Teacher Assistant - Head Start

Join our Head Start team! The Teacher Assistant works with Teachers and Family Educators to provide support in one or more of the following program areas: education, riding the bus, food service, and cleaning.

Candidates must submit applications by 10/30/24 to be considered for first-round interviews.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

Level 1: Requires high school diploma or General Education Degree (GED) and 6 months of experience working in a Head Start classroom or 1 year of experience working with preschool children in a classroom/childcare setting. *Must obtain Child Development Associate (CDA) OR Certificate of Completion in Early Childhood Education from an accredited college within two years from date of hire to maintain employment in the Program.

Level 2: High School Diploma or General Education Degree (GED) and a Child Development Associate (CDA) or Certificate of Completion in Early Childhood Education from an accredited college.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Proficient in the use of computers and related information technology.
• Bilingual English-Spanish capabilities are preferred but not required. To qualify as bilingual, staff must possess demonstrated abilities to speak, write, and read fluently in Spanish and English and pass a bilingual test. *Bilingual staff may receive a pay differential based on HS Program language needs.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

• Driver qualification status is not required for this position.
• Successful registration with the Central Background Registry of the Child Care Division.
• CPR/First Aid Certification or the ability to obtain within 60 days of hire.
• Food Handlers Card or the ability to obtain within 30 days of hire.
• Candidate must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Candidate must pass pre-employment and random drug/alcohol screenings.

**ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive.

• Maintains continuous work-related learning by attending regular and special program training events, degree and certificate programs, or comparable special studies by arrangement with the program administration, and by reading materials related to their field and specialties.
• Respects the cultural diversity of the children, parents, staff and community, and assists with providing program curriculum in an anti-biased way.
• Possesses working knowledge of Head Start Performance Standards, agency policies and procedures and other applicable regulations.
• Focuses attention on program during working hours. Keeps appropriate attendance and work hours. Is on time for meetings and appointments.
• Takes responsibility for program equipment and materials when using them.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties and responsibilities.

• Required to frequently reach with hands and arms; regularly required to climb or balance; occasionally required to stand; walk; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• Regularly lift and/or move 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Physical ability to quickly evacuate children from the classroom in an emergency.
• Manual dexterity for handling office equipment.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Mostly indoor classroom and bus riding environment.
• Frequent outdoor supervision of children and monitoring pick up/drop off.
• Occasional exposure to cleaning chemicals, creative substances such as paints.
• Occasional exposure to body fluids/biohazards (such as saliva, vomit and urine).

**Enrollment in the Central Background Registry is beneficial if you are even considering working with children in the State of Oregon, since it will be required before you can start a position. Enrollment is free and it is recommended that you start now a