Early Childhood Support Teacher - Assistant, Break Support & Substitute

Early Childhood Support Teacher – Assistant, Break Support & Substitute

ChildRoots | Portland, Oregon
Locations: Northwest Portland - 1740 NW Flanders Street, Portland, Oregon 97209
Compensation: Starting at $23.16 per hour
Schedule: Monday–Friday, 40 hours per week for regular positions; flexible assignments for on-call substitutes

About ChildRoots

ChildRoots is a locally owned, woman-owned family of early childhood education centers serving Portland families since 2007. Our schools provide progressive, play-based education for children from infancy through age five, with an emphasis on social-emotional development, curiosity, exploration, and meaningful relationships.

Our classrooms are thoughtfully designed to encourage children's natural desire to learn, investigate, and make connections. We believe that children are capable, authentic individuals who benefit from consistent relationships with thoughtful, engaged educators.

We are seeking experienced early childhood educators to join our teaching teams in support roles at our Southeast and Northwest Portland locations.

Available Positions

We are hiring for several classroom support positions:

Assistant Teacher
Works as part of a consistent classroom teaching team, supporting daily routines, curriculum implementation, and the social-emotional development of children.

Break Support Teacher
Works across approximately two to three classrooms, providing consistent coverage during teacher breaks and supporting classroom routines and activities.

Substitute Teacher – Full-Time
Works a regular, full-time schedule, providing classroom coverage based on daily staffing needs. Assignments may vary by classroom, age group, or location.

On-Call Substitute Teacher
Provides classroom coverage as needed, without a regular or guaranteed schedule. Assignments depend on staffing needs and availability.

Regular support positions are full-time, 40-hour-per-week roles, scheduled Monday through Friday. On-call substitute positions have different scheduling arrangements.

Our Southeast and Northwest locations serve children from infancy through age five. Our Fremont location serves children approximately ages two through five.

All support teachers work under the guidance of classroom Lead Teachers and receive additional coaching, professional development, and support from their managers.

Responsibilities

• Provide attentive, responsive care and educational support for young children.

• Help maintain safe, welcoming, and engaging classroom environments.

• Support developmentally appropriate, play-based learning experiences.

• Encourage children's curiosity, independence, problem-solving, and social-emotional growth.

• Collaborate with Lead Teachers and other classroom staff to maintain consistent routines and expectations.

• Build positive, respectful relationships with children, families, and colleagues.

• Communicate effectively with classroom teams and school leadership.

• Maintain classroom health, safety, supervision, and sanitation standards.

• Participate in professional development, team meetings, and ongoing learning opportunities.

• Adapt to the needs of different classrooms and age groups when assigned to a support or substitute position.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Oregon Registry Online (ORO) Step 4 or higher.

• At least two years of experience working in an early childhood education classroom.

• Current enrollment in Oregon's Central Background Registry (CBR), or the ability to complete the enrollment process and obtain required clearance before beginning work.

• Ability to meet applicable Oregon Office of Child Care qualification requirements.

• Understanding of early childhood development and developmentally appropriate teaching practices.

• Ability to work collaboratively, communicate professionally, and respond flexibly to classroom needs.

• Active CBR #

• 1.0 FTE - Monday through Friday, 8 hour shift, 40 hours per week

• Experience working with multiple age groups, including infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.

• Familiarity with play-based, inquiry-driven, or child-centered educational approaches.

Required Training and Certifications

Applicants must complete applicable Oregon early childhood education training and certification requirements before beginning work, including:

• Pediatric First Aid, CPR, and AED certification through an accepted course.

• Oregon Food Handler Card.

• Introduction to Child Care Health and Safety.

• Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect.

• Prevention Is Better Than Treatment.

• Safe Sleep for Oregon's Infants.

• Any additional required Oregon Safety Set training.

Compensation and Benefits

ChildRoots offers a standardized compensation structure designed to provide predictable wages and opportunities for long-term professional growth.

Starting compensation: $23.16 per hour , regardless of prior experience or educational attainment, for applicants who meet the minimum position qualifications.

Additional compensation opportunities include:

• Standardized annual merit-based wage increases.

• Annual Preschool for All (PFA) wage adjustments, as applicable.

• Long-term commitment bonuses that recognize teachers who remain with their assigned child cohorts.

Our benefits package for eligible employees includes:

• Medical and vision insurance: Majority employer-paid.

• Dental insurance: Majority employer-paid.

• Life insurance: 100% employer-paid.

• 401(k) retirement plan: Generous employer matching contribution.

• Paid time off: Including paid holidays and a weeklong winter break, subject to eligibility.

• Professional development: Ongoing training, coaching, and opportunities for professional growth.

Benefits and eligibility may vary based on employment classification and scheduled hours.

Our Approach to Teaching

At ChildRoots, we believe that early childhood education is about more than meeting children's physical needs or preparing them for their next classroom.

Our educators help children develop confidence, emotional awareness, independence, and a sense of belonging. We value teaching practices that respect children's individuality, encourage investigation, and support meaningful relationships.

We also recognize that high-quality education depends on stable, supported teaching teams. Our schools emphasize collaboration, consistent classroom relationships, ongoing professional learning, and clear communication.

We are especially interested in educators who bring curiosity, initiative, adaptability, and a genuine appreciation for the capabilities of young children.

Apply to ChildRoots

If you have experience in early childhood education and are interested in joining a collaborative, play-based teaching community, we welcome your application.

Please submit your resume and indicate whether you are interested in an Assistant Teacher, Break Support Teacher, Full-Time Substitute, or On-Call Substitute position.

ChildRoots is an equal opportunity employer. We consider qualified applicants without regard to legally protected characteristics.

To work with us, you must be teacher-qualified and currently enrolled in Oregon's Central Background Registry.

These easy, online trainings are required within 30 days of hire:

• Pediatric CPR/First Aid Course
• Oregon Food Handler's Card
• Introduction to Child Care Health & Safety online course
• Recognizing & Reporting Child Abuse & Neglect online course
• Prevention is Better than Treatment online course
• Safe Sleep for Oregon's Infants online course

The challenges of COVID reminded us how vital it is to center our employees’ well-being. We know we still have much to do to be the BEST place to work in child care in Portland, but that’s what we’re working toward.

All employees are eligible for:

• 1-3 weeks of Paid Time Off per year, depending on how long they've been with ChildRoots.
• 25 paid holidays and all-school days off
• Company-provided continuing education
• 401(k) retirement savings plan with generous company match and 100%, immediate vesting

Full-time employees are eligible to enroll in our insurance plans, including:

• Providence Health, including vision, naturopathic, chiropractic, acupuncture, AND massage
• Principal or Willamette Dental

We value commitment and invite you to stay with us for at least a year.

To learn more about us, explore our website, take a virtual tour of our facilities, and review our COVID-19 Health & Safety Guidelines.

We're a pro-vaccination community and require all employees and enrolled parents to be fully vaccinated against COVID. We still practice extraordinary safety protocols like daily health checks, masks, stable groups, and extra cleaning, and will do so for as long as it takes to keep our community safe.

Thank you for your consideration. We hope to hear from you!