Staff Qualifications & Training at Precious Cargo
Our standards
Qualifications & Training
Every member of the Precious Cargo team is carefully selected, thoroughly trained, and continuously supported to deliver the highest quality care and education for your child.
Staff qualifications
We hold our educators and caregivers to rigorous standards — because the people who care for your children deserve to be the best.
Oregon Background Check
All staff pass a comprehensive Oregon criminal background check through the Central Background Registry before their first day. Safety is non-negotiable.
ECE Certification
Lead teachers hold or are actively pursuing Oregon Early Childhood Education (ECE) certification, with support from our director.
First Aid & CPR
Every staff member is certified in pediatric First Aid and CPR. We set this up upon hire — no prior certification required to apply.
Mandated Reporter Training
All staff complete Oregon mandated reporter training (RRCAN) to recognize and respond to signs of abuse or neglect.
Oregon licensing requirements
Oregon requires all child care providers to complete specific steps before working with children. Here's exactly what's needed and where to get it done.
Oregon requires a background check
All staff must be cleared through Oregon's Central Background Registry before starting work.
Central Background RegistryMandatory online classes
Before you start, you need to take 5 classes for the state — they are free!
- Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect (RRCAN)
- Foundations for Learning
- Safe Sleep for Oregon's Infants
- Prevention Is Better Than Treatment
- Introduction to Child Care Health and Safety (ICCHS)
These can be taken at:
PSU Oregon Child Care Division CatalogFirst Aid & CPR
The last certification you need is First Aid & CPR. We can set this up upon hire!
Oregon Registry Online (ORO)
The Oregon Registry Online (ORO) is the state's professional development tracking system for early childhood and school-age care providers. All Precious Cargo staff are registered in ORO.
ORO tracks your training hours, certifications, and career ladder progress. It's how Oregon recognizes and rewards professionals who invest in their skills and it's required for our quality rating.
When you join our team, we'll help you get set up in ORO and make sure your training hours are properly recorded as you grow with us.
Visit Oregon Registry OnlineWhy ORO matters
- Tracks all training hours & certifications in one place
- Required for Oregon quality rating programs
- Recognizes your career ladder progress
- We help every new hire get registered
Creative Curriculum
We use the Creative Curriculum® for Preschool — a nationally recognized, research-based framework that guides how our teachers plan and deliver learning experiences for children ages 3–5.
Creative Curriculum focuses on the whole child: social-emotional development, language and literacy, math, science, social studies, the arts, and physical development. Teachers observe children, document their progress, and use that data to tailor instruction to each child's needs.
This approach means your child isn't just being watched — they're being intentionally taught, in a warm and play-based environment that makes learning feel like fun.
Ongoing professional development
Annual training hours
All staff complete required annual professional development hours covering child development, health and safety, and curriculum best practices.
Five-star quality rating
Our River Rd S center holds Oregon's highest quality rating, which requires ongoing staff training and program evaluation.
Regular team meetings
Our teaching teams meet regularly to review child progress, share strategies, and align on curriculum goals.
Director mentorship
Our experienced director provides hands-on coaching and mentorship to help every staff member grow professionally.
Staff-to-child ratios
We maintain low staff-to-child ratios to ensure every child receives attentive, individualized care.
| Age group | Staff : Children |
|---|---|
| Infants (6 weeks – 12 months) | 1:4 |
| Toddlers (12 – 24 months) | 1:4 |
| Twos (24 – 36 months) | 1:5 |
| Preschool (3 – 5 years) | 1:10 |
| School age (5 – 12 years) | 1:15 |
Ratios meet or exceed Oregon licensing requirements and reflect our commitment to quality care.