About Careertakes

👉 Important disclosure: Careertakes is a third-party recruiting platform supporting this hiring process. If selected, you will be employed directly by our client, Early Childhood Education.

Applicants for this role may also receive access to additional matched opportunities through the Careertakes platform.

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Position Summary

Confidential Client is hiring a part-time Preschool Housed Substitute to provide classroom, kitchen, and custodial coverage across their early childhood centers in the Fairbank, AZ area. This is an entry-level, in-person role with variable hours (typically 4 hours/day funded, may work up to 8 hours/day based on need) and occasional short- or long-term placements at different sites. Flexible availability and reliable transportation within the community are required.

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What You’ll Do

The Preschool Housed Substitute fills in for absent staff across classroom, food-service, and custodial roles. You will:

• Provide stable, safe supervision and support for preschool-aged children.
• Follow lead teachers’ routines and help implement curriculum activities.
• Prepare and serve meals/snacks following nutrition and sanitation guidelines when assigned to food service.
• Perform custodial tasks to maintain a clean, safe environment when assigned to custodial shifts.
• Travel between centers within the community as assignments require.
• Support family engagement activities (home visits, parent meetings) when requested.
• Complete basic recordkeeping related to meals, supplies, and cleaning checklists as assigned.

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Core Responsibilities (by assignment)

Classroom substitution

• Implement daily routines and support children’s development through one-on-one and small-group activities.
• Promote safety, hygiene, and positive behavior with active supervision.
• Assist with parent interactions, screenings, and documentation when needed.

Food service substitution

• Prepare meals and snacks according to posted menus and CACFP/Head Start standards.
• Maintain kitchen sanitation and accurate meal records.
• Support inventory and ordering in coordination with site supervisors.

Custodial substitution

• Clean and sanitize indoor and outdoor spaces, follow cleaning checklists, and secure facilities.
• Support playground maintenance and report safety or maintenance issues.

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Benefits

• Paid leave: 24 paid holidays and up to 5 days sick leave annually.
• Eligible medical and dental benefits per ACA eligibility rules.
• Retirement plan contributions and 401(k) deferral opportunities after eligibility criteria are met.
• Professional development support (opportunities toward CDA, associate degree, and potentially bachelor’s degree in early childhood education).

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Minimum Qualifications

• At least 18 years of age.
• High school diploma or GED.
• Ability to read, write, speak, and understand English.
• Demonstrated proficiency with Office 365 (Outlook, Teams, OneDrive, Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Ability to pass required background checks and pre-employment physical exam.
• Submit and maintain a current Arizona Department of Public Safety Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card prior to start.

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Desired Qualifications

• Six months of experience in a licensed childcare setting.
• Child Development Associate (CDA) credential (preferred for classroom placements).
• Post-secondary coursework or degree in Early Childhood Education (associate or higher) — 18 ECE credits preferred.
• Bilingual in Spanish (beneficial).

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Competencies

• Accountability and dependability
• Adaptability and flexibility
• Safety focus and active supervision
• Strong listening and relationship-building skills
• Teamwork and valuing diversity
• Commitment to professional development
• Comfortable using basic technology for communication and recordkeeping

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Work Environment & Physical Requirements

Work environment

• Indoor classroom (temperature controlled)
• Outdoor playground (exposure to heat/cold)
• Potential exposure to communicable illnesses and cleaning chemicals

Physical requirements

• Frequent: stooping, bending, reaching, moving quickly, getting up/down from floor or low chairs, lifting children (30–40 lb)
• Occasional: carrying supplies, pushing/pulling furniture (20–50 lb), lifting up to ~50 lb

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Other Requirements (post hire)

• Ability to travel between sites; may require use of agency vehicle for some assignments.
• Provide proof of immunizations (MMR, Tdap) and clear TB self-assessment.
• Maintain current First Aid/CPR certification for infants and children.
• Obtain State of Arizona Food Safety Manager Certification and Food Handlers Class within one month of employment when assigned to food service.
• Provide documentation to complete Federal I-9.

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Equal Opportunity & Hiring Transparency

Careertakes and our client are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We prohibit discrimination or harassment of any kind.
To support a fair and efficient hiring process, AI tools may be used to assist with application review or resume screening. These tools do not replace human decision-making. Final hiring decisions are made by people.

If you have questions about how your data is used, please contact us directly.