Preschool Head Teacher

Position: Preschool For All Head Teacher
Job Type

Full-time

Description

Preschool for All Head Teacher

About Friendly House

Friendly House, a nonprofit neighborhood center and social service organization, promotes the interdependence of people from all walks of life to meet educational, recreational, and human service needs in the Portland Metropolitan area. Friendly House creates opportunities for people of all income and age groups to increase social capital, which we define as the bonds that encourage mutually beneficial support. We operate two major programs in Northwest Portland:
Community Services and our Children's Programs. Founded in 1930, the organization has remained true to its settlement house roots, giving special attention to the needs of people facing extraordinary challenges, including children, low-income families, older adults, and LGBT older adults, to assure their inclusion in the fabric of society. We encourage applicants to visit our website ((Use the "Apply for this Job" box below).) to learn more.

Job Overview

The Preschool for All Head Teacher will work cooperatively within the teaching team to lead a preschool class for 3-5-year-olds, in line with the values of Friendly House and the Multnomah County Preschool for All (PFA) program. The preschool is a diverse class with some families participating through PFA and some families paying tuition according to our sliding scale. The PFA Head Teacher will facilitate the class in all aspects which include, but are not limited to, curriculum development and implementation, student assessment, family communication, coordination of services, documentation, and strict adherence to current health and safety guidelines, including modeling appropriate safety for students.

The PFA Head Teacher is responsible for creating and maintaining a warm, child-centered, welcoming environment for students, families, and visitors.

Job Title - Preschool Head Teacher

FLSA Classification - non-exempt

Salary Grade - Regular, Full time, 40 hours per week, $28.18-$33.15 per hour depending on experience and step level.

Benefits -Paid time off and sick leave prorated by FTE. 403b with a 4% match after 90 days of employment, medical, dental, and vision coverage, 11.5 Holidays. Discounts on Preschool, After School, and Summer Camp. EAP program, Fitness center on site.

Report to - Preschool Director

Work environment - Work is performed at the Friendly House campus, Chapman Elementary School and Wallace Park. The program occasionally travels to other locations for field trips by foot or by bus.

Supervision - None

Schedule -Monday to Friday - hours to be arranged, and subject to change based on program needs and student schedules.

Start Date: July 1, 2026

Essential Functions

Plan and implement appropriate classroom curriculum

• Lead classroom teaching team by establishing daily routines, curriculum, and an inclusive classroom environment with the support of the preschool manager.
• Develop, plan, and implement activities that are developmentally appropriate and inclusive of all children (anti-bias curriculum).
• Set up learning centers in the classroom to facilitate implementation of the curriculum with support of the teaching team.
• Ensure the classroom and outdoor environments are adapted to meet the changing needs of the children.

Classroom management

• Develop a classroom schedule and routines that are predictable for the students with flexibility to accommodate the individual needs of all children in the class.
• Engage students experiencing big emotions using Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports strategies.
• Using current health guidance, strictly adhere to and model all health and safety practices including but not limited to handwashing, daily cleaning of space, and sanitation of materials.
• Mentor and coach classroom teaching team in essential functions as described in their job descriptions.

Individualization

• With families, establish individual goals for each student, plan activities that are designed to support the goals created, and document the progress students are making.
• Provide a balance of child and adult-led activities that allow children to develop skills as outlined in their individual goals.

Involve families in the educational planning for their children

• Establish working relationships with families through the Brightwheel application, family-teacher conferences (three times per year) and daily contact.
• Share progress toward individualized goals of children with the families through daily check-in and family/teacher conferences.
• Assist families in gaining awareness of child development and positive approaches to supporting goals outside of school
  Coordination of services
• Participate in PFA coaching meetings.
• Participate in preschool team meetings to discuss the needs of students and individualized modifications to curriculum and preschool environments.
• Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings, as invited, to discuss concerns about children and families.
• Work closely with therapists and MECP (Multnomah Early Childhood Program) specialists to support…