About Mud Pies Preschool
Mud Pies Preschool is a play-based, child-led community for children ages 24 months to five years old. Our students practice autonomy and learn the skills they need to feel more independent, while participating in and contributing to the community. We are licensed as a certified family childcare home operating in Southeast Portland for up to 16 children per day. We provide three meals per day and are open 7:30 AM -5:30 PM Monday through Friday. There are generally 2-3 teachers working at a time. We participate in Multnomah County’s Preschool for All program.
About the Position
We are seeking a playful, flexible, reliable full time preschool teacher. 30-40 hr/wk. Shifts range from 7:00 AM - 5:45 PM. Evening meetings 1-2 times per month. Occasional weekend and evening events may be required of staff up 3 times per year. We require masks to be worn by all adults indoors.
At Mud Pies we strongly believe that every experience a child chooses has a value and is part of their learning. The teachers’ role is to support students’ play with necessary supplies, relationships, and guidance in any direction their play leads. We follow their interests and build upon them; and we modify the environment to help support learning. We aim to develop long-term relationships with the team, children, and families.
A strong candidate for this position believes in play-and child-directed learning, practices respectful communication with everyone, trusts in children’s natural development, has a growth-mindset, is willing to learn and reflect as an educator, and enjoys contributing toward a thriving community. Additionally, this person is able to support children through conflict resolution and is comfortable with big emotions as a natural part of early childhood development.
This is a challenging job, and it is one that requires staff to always be engaged. Teachers are responsible for food prep, tidying, cleaning, and taking care of children's practical needs at the same time as facilitating play opportunities. Staff must be able to monitor play and step in for intervention only when necessary while performing all of the daily tasks required. Ultimately, we want the children to guide their play independent of our direction.
Physical Requirements
Regular sitting, walking, standing, bending/stooping, balancing, reaching, use of hands, lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling up to 25 pounds, outdoors in any weather. Occasional running, balancing, stair use, lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling up to 60 pounds.
Training and Other Requirements
Up-to-date Covid-19 vaccination
Enrolment in Oregon’s Childcare Central Background Registry (CBR)
Pediatric CPR/First Aid
Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect (RRCAN)
Food Handler’s Card
Child Health & Safety Course
Prevention is Better than Treatment
Foundations For Learning
Safe Sleep
Pay and Benefits
Starting pay $21.86 (updated annually, per Preschool for All)
Paid holidays (after 90 days), including 3-4 full weeks per year of paid vacation while the school is closed
Paid annual training and reimbursement for director-approved individual training
Paid Time Off (after 90 days): 1 hour of PTO accrues per 30 hours worked
Paid monthly team meetings
Partially paid health insurance benefits (after 90 days)
To Apply
If you are interested in joining our team, please email your resume and a separate paragraph explaining why you would make a great fit for our program. Our hiring process typically includes a screening phone call, then a working (paid) interview for 2-4 hours. We ask for references.