Assistant Teacher-Petoskey 1

Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency, Inc.; Petoskey, Northern (MI, KY); Hybrid; USD 28,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency, Inc. is seeking a Head Start Assistant to promote school readiness by supporting teachers in daily operations and fostering a nurturing classroom environment.

You will assist in child development activities, screenings, and family engagement, while upholding program standards and collaborating with staff to meet goals throughout the school year.

Qualifications

• Be at least 18 years of age.
• Pass a comprehensive background check.
• Ability to meet the State of Michigan and federal health requirements (medical clearance, mental wellness, and TB examination).
• Be suitable to meet the needs of children.
• Experience working in a team environment.
• Demonstrate sensitivity and understanding when working with children and families.
• Commitment to the NMCAA Mission and Vision.
• Commitment to the Program Philosophy.
• Adhere to the Cornerstones of Culture.
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Interact positively with colleagues and clients in a non-judgmental, tactful, and courteous manner.
• Work openly and cooperatively as a team member.
• Willingness to seek further training and education.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Basic computer skills and experience with internet access, web-based software, and e-mail.
• Working knowledge of office equipment.

Responsibilities

• Assist in day-to-day operations of the Head Start program.
• Assist in child assessment and planning, and in implementing classroom activities.
• Provide a developmentally appropriate classroom environment and support family engagement activities.
• Assist in facilitating home visits, parent conferences, and communication with families.
• Support teachers in maintaining program compliance and data collection.

Job description

Purpose:To promote school readiness by enhancing thesocial and cognitive development of children through the provision ofeducational, health, nutritional, social, and other services to enrolledchildren and families.

Position Objectives:

• Comply with and utilize the Head Start ProgramPerformance Standards, Head Start Act, State of Michigan Child Care CenterLicensing Rules, the Early Childhood Standards of Quality forPre-Kindergarten, GSRP Implementation Manual (GSRP funded), Great Start toQuality, Program Procedure Manual Guidance, 5 Year Grant, USDA/CACFP/MDERequirements, and NMCAA Personnel Polices.
• Act in a manner that is conducive to the welfare ofchildren.
• Assist in ensuring facilities are conducive to thewelfare of children.
• Ensure appropriate care and supervision of children atall times.
• Assist in administering day-to-day operations.
• Assist in child assessment and in the planning,implementation, and evaluation of the classroom program and childassessment.
• Assist in providing remote services when necessary, tosupport children and families in a home environment.
• Assist in family engagement activities.
• Be responsible for the general management of the centerwhen the teacher is absent.
• Commitment to making progress toward program goals onan ongoing basis.

Essential Functions:

Eligibility Recruitment Selection Enrollment& Attendance

• Team with HS Recruitment and Health Specialist torecruit eligible children.
• Assist teacher in providing orientation for each newlyenrolled child as assigned.

Education and Child Development

• Provide a developmentally appropriate classroomenvironment using the Creative Curriculum, School Readiness goals, EarlyLearning Framework, Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS), andPreschool Quality Assessment (PQA).
• Conduct child developmental screenings within 45 daysof enrollment and GOLD assessments three times a year.
• Provide clear behavioral expectations and use effectivemethods to prevent and redirect behavior using Conscious Disciplineguidelines.

Essential Functions:

Eligibility Recruitment Selection Enrollment& Attendance

• Team with HS Recruitment and Health Specialist torecruit eligible children.
• Assist teacher in providing orientation for each newlyenrolled child as assigned.

Education and Child Development

• Provide a developmentally appropriate classroomenvironment using the Creative Curriculum, School Readiness goals, EarlyLearning Framework, Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS), andPreschool Quality Assessment (PQA).
• Conduct child developmental screenings within 45 daysof enrollment and GOLD assessments three times a year.
• Provide clear behavioral expectations and use effectivemethods to prevent and redirect behavior using Conscious Disciplineguidelines.

Eligibility Recruitment Selection Enrollment& Attendance

• Team with HS Recruitment and Health Specialist torecruit eligible children.
• Assist teacher in providing orientation for each newlyenrolled child as assigned.

Education and Child Development

• Provide a developmentally appropriate classroomenvironment using the Creative Curriculum, School Readiness goals, EarlyLearning Framework, Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS), andPreschool Quality Assessment (PQA).
• Conduct child developmental screenings within 45 daysof enrollment and GOLD assessments three times a year.
• Provide clear behavioral expectations and use effectivemethods to prevent and redirect behavior using Conscious Disciplineguidelines.
• Partner with teacher to encourage and mentor familiesto participate in their child's education.
• Assist teacher in educating families aboutdevelopmentally appropriate expectations for preschool-age children.
• Assist in sharing safety and injury prevention tips andhousehold safety checklists with families.
• Assist in providing home visits and parent teacherconferences using the Child and Family School Readiness Plan.
• Assist in building collaborative partnerships withfamilies to establish mutual trust and identify family goals, strengths,necessary services, and other support.
• Assist teacher to develop school readiness goals andfamily plans. Support teacher to review progress of the goals and plansthroughout the year.
• Mutually identify family needs and link to NMCAAprograms, community resources, service providers, and health care systemsto problem solve barriers.
• Partner with teacher to coordinate and facilitatefamily engagement activities.

Services for Children with Disabilities

• Attend IEP's as assigned by the teacher to advocate forfamilies and children.
• Assist teacher in developing and implementing an IAP(Individualized Action Plan), as needed, to meet identified child goalsand objectives based on Individualized Education Plans (IEP's), DECA's,and/or child assessments.
• Ensure individualizing based on IEP goals is carriedout when engaging children.
• Attend local ISD MTSS/Building Block Meetings.

Record Keeping

• Assist in the preparation, collection, aggregation andanalyzation, use, and sharing of data.
• Use provided guidance and checklists, including theWhat's Due When, regarding due dates and timelines.
• Complete curriculum allotment requirements as assignedby the teacher.
• Team with the teacher to provide input for thecompletion of the lesson plans.

Personal and Professional

• Maintain professional and personal confidentiality.
• Utilize the payroll system to meet employmentrequirements.
• Adhere to established work schedule with theunderstanding that flexibility is necessary to meet all assigned jobrequirements.
• Maintain an Employee Center File, including employeehealth requirements.
• Participate in professional growth opportunities,including obtaining at least 24 hours of training each year, followingHead Start, State of Michigan Child Care Licensing, and Great Start toQuality requirements. Maintain up-to-date records on MiRegistry.
• Write a Professional Development Plan and followthrough with the goals throughout the school year.
• Complete the GOLD reliability on the TeachingStrategies' website within one year of employment and receive acertificate of attaining reliability.
• Attend all required trainings and meetings on time,prepared and ready to participate.
• Implement new ideas using supervisory/coachingfeedback.
• Report to LARA within three business days after anarraignment or conviction of one or more crimes as described in the Stateof Michigan Licensing Rules for Child Care Centers.
• Perform other related duties as assigned by supervisor.

Measured by:

• The accuracy and timeliness of completed work.
• The quality of services provided.
• Cooperation and feedback from families and colleagues.
• The ability to represent NMCAA professionally inservice to families and the larger community.
• Performance in job duties in accordance with agencypolicies and procedures
• Adheres to NMCAA employee performance reviewexpectations based off the Cornerstones, of Culture, Working Habits, JobPerformance, and Personal Goals.
• Head Start Assistants

omust have a childdevelopment associate (CDA) credential or a state-awarded certificate thatmeets or exceeds the requirements for a CDA credential,

oare enrolled in aprogram that will lead to an associate or baccalaureate degree; or,

oare enrolled in a CDAcredential program to be completed within two years of the time of hire

• GSRP Assistants

omust have an associatedegree in early childhood education, child development, or the equivalent

oor possess a validclassroom CDA credential

oand must completerequirements within two years from the date of employment if approved by theISD.

Additional Qualifications Required:

• Be at least 18 years of age.
• Pass a comprehensive background check.
• Ability to meet the State of Michigan and federalhealth requirements (medical clearance, mental wellness, and TBexamination).
• Be suitable to meet the needs of children.
• Experience working in a team environment.
• Demonstrate sensitivity and understanding when workingwith children and families.
• Commitment to the NMCAA Mission and Vision.
• Commitment to the Program Philosophy.
• Adhere to and promote the Cornerstones of Culture.
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Interact positively with colleagues and clients in a non-judgmental,tactful, and courteous manner.
• Work openly and cooperatively as a team member.
• Willingness to seek further training and education.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Basic computer skills and experience with internetaccess, web-based software, and e-mail. Working knowledge of officeequipment.

Minimum Physical Expectations:

• Physical activity that requires lifting of 50 lbs. ormore.
• Physical activity that requires bending, stooping,reaching, climbing, kneeling and/or twisting.
• Possible exposure to blood and bodily fluids ortissues.
• Possible exposure to communicable diseases.
• A moderate amount of driving is required.