Description:

Position Purpose: To assist the designated teacher and cooperate in a supportive role carrying out developmentally appropriate activities. To work cooperatively with staff, parents, and volunteers to carry out the responsibilities and duties of the center in order to meet the cognitive, emotional, social, and physical needs of Head Start children and families. Provide services to the designated teacher, which have been identified as accommodations, in the classroom, home visits, meetings, and office time.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Ø Classroom Activity

o Assist teacher in Developing and utilizing creative curriculum plans, which reflect mandated elements and components, parental and cultural influences, and promote the social, emotional, physical and cognitive development of Head Start children.

o Assist teacher in establishing weekly lesson plans that promote individual and group educational plans and include other Head start components.

o Assist teacher in ensuring that classroom all performance standards within the education component are met and carried out according to Head Start and The Children's Learning Center program philosophy, policies and procedures.

o Prepare classroom materials to support developmentally appropriate curriculum plans; create and change learning centers as requested by teacher.

o Follow a consistent schedule, which includes small and large group experiences, choice time, music and movement, large and small motor activities, skill development, meals, and effective transitions between activities. Ensure that all classroom activities are carried out on a daily basis.

o Assist teacher in encouraging experimentation, exploration, problem solving, cooperation, socialization, and choice making; ask open-ended questions and listen respectfully to the answers.

o Assist in monitoring environment (indoor/outdoor) for the activities of the day, taking steps to address deficiencies as they relate to designated teacher's capabilities.

o Observe and record behaviors of children and relay information to the teacher regarding the identification of each child's strengths and areas to grow.

o Assist the teacher in maintaining a safe and healthy environment and share the responsibility of maintaining orderliness and cleanliness in the classroom to include but not limited to janitorial duties as assigned by teacher such as sterilization of toys, sweeping and mopping of floors in bathroom and classrooms, cleaning and sterilizing of toilet and sinks.

o Assist in involving the children in the preparation and clean-up of nutritious foods and cleanup at mealtime.

o Assist with daily personal hygiene of the children such as diapering, feeding, tooth brushing, toileting, hand washing, and resting.

o Share the responsibility of providing appropriate care for children with disabilities.

o Take responsibility for the children when the teacher is not present.

o Provide input to teacher for parent/teacher conferences and staffing’s for development and evaluation of individual goals of children and families.

o Maintain an approach to guidance within the framework of Head Start and TCLC policy to ensure that children are taught, disciplined, and supervised in a consistent manner.

o Relate to children with courtesy, respect, acceptance, and patience. Recognize and respect the uniqueness and potential of all children, families, and culture.

Ø Parent Involvement

o Communicate regularly with parents, regarding each child's progress.

o Provide an atmosphere that promotes and reinforces parental involvement in the classroom.

o Assist with required parent/teacher conferences and home visits for the purpose of assessment and support, and to share information on classroom progress and educational strategies at school and at home.

o Help plan and conduct regular parent meetings with other staff members.

o Encourage parents to attend Parent Education and Community Involvement programs available through TCLC and other community agencies.

o Encourage parents to participate in curriculum planning and program development.

Ø Data, Monitoring, Recording and Tracking

o Observe, compare, and monitor behaviors, records and data to determine compliance with prescribed standards.

o At the direction of the teacher provide accurate written records, including assessments, IFSP documentation, screening instruments, anecdotal observations, and other required forms.

o Assist teacher where needed with various record keeping systems used for data tracking, outcomes and assessments.

o At direction of teacher, write memos to staff and parents.

o Support Family Service Coordinator in documentation regarding particular concerns with families and children at scheduled staffing’s.

o Assist teacher in meeting all deadlines for the school and state.

General Staff Responsibilities

Ø Fulfill role as mandated reporter as stated in Child Abuse and Neglect Mandatory Reporting Policy.

Ø Maintain confidentiality in regards to staff and family information.

Ø Maintain objectives and professional standards.

Ø Demonstrate commitment to mission, values, and policies in the performance of daily duties.

Ø Familiarity with employment policies, performance standards, work plan and objectives of the center.

Ø Maintain congenial and respectful relations with staff, children, families and community.

Ø Communicate effectively with staff and volunteers.

Ø Maintain positive communication with parents.

Ø Encourage parents to attend monthly parent meetings and activities.

Ø Staff are required to attend open house, winter festival, and one or more parent nights. TCLC reserves the right to change this according to the needs of the school.

Ø Attend meetings, trainings and appropriate professional development activities as assigned to improve self-skills and education. Attend and earn 20 hours of professional development each year.

Ø Attend monthly parent meetings and center activities, contributing relevant information to your component area.

Ø Be present at work in order to provide consistency of services.

Ø Be a contributory team member in a positive/productive manner.

Ø Delegate and assign tasks as described in the job descriptions and center policies.

Ø Keep current and accurate records.

Ø Perform any other work-related duties as requested by your supervisor.

Ø Utilize the teacher, other staff, and resource library for technical assistance.

Ø Respond appropriately to crisis or emergency situations as designated by policies and procedures.

Ø Assist team members, parents, and volunteers in maintaining an orderly, safe, and attractive center.

Ø Assure general maintenance and security of facility and assist with inventory of equipment and supplies.

Ø Know and comply with certification rules of Head Start, DELC, and TCLC.

Ø Staff can be asked at any point to switch rooms, teams, shifts or programs to accommodate the needs of the school, children, and families.

Ø Staff can be asked at any point to cover in different rooms or shifts to accommodate the needs of the school.

Requirements:

Required Qualifications

Ø DALE, CDA or equivalent experiance

Ø Employment is conditional pending immediate and continued enrollment in Child Care Division - Criminal History Registry.

Ø Employment is conditional pending current physical examination and TB screening documentation upon hire.

Preferred Requirements

Ø Previous Head Start and/or Early Head Start experience.

Ø Previous experience in pre-school classroom (1 year).

Ø Home Visit experience

Ø Bilingual English and knowledge of Spanish.

Other Requirements

Ø Project a professional work image in both dress and manner.

Ø Ability to effectively use a positive approach with staff and low-income and/or high-risk families.

Ø Ability to function effectively in cross-cultural situations.

Ø Ability to understand and practice warmth, empathy, and genuineness with others.

Ø Ability to set and maintain professional boundaries with families.

Ø Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.

Ø Instructs others in a classroom setting.

Ø Ability to drive a private or center vehicle; must possess a valid driver's license and personal automobile.

Ø Reliable transportation.

Ø Within 30 days of employment must be Pediatric CPR & First Aid certified and have a current Food Handler's Card.

Ø Comprehend, analyze, and make inferences and references from written material.

Ø Produce written documentation with clearly organized thoughts using proper sentence construction, punctuation and grammar.

Physical/Mental Abilities and Processes Requirements

Ø Frequent significant decisions to assure developmental progress of children.

Ø Demonstrated ability to supervise pre-school children and ensure a safe learning environment including the ability to monitor and respond to events going on at all times in classroom, outdoor play areas and on field trips. This includes the physical ability to move quickly in order to respond to children who are very active and may need restraint or redirection in order to insure their safety or the safety of others in the environment.

Ø Ability to work collaboratively with staff to provide services that allows the designated teacher to perform their job function satisfactorily.

Ø Sit in a child-sized chair, daily kneeling, stooping, bending, and sitting on the floor to attend to children's needs.

Ø Work with children requiring the ability to walk or run quickly; walk over rough or uneven ground, and exposure to weather etc.

Ø Lift and move heavy and/or bulky objects or children weighing up to 50 lbs.

Ø Set up a classroom, which requires moving of tables, chairs, shelves etc.

Ø Maintain the safety of the environment and children through visual, auditory and smelling senses.

Ø Perform occasional cleaning of classroom, which may require the use of broom, mop, and carpet sweeper, cleaning fluids and sanitizing agents