TEACHER ASSISTANT

SUMMARY: Responsible for assisting the teacher in the development of an age-appropriate educational environment for preschool children. To act as an Ambassador to the Agency and to reflect all Agency matters in a positive way.

REPORTS TO: Regional Manager/Site Supervisor

FLSA STATUS: Full Time, Non-Exempt

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TEACHER ASSISTANT: Include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Must supervise and monitor children at all times by following Active Supervision procedures, policies, and strategies to ensure no child is ever left unsupervised.
• Follow direction and support from the teacher regarding classroom expectations and adult-child interactions.
• Assist the teacher to ensure the quality and safety of the educational environment.
• Participate in the developmental screening process when appropriate.
• Work with and encourage parent and community volunteers.
• Assist teacher in assessment by recording specific examples of developmental progress for individual children.
• Use positive child guidance techniques and build nurturing relationships through caregiving routines
• Use developmentally appropriate practices to facilitate activities with groups and individuals.
• Follow a consistent schedule which includes small and large group experiences, choice time, music and movement, large and small motor activities, skill development and effective transitions between activities.
• Encourage experimentation, exploration, problem solving, cooperation, socialization, and choice making; ask open-ended questions and listen respectfully to the answers.
• Promote family literacy.
• Be a positive role model to children and volunteers at all times.
• Responsible for supporting the program in collecting in-kind to meet federal requirements.
• Prepare materials for classroom activities.
• Attend staff meetings and trainings.
• Promote and support parent involvement and leadership throughout the program.
• Responsible for active supervision of all children during Head Start/EHS/CCP activities.
• Participate in general cleaning of center.
• Maintain classroom and outdoor space so they are neat, clean and ready for daily activities.
• Sanitize classroom equipment and toys, following work plans procedures.
• Must support center during major transitions to ensure child safety and supervision.
• Must follow break schedule created by supervisor.
• To the extent possible, employees will not provide direct services to their family members. However, when this is not possible, to minimize potential conflicts of interest, employees should avoid providing direct services to their family members. If an employee is responsible for the care and guidance of closely related children, they should make every effort to transfer these responsibilities to another caregiver within the classroom. This approach helps maintain professional boundaries and ensures impartiality in service delivery.

RECORD KEEPING, PLANNING, AND DOCUMENTATION OF THE TEACHER ASSISTANT:

• Assist teacher in maintaining appropriate documentation of each child’s developmental level and progress.
• Keep and submit records and reports as required.
• Participate in educational planning for children.
• Participate in center monitoring for safety and compliance.
• Participate in child/family staffing when applicable.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES WHEN ASSIGNED TO SUPPORT THE DRIVING STAFF OF THE TEACHER ASSISTANT

• Monitor safety on the bus.
• Assist children boarding/leaving the bus.
• Ensures children are secured in child restraints and all adult passengers use appropriate seat belts.
• Visually observe the health of each child on the bus. Report any concerns to the teacher and parent/guardian.
• Occupy the children during the ride with developmentally appropriate songs, games, observations, etc.
• Collaborate with the driver to ensure that each child is delivered to the care of a responsible adult (authorized list on Transportation Permission Fact Sheet) upon leaving the bus.
• Ensure that no child is ever left unattended while on the bus, following all Active Supervision, child attendance, and bus alarm deactivation procedures as written in the Transportation workplan to prevent a child being left behind.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES WHEN ASSIGNED TO SUPPORT THE KITCHEN STAFFOF THE TEACHER ASSISTANT

• Preparation and delivery of meals/snacks that meet USDA Food Program requirements fo pre-school and or infant/toddler children and all Head Start program requirements and policies.
• Ensure meals are prepared and served on schedule.
• Use food production and food storage procedures that meet USDA and CACFP requirements.
• Follow standards of sanitation according to State and Head Start regulations and policies.
• Safely operate basic food service equipment provided by Head Start.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TEACHER ASSISTANT: None

BENEFITS OF THE TEACHER ASSISTANT:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance
• Short-term and Long-term disability

QUALIFICATIONS OF THE TEACHER ASSISTANT : To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE OF THE TEACHER ASSISTANT : Minimum Child Development Associate Credential (CDA). An AA in Early Childhood Education is preferred. Demonstrates knowledge and skills in early human development and appropriate programming.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS OF THE TEACHER ASSISTANT : Demonstrates clear and complete oral and written communication skills,

appropriate respect and good listening skills. Maintains confidentiality and professionalism of all family, volunteer and staff information. Communicates optimistically, positively, and with honesty and

openness.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS OF THE TEACHER ASSISTANT : Manages time effectively, uses program resources wisely. Must have

computer skills.

REASONING ABILITY OF THE TEACHER ASSISTANT : Demonstrates effective leadership, teaming and conflict resolution skills and demonstrates knowledge in appropriate child management strategies. Ability to interpret a variety of

instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES OF THE TEACHER ASSISTANT : Ability to serve as a productive team member on an interdisciplinary team of professionals, respect and respond competently to the culture, traditions, lifestyle, language, and values of each family and community, maintain professional boundaries and confidentiality. Ability to work with or act as an interpreter/translator, when applicable, following the program’s interpretation and translation guidelines. To follow the program's Dual Language policies and procedures when working in the classroom.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS OF THE TEACHER ASSISTANT : None

PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THE TEACHER ASSISTANT : The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Ability to lift and carry a 40-50 pound child or other objects, to sit on the floor or low chairs to put you at the level with the children, participate with the children in outside activities daily during the program year, and participate in classroom meals as a role model for the children.
• Ability to travel.

WORK ENVIRONMENT OF THE TEACHER ASSISTANT : The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Ability to work and communicate with diverse groups of people requiring a non-judgmental, culturally sensitive, social justice approach, both internally and externally of the Agency.
• Ability to work in a team atmosphere and willing to help others when needed.
• Ability to participate and adhere to the development of creating an Agency culture of quality improvement, compliance, safety, and high ethical performance within the Agency.

THIS JOB DESCRIPTION IS NOT ALL-INCLUSIVE AND AN EMPLOYEE WILL ALSO PERFORM OTHER REASONABLE RELATED BUSINESS DUTIES AS REQUIRED AS ASSIGNED BY THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER.

THIS ORGANIZATION RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REVISE OR CHANGE THE JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES AS THE NEED ARISES. THIS JOB DESCRIPTION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A WRITTEN OR IMPLIED CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT.