Early Childhood Instructor

Position: Early Childhood Instructor

Salary: $20.00 hour, 15 hours/week; Another $1/hour additional for fluency in Spanish, Karen, Amharic, or Somali

Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:30 am-11:30 am or Monday-Thursday, 5:30-8:30 pm

Location: In person, St. Paul

Who We Are

For more than 128 years, Neighborhood House has partnered with families in St. Paul to ensure access to essential services, including food, housing, education, and opportunities. Today, we serve more than 30,000 individuals annually across six neighborhoods, striving for a community where everyone can thrive.

Position Summary

Neighborhood House is seeking a creative and enthusiastic Early Childhood Instructor to join our dedicated and skilled team. The Early Childhood Instructor will be an important member of our Education & Enrichment Team. We are a team of dedicated professionals who are passionate about our work and the families and neighborhoods we serve. We like to roll up our sleeves and provide educational services to our students, with the goal of ensuring our youngest participants develop age-appropriate skills that will prepare them for kindergarten and a lifetime of success.

In this role, you will be instrumental in providing high-quality programming for young children by leading classes in our Small Steps childcare program.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

Direct Service

• Deliver the Small Steps Child Care program, maintaining and setting up the classroom environment for safety and optimal educational experiences of young children
• Supervise Children ages 1-5 years in activities during the care session
• Create a safe, trusted, and enriching learning environment, and ensure that children are safe and comfortable in the classroom
• Prepare daily lessons and/or learning activities using the Let Them Play (un)Curriculum Series
• Establish and maintain a good rapport with children and caregivers
• Provide caregivers with regular updates regarding the child’s progress in class and program information
• Collaborate with volunteers who are assigned to support Small Steps
  
  
  

Program Coordination and Operations

• Participate in routine upkeep of the classroom, including but not limited to:
• Ensuring Snacks are fresh
• Ensuring Supplies are stored in an orderly fashion
• Ensuring the classroom is cleaned daily and deep cleaned semiannually
• Contact the appropriate staff when something needs to be repaired or replenished
• Provide ongoing updates to the Education & Enrichment team
• Maintain professional communication with staff, volunteers, interns, participants, and partners
• Perform all work in accordance with Neighborhood House policies, procedures, and norms
• Other duties as assigned
  
  

Data and Evaluation

• Participate in the observation and feedback process
• Collect and enter all required data in accordance with agency and funding requirements
• Complete ClientTrack database training; implement program evaluation tools and track progress using ClientTrack database
• Collect and compile observations of students; record and assess observations using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ)
  
  
  

Experience, Knowledge, And Skills

Required Education, Experience & Skills

• One year of experience working with children in a professional setting
• Strong commitment to serving children and families
• Demonstrated ability to work and communicate effectively with people of diverse ethnic, economic, racial, and cultural backgrounds
• Proficient in interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills in English
• Must be able to pass a criminal background check
• Must be able to safely lift 40 pounds
  
  
  

Desired Experience/Education

• Training or education in a related field is beneficial but not required
• Bilingual in Spanish, Karen, Amharic, or Somali is beneficial but not required
  
  
  

WORK LOCATION AND SCHEDULE

This in-person role is based in St. Paul, MN, with programming taking place at Neighborhood House (179 Robie St E, St. Paul).

• Morning schedule is 8:30-11:30 am
• Evening schedule is 5:30-8:30 pm
  
  
  

Application Deadline:

Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.

BACKGROUND CHECK REQUIREMENT

Neighborhood House is required to conduct background checks on all final candidates because of our work with youth and families. We understand that past events may have occurred, and we don’t want this to deter you from applying. The outcome of background checks does not automatically disqualify a candidate, and we are open to a conversation to discuss the results.

NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Neighborhood House is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds. The Neighborhood House provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or any other status protected by law.

WE’D LIKE TO MEET YOU

Don't meet every requirement listed in this job description? Do you think your experience level is not where it needs to be? Studies show that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every single qualification. Neighborhood House is committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace. If you're interested in this position but your experience doesn't align perfectly with all the qualifications in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. The right role for you might be just around the corner.