Position: Teacher Assistant

Hours: As Assigned

Location: As Assigned

Status: Non-Exempt

Supervisor: Lead Teacher

Position Summary:

Work with Educators to implement daily curriculum and maintain health and safety practices in educational and bus settings, according to Head Start, Department of Early Education and Care (EEC), and National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) regulations. Work with educators, parents, and community to implement individualized School Readiness goals.  

Essential Responsibilities:

• Demonstrate a commitment to quality early care and education programs and sensitivity to the needs of culturally diverse families with lower incomes. 
• Produce documentation of physical exam, MMR’s and TB risk upon hire and subsequently every two years. Obtain and maintain CPR and Emergency Pediatric First Aid certification according to EEC regulations.
• Become knowledgeable of and practice the Head Start Performance Standards, EEC Regulations, HS & ELP Service Delivery, and NAEYC criterion, as appropriate.
• Demonstrate basic computer skills, including competent use of program data system..
• Ensure the appropriate supervision of children, including implementation of program protocols for the care of young children.
• Engage with families and specialists in implementing school readiness goals for children.
• Perform on-site meal preparation and clean up, maintaining health and safety standards.
• In coordination with teaching team, maintain safe and healthy indoor and outdoor environments for young children.
• Fill in for bus monitor as needed, completing daily passenger logs, pre and post trip bus inspections.
• Cover for other classrooms as needed.
• Provide child care for site Family Meetings.
• Attend all appropriate program workshops and meetings.
• Adhere to agency confidentiality policies.
• Maintain good in-house relationships with all other staff members.

Essential Qualifications:

18 years of age; High School Diploma or GED. Assistant must have 6-12 months of ECE related experience. Must be enrolled in Child Development Associate (CDA) or ECE (related) degree program. CDA must be completed within 2 years of hire date; or if selected alternatively, Associates Degree must be completed within 5 years of hire date.

 PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT The physical demands and work environment described above 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.  

• Requires frequent sitting, standing, walking and climbing stairs. 
• Must be able to engage in activities that include bending, floor activities, and lifting young children six weeks to 5 years of age. 
• The noise level in the classroom and on the bus is lively. 
• The work environment is primarily an indoor classroom environment, with daily exposure to outdoor weather. 
• Must be able to lift and/or move up to 40 pounds. 
• Must have the ability to drive a personal vehicle and program vehicles, as needed.  

REQUIREMENT FOR VIDEO/AUDIO RECORDING STAFF/CHILD INTERACTIONS

The Office of Head Start uses the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) as part of its monitoring processes, via recording or through on-site visits. ?In preparation, self-assessments of HS & ELP classrooms involve live, virtual or recorded observations of teachers working with children.

Community Action is an AA/EOE/ADA

Employment is contingent upon the following: a satisfactory Background Record Check (BRC) which includes Criminal Offender Record (C.O.R.I.), Department of Children and Families (DCF) background check, Sex Offender Registry Information (SORI) checks, fingerprinting-based national and state criminal history check.  BRC and fingerprinting-based national and state criminal history checks, National Sex Offender Registry (NCOR), and Out-of-State checks (CORI, SORI, DCF) if an individual has lived in another state within the last five years.  BRC and