McMinnville Playschool is a cooperative preschool rooted in play, relationships, curiosity, and community. Families are active participants in the life of the school, volunteering in the classroom and supporting the program alongside the teacher. Because of this cooperative model, our classroom has very low child-adult ratios, allowing for meaningful relationships, individualized support, and a calm, connected learning environment.
We are looking for someone who understands young children deeply, values play as meaningful learning, and can build strong relationships with both children and adults.
About the Role:
This is a part-time, school-year position for someone who is excited to lead a small, joyful early childhood program rooted in play, relationships, and family community.
The Teacher will lead our three-day-per-week preschool program and our two-day-per-week parent-child toddler program. This role includes planning and facilitating play-based learning experiences, supporting children’s social-emotional development, working alongside families in the classroom, and mentoring and guiding parent volunteers as they support children’s play, learning, and daily routines.
We’re Looking for Someone Who:
- Has experience teaching young children in a preschool, child care, or early learning setting
- Believes children learn through play, exploration, relationships, and hands-on experiences
- Can create a warm, inclusive, and developmentally appropriate classroom environment
- Communicates clearly and kindly with families
- Is comfortable working in a parent-participation/cooperative model
- Can guide parent volunteers in the classroom with clarity, warmth, and confidence
- Values diversity, inclusion, and respect for all family structures and identities
- Can support children through conflict, big emotions, problem-solving, and social development
- Is organized enough to manage the practical pieces of a classroom program
- Works well both independently and collaboratively with a board of directors
Responsibilities Include:
- Planning and facilitating a play-based preschool curriculum
- Preparing the classroom environment and materials
- Supporting children’s social, emotional, cognitive, physical, and creative development
- Communicating regularly with families
- Guiding parent volunteers during classroom time
- Partnering with the board on classroom needs, family communication, school events, and program support
- Supporting a positive, inclusive, and connected school community
- Helping families understand the value of play-based learning and cooperative participation
Qualifications Required:
- Experience working with preschool-aged children, including children with disabilities
- Strong understanding of child development and developmentally appropriate practice
- Ability to lead a busy classroom with warmth, flexibility, and calm
- Ability to supervise, guide, and support parent volunteers with warmth, clarity, patience, and respect
- Ability to be physically active throughout the school day, including moving around the classroom and outdoor play areas, getting down to children’s level, lifting or carrying classroom materials, and supporting busy young children
- Commitment to inclusion, equity, anti-bias practice, and respectful relationships with children and families
- Current Pediatric First Aid/CPR certification, or ability to obtain before the start of the school year
- Current Oregon mandatory reporter training, or ability to complete before the start of the school year
- Enrollment in the Oregon Central Background Registry, or ability to enroll before the start of the school year.
Preferred:
- Degree or coursework in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Human Development, or a related field
- Experience in a cooperative preschool, parent-participation program, Reggio-inspired, constructivist, emergent curriculum, or play-based setting
- Experience mentoring, coaching, or supporting adults in a classroom or volunteer setting
- Knowledge of anti-bias education and inclusive classroom practices
- Experience collaborating with early childhood support professionals, such as speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, behavioral specialists, early intervention providers, or developmental specialists
- Familiarity with child care licensing expectations
Pay: $20,000.00 - $25,000.00 per year
Benefits:
Application Question(s):
- Please fill out our pre-screening questionnaire here: https://form.jotform.com/260618528858066. You can also find this job posted on our website at mcminnvilleplayschool.com/hiring
Work Location: In person
