JOB SUMMARY: The Center Aide provides essential support to the teaching staff by assisting with daily classroom operations, working 30 hours a week. This role helps maintain a safe, healthy, and engaging learning environment while ensuring the classroom runs smoothly and efficiently. Responsibilities include aiding in classroom activities, supervising children, and supporting health and safety protocols.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE POSITION:

1. Assist with daily classroom activities under the direction of the Lead Teacher or Teacher, supporting a structured and engaging learning environment.
2. Foster positive communication with staff, parents, and children while maintaining confidentiality in accordance with program regulations and agency policies.
3. Engage with children in play, learning activities, and transitions to support their development.
4. Support the implementation of classroom rules and behavior expectations in alignment with the teacher’s guidance.
5. Help redirect children’s behavior in a positive and developmentally appropriate manner.
6. Help manage and maintain required classroom records, as needed, ensuring accuracy and compliance with applicable guidelines.
7. Assist with meal service cleanup, including sanitizing tables, sweeping floors, disposing of trash, and properly storing supplies.
8. Support the overall maintenance of the classroom and center by emptying trash, ensuring cleanliness of floors, restrooms, and surfaces (tables, toys, cabinets), replenishing supplies, handling laundry, and assisting with meal service as needed, especially in the absence of the cook or custodian.
9. Ensure a safe, clean, and effective classroom/center environment, prioritizing the well-being and security of all children in care.
10. Attend required staff meetings, training sessions, and professional development opportunities as directed.
11. Meets all job safety requirements and all applicable OSHA safety standards that pertain to essential functions.
12. Perform other job-related duties as assigned or required.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Minimum qualifications include:

1. High school diploma, or equivalent. A combination of education and experience may be considered.
2. Minimum of six (6) months of experience is preferred, ideally in early childhood education, childcare, preschool, or a related setting.
3. Must possess a valid State of Ohio driver’s license and remain insurable in accordance with the Agency’s vehicle insurance policy.
4. Must be able to lift up to fifty (50) lbs. and engage in physically demanding activities, including prolonged standing, sitting, crouching, bending, stooping, and moving quickly as needed. Requires the ability to kneel, reach, lift children, assist with activities, and navigate indoor and outdoor play environments safely and effectively.
5. Demonstrates basic computer skills including knowledge of Microsoft Office 365 Suite (Outlook, and Word), and basic understanding how to navigate computer programs and websites.
6. Strong interpersonal skills: Experience in effectively customer service, able to represent the organization in a friendly, customer focused and professional manner.
7. Demonstrated ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with an array of people from diverse backgrounds and varying age levels.
8. Ability to communicate effectively with staff, parents, and children using empathy, courtesy and compassion.
9. Effectively work under pressure, ability to remain calm and deescalate tense situations if necessary.
10. Successful track record in setting priorities and demonstrating problem-solving skills.
11. Able to work independently and as a team player, take imitative, and management multiple tasks and responsibilities at a time.
12. Personal qualities of integrity, humility, positive attitude, self-directed, and passionate about the mission of CAWM.
13. Ability to operate standard office equipment including but not limited to personal computer, copy machine, fax machine, telephone, and printer.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

While performing the duties of this position, the employee will primarily work in an office setting and travel to agency sites and client homes for quality assurance monitoring. A personal vehicle for business use is required. The role may also require occasional overnight travel and, when necessary, air transportation.

The employee may be exposed to standard office chemicals (e.g., toner, correction fluid) and may encounter emotionally distressed individuals. Additionally, there is potential exposure to injury due to unclean or unsanitary conditions in some environments.

Note: In accordance with the U.S. Department of Labor's physical demand strength ratings, this position is classified as sedentary work.

POSITIONS DIRECTLY SUPERVISED: None