Teacher Assistant

Title: Language Support Assistant

Program: South Coast Head Start

Location: Various Locations in Coos Curry and Western Douglas Counties

Pay Rate: Hourly starting at $16.81 DOE

Classification: On-Call

Reports to: Lead Teacher/Home Visitor Education Manager

Staff Supervised: None

HR Contact:

Revised: 12/2025

Job Description

PRIMARY PURPOSE:

Delivery of high quality cultural and linguistic support to ensure full participation of all enrolled children and/or families as defined by the Head Start Performance Standards. To value and use intentional language support for children who are dual language learners. Engage with families as needed to provide connections to program supports. Maintain quality environments with attention to safety and health prevention measures. Participate and support in program improvements regarding the full participation of children and families in our program.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS (Reason position exists is to perform these functions):

Classroom Education/Language Support

• Communicate with children honoring their home language.
• Use home language to model language development and support emergent language.
• Interpret during daily activities for the child; child to teacher/teacher to child child to peers/peers to child.
• Maintain an orderly and physically/emotionally safe environment.
• Participate in childrens activities.
• Use positive interactions with children including verbal and body language.
• Support in ensuring all children spaces and materials are age-appropriate and responsive to interests culturally and linguistically appropriate and include accommodations to meet all childrens needs.
• Maintain a positive attitude regarding the Head Start program and philosophy.
• Model behaviors that demonstrate an understanding acceptance and welcoming of diversity.
• Join the children for meals. Model social skills and good eating habits. Gently encourage trying new foods.

PROGRAM TEAM EXPECTATIONS:

Teamwork - We join our individual strengths together creating teams and circles of cooperation to promote innovative thinking and bring opportunity to our community.

Partnerships - We create collaborative community partnerships to best leverage all resources available for the benefit of the community.

Diversity - We welcome and accept differences and honor our co-workers and clients by treating each person with equality dignity and respect.

Confidentiality & Ethics - We maintain a high standard of ethics and integrity to respect the confidentiality of clients and staff.

Physical Safety - We respond promptly to address health and safety needs or concerns for clients and staff.

Communications - We encourage timely open-minded respectful and direct communication to alleviate controversies and foster a safe productive workplace.

Health & Sustainability - Recognizing the importance of physical emotional and environmental health we seek to inspire and model healthy sustainable living.

Public Relations - We recognize that each of us represents the entire agency in our public interactions and strive to act in a consistently professional and unbiased manner.

Professional Growth - We provide an environment supportive to personal and professional growth cross training and advancement.

INDIVIDUAL EXPECTATIONS:

• Model behaviors that demonstrate an understanding acceptance and welcoming of diversity.
• Attend staff meetings center meetings and/or other workshops/meetings as notified.
• Maintain a positive attitude regarding ORCCA and all its programs.
• Maintain respect and positive communication regarding all children families and staff.
• Maintain confidentiality of client and staff information.
• Maintain open two-way communication with staff.
• Accept suggestions and guidance from supervisor and other management staff.
• Seek feedback on job performance and evaluate suggestions and guidance to incorporate in performance.
• Commit to further training. Develop an individual training plan using program tools as appropriate.
• Communicate with supervisor regarding any needed changes or concerns with work schedule.
• Adhere to agency procedures as a mandated child abuse reporter.
• Regular attendance is a requirement of the position.
• Ability to perform the job with or without reasonable accommodations.

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS:

• High School diploma or equivalent required.
• CDA credential preferred.
• Two years of paid experience or a combination of related experience and training.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Geographic Area: Coos Curry and Western Douglas Counties
• Shared office space in a climate-controlled environment; may not have access to sunlight. Regular activities outside in a non-climate-controlled environment.
• Occasional events outside of the office at irregular hours/days will be required.
• Attendance at off-site staff training events will be required.
• Ability to occasionally move transport and/or position items weighing up to 51 pounds with or without reasonable accommodations.
• Ability to frequently be able to change position of self to sit on floor or engage in other activities at a childs level.
• Ability to frequently remain in a stationary position for prolonged periods of time.
• Ability to frequently move about classroom(s) indoor/outdoor playground area(s) and/or office space(s)
• Driving to home visits will be required if a function of the position.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be enrolled in the Oregon Department of Education-Child Care Division Central Background Registry at time of hire and update it as required.
• Pediatric First Aid/CPR Certification within 90 days of hire and update it as required.
• Oregon Food Handlers card within 30 days of hire and update it as required.
• Health Appraisal within 30 days of hire and every three years at a minimum.
• Proof of automobile liability insurance @ $100000/300000 liability limits and maintain such limits.
• Reliable transportation for getting to work.
• Must be free from illegal drugs may be subject to suspicion testing.

NOTE: The specific statements reflected in each section of this position description are not intended to be all-conclusive but rather the basic elements and criteria considered being necessary in order to satisfactorily perform the duties associated with the position. Your employment with ORCCA is at will. This means your employment is for an indefinite period of time and it is subject to termination by you or Employer with or without cause with or without notice and at any time.

Oregon Coast Community Action is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ORCCA does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race color religion creed gender gender expression age national origin (ancestry) disability marital status sexual orientation or military status in any of its activities or operation.

Please inform Human Resources at or if you require a reasonable accommodation in order to perform the essential functions of this job.