Teacher Assistant in Pueblo, Colorado at Chicanos Por La Causa

The Teacher Assistant functions as a partner in planning and implementing the classroom-learning environment to promote school readiness by preparing children and families for school success and life success as it relates to this position. The Teacher Assistant assists and partners with the Teacher in providing high quality developmentally appropriate care and education for children aged 3-5 in a center-based classroom in the CPLC ECD Colorado Program. In partnership and guidance from the teacher, the teacher assistant participates as part of a center based inter- disciplinary team to support the child in all areas of development while providing education, disabilities, health, and social service support to families. Abide by all state and federal regulations that apply to care and education of young children including the revised Head Start Program Performance Standards, Head Start Act, and CPLC ECD Content Area Plans and Procedures. Actively supervise children by sight and sound at all times and in all environments. Maintain all health and safety regulations to create an optimum learning environment. Facilitate health practices to keep children safe in the school bus, outdoor and indoor environments.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

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SPECIALIZATIONS

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PRIMARY DUTIES AND ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Center-based teachers, teacher assistants and family child care providers are expected to demonstrate competency to provide effective nurturing teacher-child interactions, plan and implement learning experiences that ensure effective curriculum implementation and use of assessment and promote children’s progress across the standards described in the Head Start Learning Outcomes Framework: Ages Birth to Five and applicable state early learning and development standards, including for children with disabilities and dual language learners.

• Program Management: Demonstrate awareness and sensitivity to cultural issues and community practices of low income and at-risk families, including dual language speakers. Implement Office of Head Start initiatives. Assist in providing task-based training mentoring/modeling to substitutes and volunteers. Attend designated program and center meetings. Assist and participate in parent involvement activities. Perform other duties as requested by immediate supervisor necessary to fulfill the goals and objectives of CPLC ECD Colorado. Maintain and keep current all necessary and required certifications.
• Safety: Supervise children by sight and sound at all times in all environments. Maintain all safety regulations to create an optimum learning environment. Facilitate health practices in all indoor and outdoor learning environments. Establish and maintain a safe, supportive environment in the classroom and the playground. Increase vigilance while walking children to and from various site locations during transitions. Implement a safety plan for classroom and play areas. Safety practice to include daily are: zoning, verbal hand off of safety monitoring, counting children at every classroom transition, before and after going to the playground, bus and leaving the classroom. Incorporate Office of Head Start (OHS) safety guidance and protocols including but not limited to OHS health & safety screener and Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale (ECERS) classroom arrangement and daily practices.
• Assess Development and Learning: Using designated research-based assessment tools, record, analyze and asses child development and learning information in accordance with assessment guidance directions provided by authors of the tools used. Support teacher and implement assessment systems such as MyTeachingStrategies (MTS). Maintain daily documentation and assessment results, input assessment data into designated electronic record-keeping systems. Guide and assist parents on how to complete developmental screenings.
• Ongoing Social, Emotional and Physical Care: Develop and nurture trust-based partnership relationships with parent and children regarding supporting the developing children in your care. Respond quickly to child’s needs. Immediately care for child’s personal hygiene needs such as; toileting support, cleaning, feeding, and changing soiled or wet clothing/diapers. Engage children in vocabulary building conversation during routine care. Assist in Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) duties such as implanting CACFP Family style meal service during daily meals, sit and eat CACFP meals with children engage in vocabulary building conversation with children. Support teacher in following: log temperatures and document Point of Meal Service, classroom nutrition activities, I am Moving, I am Learning (IMIL) activities in the classroom daily.
• School Readiness Development: Engage in high quality teacher-child interactions as measured by Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS). Implement designated curriculum within a dual language environment. Implement designated curricula as outlined by authors and according to trainings provided. Support teacher in weekly intentional planning for creation of weekly lesson plans, engage in multiple daily learning interactions and conversations with children to vocabulary, concept knowledge in support of school readiness of children. Follow guidance of teacher to implement daily/weekly education plans to support Individual Education Plan (IEP), weekly calendar breakdown activities as outlined in curricula, Education Content Area Plan and procedures. Support teacher in preparation to conduct Parent Teacher Conferences and Transition Home Visit to develop transition plans with parents.

• Home School Connections: Assist teacher to provide parent with information and resources to assist them in supporting program school readiness goals, child development goal and curricula learning experiences for the child and parent.
• Ongoing Monitoring: Engage in ongoing monitoring per program procedures. Ongoing Monitoring is inclusive of all aspects of program service delivery. Follow teacher guidance to analyze all data from program systems to support high quality delivery program educational services. Engage in program case management: communicate, plan, and participate in center-based case management. Communicate concerns to Center Service Manager. Assist teacher to monitor and analyze child development and school readiness progress use data to inform planning and service delivery. Ensure quality of data is secure and entered on applicable forms and/or computer databases (spreadsheets, etc.) for tracking/monitoring data.
• Professional Development: Attend designated trainings and conferences. Engage in and apply Practice Based Coaching experiences and guidance received individually or in small groups facilitated by designated site staff, Education Specialists and designated coach. Implement suggestions, guidance, and assignments received from coaches. Engage in use of technology to support coaching dialogue and service delivery: video and photos are used to support staff professional development.

• Travel: as needed to participant homes, agency sites, and community locations to conduct home visits, engage families, deliver services, and support program operations. Eligible staff may support driving.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES

1. Education /Background:
   • Preschool Child Development Associate (CDA)
   • A state-awarded certificate which meets or exceeds the requirements for Preschool CDA credential
   • (according to Colorado Department of Early Childhood) a High School Diploma/General Equivalency Diploma (GED), 6 months experience working in an early childhood development setting, 12 credit hours from accredited college or university (which must include at least 6 credit hours in Early Childhood Development or closely related field) PLUS being enrolled in a Child Development Associate Credential program which needs to be completed within 2 years from the date of hire.

NOTE: Education obtained outside of the United States of America (USA) and from another country must be evaluated from an accredited organization to determine equivalency to USA education status.

Other requirements:

• Bilingual Spanish/English - Preferred
• Applicant must have basic keyboard skills and be able to use computer, computer software programs (e.g. Microsoft Office, Adobe) and web-based systems.
• Driving is preferred in this role. Candidates who drive must hold a valid driver’s license, meet the company’s motor vehicle record (MVR) standards, meet company’s insurance eligibility, and comply with all state and federal driving requirements. Ongoing employment and driving status may be contingent upon maintaining an acceptable driving record.
• Initial employment physical and TB test or Chest x-ray, and Tdap. Must pass a criminal background check to include a Child Abuse and Neglect register check, and sex offender registry check. According to the new Head Start Performance Standards (HSPPS) an applicant must be First Aid and CPR certified or must obtain certification within the first 6 months of employment. Must be First Aid and CPR certified or obtain certification within the first 6 months of employment. Applicant must obtain Food Handlers card upon hire. Obtain certification as inter-rater reliable in My Teaching Strategies assessment tool within 4months.

Position requirements: This position is both a mobile and a sedentary position with periods of light physical activity, and is performed mostly in office surroundings. Positions typical in nature require regular walking or standing; sitting, lifting and carrying up to 40 pounds; climbing stairs, bending, reaching, holding, grasping and turning objects; and using fingers to operate computer keyboards. This position will require the ability to speak normally and to use normal or aided vision and hearing.

Travel: Local, interstate and intrastate travel to Chicanos Por La Causa, Inc., its affiliates and/or subsidiaries, will be necessary to successfully fulfill the duties of this position. Technology will be utilized to minimize travel whenever feasible. Overnight travel must be approved in advance by the Department VP.

LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMER

This job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended or is implied to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required for the position. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

Requirements are representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills and/or abilities. To perform this job successfully, the employee must possess the abilities or aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently. All employees are accountable for understanding and complying with all corporate policies and procedures as well as any program specific policies and procedures. Continued employment remains on an “at-will” basis.

This job description is subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health and safety of themselves or other employees. Employee signature below indicates the employee’s understanding of the requirements, essential functions and duties of the position.

EMPOWERING LIVES THROUGH CONTINUOUS LEARNING

Continuous Learning: All certifications related to the position at hire, or obtained while employed by CPLC, must be maintained. Candidate will be expected to participate in continuous learning opportunities to maintain competency and enhance skillset. Learning opportunities must be approved by supervisor.

CPLC Mission, Vison and Values in Action: Our mission and purpose is to drive economic and political empowerment. We cannot achieve our vision of “Empowered Lives” without the full engaged participation of each employee. Each CPLC employee is expected to adhere not only to the CPLC Code of Conduct when acting on behalf of CPLC, but each employee is also expected to contribute to promoting and demonstrating CPLC’s Values in Action in their interactions with clients, other CPLC employees, CPLC stakeholders, and at any and all times representing CPLC.