Assistant Teacher; Early Head Start-Katahdin East Millinocket

Have a passion for working with children? Join our Early Head Start/Head Start team, providing early childhood education services. Penquis, a social services agency serving Penobscot, Piscataquis, and Knox counties for over 50 years, is currently seeking a full-time Early Head Start (18 months to 3 years of age) Assistant Teacher. As the Assistant Teacher, you assist with the daily operation of the early education classroom and activities.

Develop and administer an appropriate daily activity program to assure that the needs of the group and the individual children are met.

This is a 38‑hour, 52‑week‑per‑year position based at our Katahdin Child Development Center in East Millinocket.

• Assist in developing/conducting a daily program of activities that is developmentally appropriate for the group of children including prescriptive programs for children with special needs.
• Assure that appropriate care and supervision is always provided.
• Maintain a clean, healthy, safe environment for the children.
• Observe children, identify individual needs, and arrange appropriate services, either through direct service or referral.
• Assisting with classroom and playground supervision, and other daily activities related to the operation of the classroom, including light cleaning duties.
• Maintain the confidentiality of client files and information.

• Associate’s degree in early childhood education with Infant/Toddler coursework.
• 1-2 years’ paid experience working with children.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Characteristics demonstrate flexibility and empathy.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds.
• Work directly with children aged birth to 5 years old, managing noises and behaviors typical of this age group, including potentially unsafe actions like hitting, kicking and biting.
• Upon hire and periodically thereafter, must comply with Penquis background check requirements with satisfactory results as outlined in current contract provisions.
• 14 Paid Holidays (Including your Birthday!)
• Paid Time off +3 Days Upon Hire
• Paid Training for All Required Certifications
• Retirement Plans
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Wellness Incentives
• Employee Assistance Program

Penquis Child Development will pay for newly hired staff to obtain appropriate credentials or continued educational opportunities.

The starting rate of pay for the Assistant Teacher position is $19.46 per hour and additional compensation may be given consideration with relevant experience.

Eligible upon hire, new employees in our Early Childhood programs who work 24-40 hours per week, will receive a monthly stipend which is based on your layette through MRTQ (Maine Roads to Quality).

In accordance with federal regulations, Penquis does not discriminate. Reasonable accommodation will be made for otherwise qualified persons with disabilities. Penquis is a smoke‑free workplace.