Full-Time Substitute Educator

Job Description

Job Description:\n\nFull-Time Substitute Educator / Program SupportGeneral Job Description\nThe Full-Time Substitute Educator / Program Support role is an essential part of Hilltop’s daily operations. This position provides reliable and flexible coverage across classrooms serving infants through school-age children, as well as other program areas, to support safe staffing levels, continuity of care, and smooth center operations.\nThis is a full-time, benefits-eligible, hourly position scheduled for 40 hours per week. Unlike an educator assigned to one classroom, this position does not have a permanently assigned classroom or daily assignment. The employee must be comfortable working with all age groups served by Hilltop, from infants through school-age children, and may be assigned to different classrooms and teaching teams throughout the week or workday.\nThis position also provides broader program support and may be assigned to assist in the kitchen, office, or other program areas based on Hilltop’s daily staffing and operational needs.\nBecause this position provides coverage across age groups, the employee must be comfortable and experienced with routine caregiving responsibilities, including diapering children using both lying-down and standing diaper-changing procedures, toileting assistance, feeding, rest and sleep routines, transitions, and other developmentally appropriate personal-care needs.\nFlexibility, dependability, communication, professionalism, and the ability to transition successfully between responsibilities are essential to this position.Schedule and Availability\nThis is a full-time position scheduled for 40 hours per week. Because the primary purpose of this position is to provide substitute and operational coverage, daily start and end times, classroom placements, and other assignments may vary based on Hilltop’s staffing and program needs.\nEmployees in this position must be available and reachable between 7:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. on scheduled workdays to receive daily assignment and scheduling information. Assignments will be communicated as early as practicable.\nDaily assignments may include classroom coverage, opening or closing coverage, staff breaks, ratio coverage, kitchen support, office or administrative support, or other program responsibilities consistent with the employee’s qualifications and training.\nAssignments may change during the workday based on staffing ratios, employee absences, enrollment, program needs, emergencies, or other operational circumstances.\nAll hours worked must be accurately recorded. Employees may not perform work off the clock. Overtime must be approved in advance; however, all hours actually worked must be reported and will be compensated as required by applicable law.Classroom Responsibilities\nWhen assigned to a classroom, the Full-Time Substitute Educator will:\n\n Provide teaching and classroom coverage for infant, toddler, preschool, and school-age programs.\n Maintain active supervision and required staff-to-child ratios and group sizes.\n Build warm, responsive, and professional relationships with children.\n Provide a welcoming, inclusive, developmentally appropriate learning environment.\n Support children’s physical, social-emotional, cognitive, and developmental needs.\n Follow established classroom schedules, routines, curriculum plans, individual support plans, and guidance practices.\n Support playful learning experiences using Hilltop’s curriculum and educational approaches.\n Work collaboratively with primary educators, mentor educators, support educators, and other members of the teaching team.\n Observe children and communicate relevant information to the teaching team.\n Communicate professionally with families when appropriate, particularly when covering for a primary educator.\n Provide routine caregiving, including lying-down diaper changes, standing diaper changes, toileting assistance, handwashing, feeding, meals and snacks, rest and sleep routines, and changing soiled clothing, as appropriate to each child’s age and needs.\n Maintain children’s privacy and dignity while providing personal care.\n Follow Hilltop and DCYF requirements for diapering, toileting, sanitation, handwashing, feeding, safe sleep, and other routine care.\n Maintain active supervision during diapering, toileting, meals, transitions, outdoor activities, and other caregiving routines.\n Assist with classroom cleaning, sanitizing, organization, and preparation.\n Maintain confidentiality regarding children and families.\n Follow applicable health, safety, emergency, mandated reporting, allergy, medication, sanitation, and supervision requirements.\n Prioritize active supervision and engagement with children over administrative tasks or adult conversation.\nOccasional Kitchen Coverage\nAs a secondary responsibility, the Full-Time Substitute Educator may occasionally provide substitute coverage in Hilltop’s kitchen when classroom coverage needs allow.\nKitchen responsibilities may include food preparation; meal and snack service; distributing food to classrooms; washing dishes; cleaning and sanitizing kitchen areas; organizing and storing food and supplies; and following Hilltop’s allergy, dietary accommodation, sanitation, and food-safety procedures.\nEmployees performing applicable food preparation or service responsibilities must maintain a current Washington State Food Worker Card.Limited Office Coverage\nOn rare occasions, the Full-Time Substitute Educator may be asked to provide basic office coverage when classroom and kitchen staffing needs have been met.\nThis may include answering phones, greeting families or visitors, organizing or preparing materials, copying or filing documents, and providing other basic administrative support.\nOffice coverage is not a primary responsibility of this position, and employees will only be provided access to confidential information or systems necessary and appropriate for their assigned responsibilities.Program and Center Operations\nThe Full-Time Substitute Educator / Program Support employee is expected to:\n\n \n Be responsive to changing staffing and operational needs throughout the workday.\n \n Transition between classrooms, age groups, departments, and responsibilities as needed.\n \n Support continuity of care and positive experiences for children and families throughout Hilltop.\n \n Follow Hilltop policies, procedures, and professional expectations.\n \n Communicate promptly regarding absences, delays, schedule changes, or circumstances affecting the employee’s ability to provide coverage.\n \n Maintain shared spaces in a clean, organized, safe, and welcoming condition.\n \n Participate in required meetings, training, professional development, reflective practice, and center-wide activities.\n \n Support center operations during unexpected staffing changes and other operational needs.\n \n Communicate professionally and respectfully with children, families, coworkers, supervisors, and community members.\n \n Perform other reasonable duties consistent with the employee’s qualifications, training, safety requirements, and the general nature of the position.\n\nRegular reassignment is an expected part of this position. An employee may begin a workday in one classroom or department and be reassigned based on staffing ratios, absences, enrollment, kitchen needs, administrative needs, emergencies, or other operational circumstances.DCYF and Licensing Requirements\nEmployment is contingent upon meeting and maintaining applicable Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) licensing requirements for the duties the employee is assigned to perform.\nEmployees must:\n\n \n Maintain required DCYF background-check clearance.\n \n Maintain an active and accurate MERIT account.\n \n Complete required DCYF orientation, health and safety, preservice, and ongoing training within applicable timelines.\n \n Maintain current First Aid/CPR certification as required.\n \n Maintain required Bloodborne Pathogens training.\n \n Maintain a current Washington State Food Worker Card when performing applicable food-service responsibilities.\n \n Complete required Mandated Reporter, Emergency Preparedness, Safe Sleep, and other applicable training.\n \n Meet or make required progress toward applicable early childhood education qualifications and credentials within timelines established by DCYF and Washington law.\n \n Remain familiar with and follow applicable WAC requirements and Hilltop policies.\n\nAssignment to a classroom does not authorize an employee to perform responsibilities for which they do not have the required qualification, training, certification, or supervision.Qualifications\n\n \n Must be at least 18 years of age.\n \n High school diploma or equivalent required.\n \n Previous experience working with children in early learning, childcare, school-age care, education, recreation, or a related setting is preferred.\n \n Must be comfortable working with and providing care for children across all age groups served by Hilltop, from infants through school-age children.\n \n Previous experience changing diapers is required, including experience with both lying-down and standing diaper-changing procedures.\n \n Must be comfortable assisting children with toileting and other routine personal-care needs.\n \n Must be willing and able to follow Hilltop and DCYF requirements related to health, sanitation, diapering, toileting, feeding, safe sleep, and caregiving.\n \n Must be able to meet applicable DCYF qualification, background-check, training, and professional-development requirements.\n \n Must be comfortable transitioning between different age groups, classrooms, teaching teams, kitchen responsibilities, and office responsibilities based on daily program needs.\n \n Must be able to communicate professionally with children, families, coworkers, and supervisors.\n \n Must demonstrate reliability and the ability to respond appropriately to changing assignments and priorities.\n \n Must possess or obtain a current Washington State Food Worker Card before performing applicable food-service responsibilities.\nCore Competencies\nDependability: Arrives on time, follows through on commitments, communicates proactively, and can be relied upon to provide coverage where needed.\nAdaptability: Adjusts effectively to changing classrooms, age groups, teams, schedules, responsibilities, and program needs.\nTeamwork: Collaborates effectively with educators, kitchen staff, administrators, and other members of the Hilltop community.\nCommunication: Communicates clearly, respectfully, and professionally with children, families, coworkers, and supervisors.\nInitiative: Recognizes what needs to be done, asks appropriate questions, and contributes productively without requiring continuous direction.\nProfessionalism and Confidentiality: Uses good judgment, maintains appropriate professional boundaries, protects confidential information, and acts with integrity.\nDiversity and Cultural Awareness: Demonstrates respect for different identities, cultures, family structures, experiences, perspectives, and abilities and contributes to an inclusive environment.\nChild Safety and Engagement: Prioritizes active supervision, responsive interactions, and the physical and emotional safety of children.Physical Requirements\nThe employee must be able to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.\nClassroom assignments may require:\n\n \n Frequent movement throughout indoor and outdoor environments.\n \n Sitting and working at children’s level.\n \n Standing and walking for extended periods.\n \n Bending, kneeling, squatting, reaching, climbing, and transitioning between standing and floor-level positions.\n \n Moving quickly enough to respond appropriately to children and safety concerns.\n \n Performing standing and lying-down diaper changes and assisting children with toileting and personal care.\n \n Lifting or carrying children and program materials as required by the position.\n \n Carrying emergency supplies.\n \n Participating in neighborhood walks, playground activities, and field trips.\n \n Working outdoors in varying weather conditions.\n \n Regular communication with children, families, and coworkers.\n\nKitchen assignments may require prolonged standing, bending, reaching, carrying supplies, washing dishes, cleaning, food preparation, and working around standard kitchen equipment.\nOffice assignments may require computer use, telephone communication, filing, copying, sitting, standing, and other administrative activities.\nHilltop will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees as required by applicable law.Compensation and Benefits\nThis is a full-time, hourly, non-exempt position scheduled for 40 hours per week.\nPay Range: $26.00–$28.80 per hour, depending on relevant experience, education, qualifications, and other job-related factors.\nAt 40 hours per week, this represents annualized gross pay of approximately $54,080–$59,904, before taxes and deductions.\nAs a full-time employee, this position is eligible for Hilltop’s full-time benefits, subject to the terms and eligibility requirements of the applicable benefit plans and Hilltop policies. Benefits currently include:\n\n \n Twenty (20) days of paid time off (PTO) for sick, vacation, or personal use.\n \n Ten (10) paid holidays, plus one paid day during the employee’s birth month.\n \n Paid annual winter break from December 24 through January 1.\n \n Medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and long-term disability coverage under Hilltop’s applicable benefit plans.\n \n A retirement program with an employer match of up to 3% of employee contributions.\n \n Discounted childcare tuition for eligible children enrolled in Hilltop’s program.\n \n Optional benefits that may include transportation or parking benefits, voluntary life insurance, short-term disability, and applicable health or dependent-care accounts.\n\nThese benefits reflect the benefits included in Hilltop's existing Support Educator description.Professional Development and Performance\nEmployees are expected to participate in required training, reflective practice, professional development, and evaluation processes.\nEmployees are expected to demonstrate continued growth in their ability to support children, collaborate with different teams, communicate with families, maintain safe environments, and adapt successfully to changing assignments.\nEmployees are responsible for maintaining required training and certifications and making appropriate progress toward applicable professional-development and educational requirements.\nPerformance may be evaluated using supervisor observations, feedback from teaching and administrative teams, documentation, adherence to Hilltop policies and procedures, dependability, communication, and completion of assigned responsibilities.Equal Employment Opportunity and Reasonable Accommodation\nHilltop is committed to providing