Preschool 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, food service, and cleaning.

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

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• High School Diploma or GED; and
  • Level I: 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 II: Child Development Associate (CDA) or Certificate of Completion in Early Childhood Education from an accredited college.
• Six months of experience working in a Head Start classroom or one year of experience working with preschool children in a classroom/childcare setting.

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, renewable every two years.
• Candidate must pass pre-employment and random drug/alcohol screenings.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Demonstrated proficiencies in Microsoft Office (including Outlook), videoconferencing platforms, and web tools.
• Demonstrates tact, diplomacy and empathy when communicating with clients, staff and community partners.
• Effective communication skills, in both written and oral form.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employee will also perform other reasonably related business duties as assigned by immediate supervisor and other management as required.

• Ensures safety in the classroom at all times, with appropriate supervision of children, utilizing the transition and counting form and procedure. Ensures children are released only to parent/guardians or authorized adults.
• Supports teacher in providing for the development of children's cognitive, physical, social-emotional and language skills through implementation of curriculum, lesson planning and individualization.
• Conducts and records child observations to utilize in setting goals.
• Utilizes lesson plans and a variety of curriculum to address children's individual goals, taking into account each child's characteristics, strengths, and needs.
• Maintains an acceptable and positive level of guidance in individual and group situations, reacting to emergency situations with competence and a calm attitude.
• Prepares materials, activities, and projects for class.
• Maintains a clean, sanitary, safe and orderly classroom during and after class times.
• Participates in family style meals, taking USDA required meal counts, and leading conversation at the table to enhance the social and emotional growth of children.
• Participates in monthly classroom emergency drills to prepare children and staff for fires, earthquakes, secure campus, and lockdown situations.
• Supports team by providing coverage for breaks, lunches, and illness, at home site as well as other sites in the program.
• Works with parents whose children require potty-training support.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

There are no supervisory duties in this position.

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

• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus.
• Regularly lift and/or move 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to remain calm and quickly evacuate children from the classroom in an emergency.
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