Preschool Teacher & Infant / Toddler Teacher (Multi-Program)

Seedlings Playschool is seeking a warm, grounded Preschool, Infant, and Toddler Teacher to join our Reggio- & RIE- inspired, play-based, emergent curriculum programs* in Northeast Portland, in a Part Time Position *(3 days/week; 27 hours/week).

At Seedlings, we believe childhood is a time to be cherished, not rushed. We honor young children as whole people — capable, curious, creative, and worthy of deep respect. Our days are full of wonder: messy art, muddy boots, deep play, big emotions, and real relationships. We spend lots of time outdoors, embrace process over product, and trust children to lead their own learning.

This is a Part Time position. You would work on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday - each week day, you would work at a different location. Our locations are all in NE Portland (In the Alberta Arts, Woodlawn, and Cully neighborhoods). Hours will be 8am-6pm (with 1hr unpaid lunch), on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday - total weekly hours of 27/week.

At a glance

• Pay: $20–$25/hour
• Schedule: Part-time - 27 hours/week
• Age group: From 0-5 years (We have one Infant Program, and two Toddler & Preschool Age Programs)
• Location: 5717 NE Sumner St ; 432 NE Dekum Street ; 5304 NE 15th Ave (all in NE Portland)
• Benefits: matching 401(k), paid time off, paid holidays, paid training & professional development support
• We are open to splitting this position, so please feel free to apply, and let us know, if you are available for only part of the listed schedule (Monday, Wednesday, or Friday)

The role

You’ll spend your days

• Creating a nurturing environment: Maintain a safe, inviting, well-prepared space that supports exploration indoors and outdoors.
• Supporting child-led learning: Observe children closely and extend their interests through an emergent curriculum approach.
• Honoring play as serious learning: Provide rich opportunities for messy, noisy, joyful play and meaningful work.
• Supporting emotional development: Co-regulate with patience and empathy; help children practice problem-solving, boundaries, and community care (instead of adult-imposed solutions).
• Collaborating with families and teammates: Communicate clearly and respectfully to support a strong classroom community.
• Engaging in reflective practice: Participate in training, professional development, and ongoing growth alongside our team.

What it’s like to work here

At Seedlings, we offer

• Great ratios and a supportive, collaborative team
• A warm community that values relationships and professionalism
• Paid training and planning time and professional development support
• Competitive pay with opportunities for growth
• Matching 401(k)
• Paid holiday breaks

Who we’re hoping to meet

We’re looking for a teacher who shares our heart and vision — someone who:

• Truly sees and honors each child as an individual
• Values connection over control
• Finds joy in messy, active play and outdoor days
• Is patient, grounded, playful, and collaborative
• Enjoys observing children’s interests and extending learning through materials and experiences
• Wants to grow with a small team and contribute to an environment built on trust and respect

Requirements

• Experience working with infants, toddlers, and preschool-aged children (0–5 years)
• Alignment with Reggio-inspired, play-based, or emergent curriculum approaches

(If you’re newer to Reggio, RIE, and emergent curriculum but deeply aligned with play-based and child-centered practice, we still encourage you to apply.)

• CPR/First Aid and required safety set trainings (or willingness to obtain)
• Enrolled Oregon Central Background Registry (CBR)

We can’t wait to meet you.

Job Type: Part-time (27hrs/week)

Pay: $20.00–$25.00 per hour

Work Location: In person

Pay: $20.00 - $25.00 per hour

Benefits

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance

Application Question(s)

• Describe your dream school. Specifically, please describe: (1) the schedule or rhythm of the day ; (2) the philosophy or pedagogical practices ; (3) what you do throughout each day as the teacher in this classroom. And anything else that feels especially important to you!
• Describe a specific time when two children in your classroom had a conflict with one another. What did you do and say? What happened?
• Imagine you've communicated to a child that something isn't safe or isn't working for the group, and they continue doing it. What do you think is usually going on for the child? What are your next steps?
• This is a part time position, for 27 hours/week. You would be scheduled for 8am-6pm on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday each week. Each weekday would be at a different one of our 3 locations in NE Portland. Please confirm this schedule aligns with what you are looking for.

(Or, if you'd like to apply for only a part of this schedule, specify that you would be available for just one or two of those weekdays, and which.)

Work Location: In person