Head Start Teacher Assistant

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
Serve as an Assistant Teacher for a Head Start classroom. Share responsibility for a Head Start classroom of 3- to 5-year-old children. Work collaboratively with the teacher, family members and other staff to achieve positive outcomes for children of all abilities.
TASKS AND ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. The assistant teacher's role encompasses effective practices in the following: a) CLASS™ teacher-child interactions; b) Learning environment; c) Curriculum; d) Child assessment; e) Meeting all children's needs; f) Working with families; g) Professional growth and collaboration.
2. Use knowledge of the principles of child growth and development to work with children and communicate with internal and external stakeholders.
3. Implement a child-centered curriculum and learning environment that encourages positive social interaction, active engagement in learning, and self-motivation to promote development in all domains for children of all abilities.
4. Address challenging behaviors by observing to determine possible causes of the behavior, implementing preventive measures, teaching the child new social and communication skills and partnering with families to support the child at home.
5. Use observations of children and anecdotal notes to document children's progress and individualize curriculum.
6. Create partnerships with families to establish positive interaction patterns in program, school, and home.
7. Assist in ensuring that the written curriculum includes:
a. goals for children's development and learning;
b. the experiences through which children will achieve these goals;
c. what staff and parents can do to help children achieve these goals;
d. the materials needed to support the implementation of the curriculum towards achieving the stated goals.
8. Responsible for collaborating with the Teacher in the preparation of daily lesson plans. Post them for parents, volunteers and visitors in the classroom
9. Assist in the development of individual plans for each child including goal-setting based on identified needs and prescriptions for objectives and activities to meet established child outcomes.
10. Follow program curriculum providing developmentally and linguistically appropriate experiences appropriate to age, language and culture of children served.
11. Implement experiential learning activities advancing the intellectual and emotional competence of infants and toddlers.
12. Provide positive guidance and discipline supporting children as they acquire readiness skills for kindergarten and beyond.
13. Implement daily lesson plans in response to children's needs and interests incorporating observations, anecdotal record keeping, knowledge of early childhood development and the key experiences.
14. Implement Individual Family Services Plans (IFSPs) for children with disabilities.
15. Provide children with a consistent classroom routine.
16. Provide supervision and ensure the safety and security of children at all times in accordance with Early Head Start and day care licensing requirements.
17. Supervise and eat nutritionally prepared meals and/or snacks with the children as a curriculum activity, to model good nutrition and proper social skills for infants and toddlers.
18. Supervise all classroom field trips and outdoor activities.
19. Understand regulations associated with prevention of disease and injury, including the exercise of universal precautions and the prevention of contamination.
20. Invite parent involvement in the development of the program's curriculum and approach to child development and education.
21. Provide opportunities for parents to increase their child observation skills and to share assessments with staff that help plan the learning experiences.
22. Encourage parent participation in staff-parent conferences and home visits discussing their child's development and education.
23. Establish positive and productive relationships with families focusing on building trust and rapport.
24. Work with the Teacher to schedule and complete two home visits per year and at least two parent-teacher conferences per year.
25. Participate in parent orientation and ongoing parent training as required.
26. Identify and refer parents wanting to volunteer in the classroom, work as substitutes or in other volunteer activities to Family Advocate. Support parent volunteers in the classroom as needed.
27. Share pertinent information with Family Advocate ensuring coordinated services to meet the needs of individual children and families. Participate in case conferences as appropriate.
28. Maintain regular contact with parents and complete appropriate documentation.
29. Forward classroom updates to the Teacher to be included in the monthly newsletter.
30. Direct developmental concerns to the Health, Nutrition and Disabilities Coordinator.
31. Request supplies as needed and participate in classroom/program inventory as requested.
32. Gather and maintain individual, family and classroom data for documentation, on-going assessment, evaluation and recording keeping for successful individual and program planning.
33. Conduct daily health checks.
34. Assess children on an on-going basis. Gather and organize anecdotal notes into the key goals and objectives and document in CreativeCurriculum.net.
35. Work with the teaching team to analyze child outcomes on a classroom basis twice yearly, consult with the education coordinator and make adjustments to curriculum planning and implementation as needed.
36. Model appropriate classroom practices.
37. Work with the Education Coordinator and Teacher to develop and support the individual development plan for assigned volunteers.
38. Assist the Teacher in devising work methods and procedures that support improvements in existing work practices; supporting the volunteers you supervise in developing and setting goals, priorities and timelines.
39. Maintain the plan to meet changing or emergent program requirements within available resources and with minimum sacrifice to quantity or quality of work.
40. Participates actively in bi-weekly Team Meetings to reflect on performance, generate solutions and ensure high-quality classroom operations.
41. Participates actively in bi-weekly Assistant Teacher Meetings.
42. Participates in assigned meetings, events and training as required.
43. Performs any and all other duties as assigned.
EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION, SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED:
At a minimum, a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential or a state awarded certificate that meets or exceeds the requirements for a CDA credential, are enrolled in a program that will lead to an associate or baccalaureate degree or are enrolled in a CDA credential program to be completed within two years of the time of hire.
Physical exam and background checks are required for this position.
Travel required locally or long-distance up to 10% of the time for work-related meetings and functions.
Must have a valid driver's license and reliable transportation.
Ability to interact effectively with people from diverse backgrounds.
Ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing.
Demonstrated computer literacy skills, using MS Office applications and other basic data systems including internet navigation.
Must be honest, dependable and able to meet deadlines.
Self-motivated and able to work independently.
DISCLAIMER
:
The information presented indicates the general nature and level of work expected of employees in this classification. It is not designed to contain, nor to be interpreted as, a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications and objectives required of employees assigned to this job.
Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.