Teaching Staff
Teachers
Professional teaching staff are the core of our program. Lead teachers and assistant teachers who are University of Oregon employees professionally staff the classrooms. The professional teachers in your child’s classroom are your primary contact for communication about your child and family. All of our center professional teaching staff have at least an associate degree in the field of early childhood education or equivalent experience. Hiring procedures follow UO guidelines and affirmative action practices.
When professional teaching staff take sick or vacation leave, the center schedules on-call teachers from our pool of temporary and permanent substitute teachers. All substitute teachers meet at least the requirements of classroom assistant teachers, have been trained in the classrooms and are familiar with the special requirements of teaching each group they are assigned, including pertinent medical information, allergies and special needs.
University Students
Professional teaching staff is complemented by paid student employees, interns, practicum students and volunteers. The professional teaching staff work with university students as a team, offering leadership and training within each classroom. Students are assigned a range of responsibilities based on their education and experience according to State of Oregon Child Care Division (CCD) regulations. The addition of university students’ participation in the programs adds to Vivian Olum Child Development Center’s individualized approach to education and the stimulating environments provided within the center.
Each classroom is staffed to meet and exceed the State of Oregon CCD requirements for ratios of children to staff. Everyone who is employed at the center has undergone a criminal history check through the State of Oregon CCD. Interns, practicum students, and volunteers are not counted in our ratios, but do provide additional support in our classrooms. They receive background checks either through the CCD or through the university.
Administrative Staff
The center’s administrative team includes the center director, assistant director, program coordinator, business manager, and office support staff. Oversight is provided by the Associate Vice President for Campus Services. The primary contacts for your questions are:
- Director: Program and curriculum information, tours, center policies, child development and parenting issues, Parent Council, health and safety issues, personnel issues
- Assistant Director for Education: Program and curriculum information, center policies, student staff, child development and parenting issues, personnel issues.
- Assistant Director & Program Coordinator: Program and curriculum information for substitute teachers, student staff, volunteers and interns, child development and parenting issues
- Enrollment & Operations Coordinator: Child enrollment, schedules, wait-list policies and issues. Tuition, payroll deduction and billing issues, building issues.
- Office Specialist: General reception support such as handling messages regarding child attendance and messages for classroom teachers, forms.