The Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe, originally known as the Nux Sklai Yem or The Strong People, are descendants of the Salish peoples with ancestral ties to the Kitsap Peninsula that date back at least 1,000 years. Many of the Port Gamble S’Klallam’s members—totaling over 1,400—live on the Tribe’s reservation, which is located on the northern tip of Kitsap County in Washington state, near the neighboring towns of Kingston, Poulsbo, Indianola, Hansville, Port Gamble, and Bainbridge Island.
Kitsap County is known for its outdoor recreational opportunities—including a well-maintained trail system—as well as award-winning restaurants, highly-ranked public schools, and picturesque, friendly communities. All this, plus Kitsap County is one of the most affordable places to live in western Washington, offering the charm of small-town life with access to the hustle-and-bustle of downtown Seattle, which is only a relaxing 30-minute ferry ride away.
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The Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe offers a generous compensation package that includes medical/dental/vision benefits, Short-Term and Long-Term Disability, 401k plan, PTO, and paid holidays, including your birthday for all Full-Time employees.
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Please see our website at www.pgst.nsn.us/employment for all of our current job opportunities and full job descriptions.
Job Summary:
The infant/toddler teacher provides educational and social opportunities for children ages 6 weeks through three years old in a loving and nurturing environment under the guidance of the Education Support Specialist and in accordance with the Head Start Performance Standards. Promotes active family and community partnering in the early childhood program.
Responsibilities:
Education Services (70%) School Readiness Outcomes (10%) Family/Community Engagement (10%) Data Inputting (10%)
Work Habits and Practices
- Report to work on a regular basis, as scheduled. Must be willing to work flexible hours and days, including evenings and weekends.
- To act as a team member with all center staff and management staff to meet the educational and developmental needs of enrolled children. Provide direct guidance to co-leads and volunteers in classrooms. Consults with appropriate staff regarding childrens special needs (dietary, equipment, etc.).
- Demonstrate commitment to the PGST EC mission, values, and policies in performance of daily duties.
- Continue to increase professional knowledge, skills, and competencies in job related areas; incorporate and demonstrate new knowledge and skills on the job.
- Maintains strict confidentiality of program staff and family/child information.
- Accept responsibility for seeking assistance and guidance when needed; integrate constructive direction from supervisor to improve job performance.
- Accept responsibility for quality of job performance and make changes as needed.
- To participate in relevant training and on-going career development goals and opportunities.
Teacher Services
- Provide a curriculum and classroom environment that builds and strengthens the security, trust, positive self-concepts, and individual strengths of each child.
- Provide warm, caring, nurturing, positive, supportive responses to all children.
- Implement developmentally appropriate best practices, principles, and performance standards in a comprehensive early head start classroom environment.
- Integrate SKlallam cultural practices in all areas of the environment.
- Plan and implement individualized daily routines and curriculum for infants and toddlers in the classroom; participate in development and implementation of individualized goals for each child.
- Conduct developmental screenings, observations, and recording of childrens behavior.
- Participate in the identification and referral process of special needs children.
- Provide orientation to families on center procedures and policies.
- Establish and maintain a safe and healthy infant/toddler classroom; practice established health and safety procedures daily.
- Assist in the development and implementation of routines and curriculum that promote good health habits and integrate the health and nutrition components in the classroom.
- To maintain safe, sanitary and clean classroom areas this includes indoor and outdoor environments and equipment.
- Maintain an open, friendly and cooperative relationship with each childs family and extended family; encouraging their involvement in the program; promoting parent-child bonding and nurturing parent-child relationships; work with the parents to strengthen the familys knowledge of early childhood development.
- To effectively supervise co-lead infant /toddler teachers, on-call assistants and volunteers following the reflective supervision philosophy.
- To perform at a minimum two home visits and two parent conferences per program year with enrolled families.
- To assist the bus driver as a bus monitor in transporting children
- To coordinate family /community activities and educational activities.
Communications
- Maintain on-going records for each child, record pertinent information in childs file, including but limited to child observations, verbal and written communications with families and staff in regards to child.
- Conduct all communication with staff, supervisor, program participants, and community in an effective, respectful, timely, and supportive manner.
- Prepare and provide timely and accurate written reports and memoranda as required.
- Maintain organized and accessible record keeping and filing system.
- Maintains strict confidentiality of program staff and family/child information.
- To attend relevant staff meetings and staffing of children and families. To participate in annual reviews of work plan and program policies and procedures.
- Contributes to program effectiveness and positive relations by working well with tribal/outside family resources, other Tribal staff and the community
Education:
- Prefer ECE Infant &Toddler Certificate/CDA for Infant &Toddler Credential/ ECE AA degree or B.A. degree.
- Candidates with High School diploma or Graduate Equivalency Degree (G. E. D.) will be placed at entry-level trainee wage rate.
Experience:
- With an Associated degree, one year consistent paid experience with groups of children 0-36 months in a child care setting.
- With NWIC ECE Certificate and/or CDA for Infant/Toddler Credential, two additional years of consistent paid experience with groups of children 0-36 months in a child care setting.
- With a high school diploma, one year consistent paid experience working with groups of children 0-36 months in a child care center AND/OR experience working with children 0 -36 months in the local community.
Certification:
- Current Food Handlers Permit (within two weeks of hire date),
- CPR/First Aid Training (within 30 days of hire date),
- NWIC ECE Certificate and/or Child Development Associate Credential (CDA) Infant/Toddler Endorsement (or enrolled in the course within six months of hire)
Health Requirements:
- TB Skin Test prior to employment
- Initial physical exam within three months of employment, every two years thereafter
- Good personal hygiene and grooming.
Physical Requirements:
- Regularly required to finger, handle, reach with hands and arms
- Frequently required to walk, sit, stand
- Occasionally required to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds
- Normal audio and visual acuity
Other
- Native American preference State and Tribal Background check required
- Pre-Employment drug testing required
- Random Drug Testing is a condition of continued employment
- Training/Professional Development
- General Office Skills: Basic clerical skills, strong record keeping and filing.
- Personal Computer Skills: Basic personal computer skills are required, as well as the ability to learn word processing, spread sheet and other software programs.