Head Start Associate Mentor

Head Start Associate Mentor

Salary

See Position Description

Location

McKinley Site 3702 E McKinley Ave., WA

Job Type

Full time

Job Number

26-27-05630

Department

Teaching & Learning

Division

Early Learning / TL

Opening Date

09/30/2026

Closing Date

10/7/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Description

Tacoma Public Schools

Expected Start Date: As soon as possible

FTE: 1.0

Hours per day: 8 plus a 30-minute lunch

Salary Level:

PA 7A/01 No degree: 36.03

PA 7E/01: AA Degree: 36.78

PA 7F/01: BA Degree or Higher: 37.03

Examples Of Duties

This position serves as a mentor to direct service staff in the area of Child Development, Family/Community partnerships, and health services. This position also assists in the planning and delivery of training in all aspects of the Head Start program and serves on the Head Start management team.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

1. Mentors direct service staff by modeling and teaching effective classroom learning environments and schedules; teaches staff to integrate health, nutrition, and safety components into daily activities.

2. Assists direct service staff in how to promote parent involvement and carry-out family services plans.

3. Assists direct service staff in fostering learning and literacy development of young children.

4. Guides staff in the preparation of daily activity plans which enable students to function as individuals and group members among peers and adults; teaches staff to select individualized and group activities based on information gathered through observation, interviewing, and screening.

5. Trains and mentors staff to record and track students= developmental progress.

6. Trains and mentors staff in how to promote and plan parent/family participation in learning activities, and how to train volunteers in techniques for positive interaction with children in classroom and at home through modeling and effective management techniques and utilization of behavior management tools.

7. Works with direct service staff to involve parents in program planning, to support home activities, to participate in parent meeting, to help establish and maintain a system of communication with families.

8. Maintains documentation of program activities and confidential records of interactions with staff; submits reports and/or records as requested.

9. Works with direct service staff in following the appropriate process when making a referral upon recognition of a special need with a child or family.

10. Attends a variety of meetings, classes, workshops, seminars, and other training sessions to ensure knowledge of current developments in Early Childhood Education, developmentally appropriate practices, family/community partnerships, and Head Start Performance Standards.

11. Assists in the development and implementation of annual Head Start work plans, policies, and procedures, and training plans; and works with direct service staff to improve program quality for students and families.

OTHER JOB DUTIES

1. Performs related duties as assigned, on a temporary basis.

2. Maintains and updates knowledge and skills necessary for success in the position by attending meetings, workshops, and/or other in-service activities, as assigned.

3. Regular, reliable, predictable attendance or physical presence is an essential job requirement and critical to the performance of the work.

CONDITIONS

May work flexible hours; longer work day required to travel within community to homes and agencies; may be exposed to infectious disease; may be required to deal with, and defuse, if appropriate, sensitive situations and/or people; may be required to lift and carry up to 20 pounds, bend, squat, stoop, kneel, crouch, walk, twist, climb, and/or be mobile.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience

Associate's degree in early childhood education or Washington State teaching certification with ECE endorsement; two years experience working with pre-school children, preferably from low-income families, desired; prior Head Start experience is desired; or any combination of experience and training which provides the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and ability required to perform the work.

Allowable Substitution

Associate's degree in a related field and a commitment to complete 34 quarter credits in assigned ECE/Family Support course work within the first three years of employment.

Licenses/Special Requirements

Valid Washington State driver's license with access to personal transportation.

First Aid and CPR certification is required within 60 days of employment; Food Handler's Card within four weeks.

An occupational health screening is required within the first 30 days of Head Start employment and periodically thereafter.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of Head Start Program.

Knowledge of early childhood education and child development.

Knowledge of community resources related to family needs.

Skill in problem solving and handling crisis situations.

Skill in obtaining, clarifying, and exchanging information.

Skill in drafting original correspondence and newsletters.

Ability to support the philosophy and components of the program.

Ability to lift and carry students, sit, stoop, bend, and run.

Ability to maintain confidentiality

Ability to produce and maintain documentation and records.

Ability to work with special needs students and adapt curriculum.

Ability to prioritize, coordinate, and multi-task.

Ability to demonstrate reasonable, reliable, and regular attendance.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of people in a multi-cultural, diverse socio-economic setting.

Ability to work as a cooperative team member.

This job description is not an employment agreement or contract. District administration has the exclusive right to alter this job description at any time without notice. The statements contained herein reflect general details as necessary to describe the primary functions of this job, the level of knowledge and skill typically required and the scope of responsibility, but should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned including work in other functional areas to cover absences or relief, to equalize peak work periods or otherwise balance the workload.

Nondiscrimination Statement

Tacoma Public Schools does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, creed, religion, color, national origin, immigration or citizenship status, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, homelessness, disability, neurodivergence, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination:

Civil Rights Coordinator, Gender-Inclusive Schools Coordinator, and Title IX Coordinator:

Tiffany Davis-Brantley

253-571-1252, civilrights@tacoma.k12.wa.us

Section 504 Coordinator:

Laura Tuman

253-571-1086, 504Coordinator@tacoma.k12.wa.us

Tacoma Public Schools

Mailing Address:

P.O. Box 1357

Tacoma, WA 98401-1357

www.tacomaschools.org

Benefits: This job has the full range of benefits offered by Tacoma Public Schools.

01

ALL1: Do you certify under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of Washington that your responses to the disclosure questions that you answer as part of your Candidate profile are true and correct as of the date of the application to this job requisition?

• Yes
• No

02

ALL2: Do you certify that you meet each of the minimum qualifications for this specific position as outlined in the job description?

• Yes
• No

03

ALL3: Do you certify that you are able and/or willing to perform each of the essential job functions of this position as outlined in the job description?

• Yes
• No

04

EL. Do you have an Associate's degree in early childhood education or Washington State teaching certification with ECE endorsement OR An Associate's degree in a related field and a commitment to complete 34 quarter credits in assigned ECE/Family Support course work within the first three years of employment? Please upload transcripts.

• Yes
• No

05

EL. Do you have two years of experience working with pre-school children?

• Yes
• No

Required Question

Employer Tacoma Public Schools (WA)

Address PO Box 1357

Tacoma, Washington, 98401

Phone 253-571-1250

Website http://www.tacomaschools.org/