Child Care Division Central Background Registry (CBR) and maintain active enrollment during employment.
Obtain within 30 days of employment: Adult and Pediatric CPR & First Aid Certification and Food Handlers Card (paid by the organization).
Successful completion of pre-employment physical exam and TB test prior to start date.
Basic Proficiency in Microsoft Office.
Experience working with children under the age of 5 in a formal early childhood setting.
Must be enrolled in the Oregon Child Care Division Central Background Registry and pass a physical and TB test. Required certifications include Adult and Pediatric CPR, First Aid, and a Food Handlers Card, with basic Microsoft Office proficiency.
Market context
In Oregon, teaching assistant roles are often tied to early childhood and classroom support needs, especially for candidates with experience working with children ages three to five. These positions can be competitive because employers commonly look for a high school diploma or GED, with a CDA and child development knowledge preferred. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits here to save research time, then confirm whether your preschool or early learning experience matches the posting before applying.