About the Job: 

The classroom aid shall assist teaching staff in carrying out various duties in the classroom as assigned in accordance with Relief Nursery Standards, day care licensing regulations, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and other applicable standards. Responsible for maintaining therapeutic classroom environment. 

Why you want to join us:

You believe that every child deserves the best start possible. You believe that parenting is hard even in the best circumstances. You care about children who have experienced trauma and want to work to support vulnerable families to succeed. You enjoy working with children in a trauma informed workplace and a therapeutic classroom environment. You are motivated to engage with families and offer resources so that families are supported in nurturing their child’s emotional, physical, and intellectual development. 

About MountainStar Family Relief Nursery: 

MountainStar Family Relief Nursery is a local non-profit that has been in Central Oregon for 20 plus years. We are a strength-based child abuse and neglect prevention program to support families with children ages 6 weeks through 5 years. We provide high quality trauma informed care and services for children and families experiencing high stress. Services include a therapeutic classroom emphasizing social-emotional development, home visits, parenting classes and other full wrap around services. 

Our values are: 

1. Caring – welcoming, trauma-informed, non-judgmental, family-focused, compassionate, honest, and fun. 

2. Collaborative –engaged with clients, supporters, program partners, and communities. 

3. Excellence – committed to quality programs, current research, continuous learning, and robust evaluation. 

4. Inclusive – seek out and value diverse perspectives, understand and address systemic barriers equitably. 

What’s in it for you:

MountainStar offers comprehensive compensation and benefit packages including medical, dental, Simple IRA Retirement Plan, vacation, sick pay, 11 paid holidays, Oregon Paid Leave, and a Short-Term Disability Plan. 

MountainStar offers a professional, agile workplace with its primary goal being a workplace of choice. MountainStar offers excellent leadership that works hard to align strategies with the company's mission statement, core values, empower employees’ autonomy, provide trauma informed workplaces, a culture of transparency, wellness days, learning and development opportunities. MountainStar was ranked the 100 best nonprofits to work for in 2022 and 2023, based on the survey responses of MountainStar’s employees and their work experience.

About the environment:

• Wellness days and Team      
• Appreciation days
• Growth opportunities
• Culture that values diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Engaging work with purpose
• Wellness Days & Team      
• Appreciation Days
• Professional growth opportunities
• Continuing Education
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives
• Engaging, purposeful, values-based work
• Meaningful connections
• Work/life balance
• Focus on well-being & health
• Positive, supportive work culture

About the Role: 

• Maintains a safe, therapeutic, attractive, comfortable, and well-designed environment. 

• Assists the teacher in implementing therapeutic child directed, healthy, and safe activities that are developmentally and age appropriate.

• Assists the teacher in implementing a (dual if possible) language classroom by supporting a language rich environment. 

• Coordinates with other staff and volunteers in implementing daily therapeutic activities in the classroom. 

• Assists the teacher with record keeping as assigned. 

• Contributes to team effort by communicating positively with staff, volunteers, parents, and children who participate in the program. 

• Maintains confidence and protects agency operations by keeping information confidential. 

• Assists with custodial duties of the classroom. 

• Assists with classroom and playground supervision while incorporating positive guidance techniques. 

• Continually apply safety practices in all facets of the performance of duties. 

• Attending appropriate training, bi-monthly staff meetings, team meetings and conducts Reflective Supervision with assigned supervisor. 

• Fosters an understanding of the Relief Nursery, its mission, goals, objectives, and program services. 

· Conducting enrollment procedures and identifying and addressing immediate needs.

· Gathering child and parent mental health and development screenings.

· Riding or driving bus/van to assist in transportation of children/families to and from program events or the therapeutic classroom. 

Required Qualifications:

• High School Diploma, GED AND Preschool Child Development Associate certificate within twelve months AND 12 months of qualified teaching experience in a certified child care center or comparable group care program in the care of preschool age children.
• Ability to relate positively to children and adults.
• Bilingual Spanish/English preferred. 
• Excellent communication and organizational skills.
• Ability to work and relate positively with children and adults.
• Consistent attendance is essential for both the smooth operation of our programs as well as fostering a sense of stability for the children and families we serve.

Physical Demands, Background, Driving and Training Requirements:

• May work outdoors intermittently with exposure to typical Oregon weather. There may be frequent interruptions, working alone, evening or weekend work, working long hours. Working in a close environment with active children. 
• Must be able to pick up and carry 40 pounds. Must be able to bend, kneel and stand for long lengths of time. In addition, staff must be able to get up and down from playing on the floor with children.
• Ability to pass a background check. 
• Valid driver’s license and reliable personal transportation.
• Clean driving record to drive company vehicles. 
• Within 60 days of employment must be Pediatric CPR and First aid Certified, have a current food handlers’ card, and show proof of completing “Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect,” “Childcare Health & Safety,” “Safe Sleep,” and “Prevention is Better than Treatment” courses as required by Oregon Office of Childcare. 

Schedule Expectations: 

This is a part-time, 32 hour per week position, Monday – Thursday. Starting rate at $18.80/hour with wage differential depending on experience and if bilingual, plus benefits. All positions at MountainStar Family Relief Nursery are contingent upon the availability of funding.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

MountainStar is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age, disability or sexual orientation.