Instructional Mentor

Title: Instructional Mentor 

Employment Status: Full Time 

Schedule: Full Year 

FTE: 1.0 | 261 days

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt 

Reports to: Center Director

Supervises: N/A

 Offering New Employee Bonus! $300 after successful completion of 60 days of employment.

Benefits: 

• Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance  
• PTO  
• Paid Holidays  
• 401k with 2.5% match 
• Employee Assistance Program 
• $10,000 Basic Life Insurance 
• Voluntary LTD, and additional life insurance 
• Quarterly passes to Columbia Sportwear and Adidas employee store 

Who we are:  

Support for Early Learning and Families (SELF) convenes and mobilizes partners and stakeholders throughout Southwest Washington to promote community awareness and advocacy for early learning, kindergarten readiness and school success for all children.

How do we do this? We work in partnership with the Educational Service District (ESD) 112 to staff and facilitate numerous childcare centers in the southwest Washington area. Our programs are designed to support children at ages ranging from birth, to preschool, to school age. We have program types to support children of all backgrounds and needs.  

You may be wondering what joining our team really means for you. Aside from getting to play with children all day, you go home at the end of the day knowing that your work is directly impacting the lives of those children by readying them for school and enriching their lives. You’ll be part of a team that values connection, accountability, and innovation. We pride ourselves on fostering a community that helps our mission by helping each other. 

If you are passionate about uplifting young minds and wish to make an impact that expands outside of the classroom, we would love to have you join our team! 

General Description of Position:

Under the supervision of the Center Director and in collaboration with the Operations Center Director, the Instructional Mentor will support teaching staff through on-the-job coaching, teaching, and modeling of behaviors.  This position will serve in the classroom, assisting teachers with supporting children, as well as providing coaching and training to classroom staff.  In addition, the Instructional Mentor will step into ratio as needed to provide relief for teachers’ breaks as well as to substitute when call-outs/absences occur.  The successful candidate will be an experienced classroom teacher, skilled in supporting children with varied abilities, and have demonstrated prowess as a leader, a coach, and mentor.   

Qualifications and Skills: 

• State Cert (47) or 45 ECE credits per state requirement
• 18 years of age or older. 
• Knowledge of and experience with teaching preschoolers, including those who have been impacted by trauma and/or who have delays and disabilities. 
• Knowledge of recognizing trauma and approaches to building resiliency with children and adults 
• Knowledge of and experience with supporting adult learners, including teaching staff and families. 
• Knowledge of and experience with job embedded professional development, including modeling, coaching, facilitating reflective conversations. 
• Ability to work within a team and work effectively with other people. 
• Ability to follow directions and follow through efficiently on assigned tasks. 
• Must demonstrate the following qualities: self-motivated, self-directed, able to make good judgements, creative, reliable, and dependable.
• Must present a professional and positive demeanor in behavior and dress.
• Demonstrate an understanding and appreciation for diverse ethnic and economic backgrounds of families served.

Essential Functions: 

• Act as peer mentor to teaching staff, providing knowledge and experience needed to support high quality learning environments and teaching practices  
• The instructional mentor will be scheduled in classrooms regularly to help with break coverage and absences as needed 
• When not needed in ratio, the instructional mentor will work alongside teachers to strengthen teaching practices and learning environments 
• The instructional mentor will work in partnership with the center director to identify strengths and opportunities for continuous growth and improvement     
• Provide a variety of job-embedded professional learning experiences for staff including modeling effective classroom management techniques, coaching, mentoring, training and reflective practice with a focus on responding to trauma through a strengths-based approach 
• Support staff in implementing social-emotional curriculum and standards to fidelity   
• Work as part of a team to actively participate in the on-going and continuous quality improvement process by reflecting on current practices, identifying opportunities for growth, supporting staff in implementing goals, assessing impacts and re-evaluating next steps. 
• The instructional mentor can be used as a secondary contact when the center director is away 

Physical/Strength Requirements: 

• Regular attendance during scheduled work hours. 
• Requires the ability to move or traverse about inside the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, center activities, etc.
• Moderate or frequent exposure to loud noises, outside weather elements, and temperature changes.
• Lifting requirements include the ability to exert up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, 20 pounds of force frequently, and up to 10 pounds constantly to move objects including the human body.
• Job involves sitting, standing, walking, lifting, carrying, reaching, grasping, bending, stooping, crouching, pushing, and/or pulling. Position involves physical mobility with or without reasonable accommodation to perform essential functions of the job.

Employment Requirements: 

• Successful completion of a portable background check (PBC) and clearance through the Department of Children Youth and Families prior to working in program.
• Valid CPR/First Aid certification including child/infant that has an in-person skill practice session/class prior to working in program.
• Participation in Washington’s State Training and Registry System (STARS) program required.
• Valid Clark County Washington Food Handler’s Card required prior to working in program.

• Negative TB test completed within the previous twelve months prior to working in program.

• Initial health exam completed by medical provider showing you are free from communicable diseases.

• Documentation showing immunity to Measles, Mumps, & Rubella (MMR), either vaccination records or results of a Titer test prior to working in program.
• Completion of HIV/Blood Borne Pathogens training prior to working in program. That has been completed within the last year.

SELF is an Equal Opportunity Employer