PFA Teacher
The PFA (Preschool for All) Lead Teacher helps create a caring, inclusive, and engaging classroom where children can be curious, playful, and confident learners. Centered on social-emotional learning, this role supports children in building empathy, resilience, and meaningful relationships.
This position is ideal for an experienced early childhood educator who:
- Values play-based, emergent curriculum
- Brings a strong understanding of child development
- Thrives in a collaborative, community-focused environment
- Is passionate about equity, inclusion, and relationship-based teaching
About Sellwood Community House & PlayLab
Sellwood Community House (SCH) has been an independent nonprofit community center since August 2019, following nearly 100 years as a Portland Parks and Recreation site. Today, SCH serves as a vibrant hub for the Sellwood-Moreland neighborhood, offering a thriving early childhood program, K–5 afterschool care, enrichment classes for all ages, and regular community events. Our mission is to create safe, welcoming “third spaces” where people of all ages and abilities can learn, play, gather, and connect. Across all of our programs, we are committed to supporting families in meaningful, practical ways while fostering a strong sense of belonging.
PlayLab Preschool is a natural extension of that mission. Located just four blocks south of the main SCH building, the PlayLab began as a welcoming indoor space for children and caregivers to gather, connect, and build strong parent-child relationships. That foundation continues to guide our preschool today. Offered as part of Multnomah County’s Preschool for All program, PlayLab is a relationship-centered, play-based preschool where children are supported in feeling safe, seen, and connected. We believe these early years are foundational, and we are honored to partner with families during this time.
Schedule & Compensation
- Hours: 38 hours per week (30 min daily prep, 30 min daily clean up, 2 hours weekly planning, 1 hour weekly staff meeting.)
- Schedule: Monday–Friday
- School Year: The 2026–27 school year will run from September 3, 2026 through June 4, 2027, with program hours from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
- Pay Range: $24.86–$44.20/hour (aligned with PFA scale and experience)
Benefits
- Paid sick leave and vacation
- Paid holidays
- Professional development opportunities
- Supportive, collaborative team culture
- PFA-aligned compensation increases and retention incentives
- Employer sponsored health insurance offered for full time employees, 0.8 FTE and higher.
Key Expectations of a Preschool Teacher
- Curriculum & Instruction: Follow an established curriculum in collaboration with the preschool team, and take responsibility for planning, implementing, and following through on rich, engaging classroom lessons and activities. Provide developmentally appropriate experiences that build early literacy, math, and motor skills through play, storytelling, and exploration.
- Safety & Environment: Maintaining a clean, secure classroom, adhering to health protocols, and managing child behavior positively.
- Developmental Support: Observing, recording, and assessing each child's growth to identify and support emotional or developmental milestones.
- Family Partnership: Communicating regularly with parents regarding progress, routines, and child needs, with a minimum of weekly communication
- Social-Emotional Guidance: Fostering empathy, resilience, and positive interactions in children.
- Professionalism & Inclusivity: Maintaining a respectful, inclusive, and culturally diverse classroom that welcomes all children.
Core Responsibilities
Curriculum & Teaching
- Follow CCLD “All rules and certified childcare center rules and regulations.”
- Follow PFA rules and regulations.
- Plan and execute a weekly curriculum using 1-4 Model.
- Foster learning through hands-on exploration, creativity, and inquiry.
- Support children’s social-emotional development by guiding social skills and using consistent developmentally appropriate strategies for managing challenging behaviors.
- Observe, document, and assess children’s development to inform teaching — including doing two development-based assessments (ASQ) each year. Other assessments may be required as the year progresses.
- Adapt curriculum to meet the needs of all learners, including those requiring additional support.
- Provide and post a daily curriculum and snack schedule, and share it with families at least one month in advance.
- Use Brightwheel for check-ins and check-outs, student attendance, waivers, and forms, as well as daily communication with parents/guardians, including photos, lessons, and activities.
- Support classroom environment needs and manage cohort of students as teacher with occasional support from aides.
Classroom Environment
- Create and maintain a warm, inclusive, and organized classroom.
- Organize, rotate, and clean instructional materials and manipulatives on a monthly basis.
- Adjust the classroom environment to support children with individual needs.
- Ensure a safe, clean environment that meets licensing and PFA standards.
- Provide individualized support, including early intervention strategies when appropriate.
- Use effective classroom management rooted in relationship-based practices.
- Seek to build relationships with all students in your classroom.
Family & Community Engagement
- Build strong, trusting relationships with families.
- Communicate regularly about children’s development and classroom experiences.
- Lead and participate in parent-teacher conferences.
- Engage in community events and contribute to SCH programming.
- Use Brightwheel for check-ins and check-outs, student attendance, waivers, and forms, as well as daily communication with parents/guardians, including photos, lessons, and activities.
- Provide appropriate referrals to community supports and resources.
Team Collaboration & Individual Accountability
- Collaborate closely with Lead teacher, and preschool teaching team to maintain a cohesive classroom environment.
- Participate in weekly team meetings and reflective practice.
- Slack and email to collaborate and communicate with the teaching team and other SCH co-workers, with the expectation that staff review and respond to messages as part of morning prep before the school day begins.
- Attend regularly scheduled shifts and in-service days. Provide a doctor's note for excused absences.
- Maintain up-to-date ORO records and attend appropriate training to meet required training and ongoing professional development.
- Contribute to a positive, inclusive workplace culture.
Commitment to Mission & Community
We are more than a preschool—we are a community-centered organization with a shared mission to support children, families, and neighborhoods. All team members are expected to actively engage in and champion this mission. This includes participating in community events, speaking positively and knowledgeably about our work, and serving as an ambassador for our programs. We value educators who are excited to contribute not only in the classroom, but also to the broader impact and growth of our organization.
Qualifications & Requirements
- Education: High school diploma or equivalent with early childcare experience, or early childhood education degrees preferred.
- ORO: Step 7 or higher on ORO.
- Experience: Previous child care experience in recorded, registered, or licensed early childcare programs.
- Core Competencies: Emotional intelligence, creativity, patience, strong communication skills, problem solving skills, strength based approach, and the ability to work as part of a team.
Required Certifications (or willingness to obtain)
- Pediatric CPR/First Aid
- Oregon Food Handler’s Card
- Introduction to Child Care Health & Safety
- Recognizing & Reporting Child Abuse & Neglect
- Hiring dependent on Background Check, and registration in the Oregon Certified Background Registry.
Preferred
- Degree or coursework in Early Childhood Education or related field
- Experience working with neurodivergent children
Supervision
This position reports directly to the Early Childhood Manager, with additional support from the SCH leadership team.
Join Our Team
We are looking for educators who bring warmth, curiosity, flexibility, and a deep respect for children and families. If you are excited to be part of a collaborative, community-centered program, we encourage you to apply.
Pay: $24.86 - $44.20 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Employee discount
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
Work Location: In person
