Bilingual Spanish Teacher Aide, Early Head Start

Start Early; Waukegan (IL); On-site; USD 33,000 - 35,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive Health Plans

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion

Holistic Wellness Program

Professional Development Program

401k Contribution

Paid Volunteer Days

6 months paid parental leave

Job summary

Start Early Lake County in Waukegan, IL is seeking a Teacher Aide to support Lead and Assistant teachers in delivering high-quality, developmentally appropriate experiences for children from birth to five. You will help with documentation, observation, and family communication in a collaborative classroom setting.

The role requires a high school diploma or GED, 6 months of early childhood experience, and bilingual Spanish/English proficiency.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Non-Expired Birth-5 CDA credential preferred.
• Minimum 6 months experience in an early childhood program.
• Bilingual Spanish/English required; ability to communicate with children and families.

Responsibilities

• Administrative: complete program documentation and support attendance and meal reports daily.
• Child development: observe and document health, behavior and development; follow IEP/IFSP/IHP plans.
• Curriculum and assessment: assist in planning developmentally appropriate experiences and use assessment data.
• Classroom environment: support positive guidance and adhere to licensing and program standards.
• Parent involvement: encourage family participation and coordinate with families and staff.
• Virtual learning: support center-based and virtual activities and partner with Family Support Specialists.

Skills

Bilingual Spanish/English

Communication

Child care experience

Education

High school diploma or GED

CDA credential preferred

Job description

Description

We are hiring in Waukegan, IL

Start Early Lake County provides high-quality care, best-in-class education, and a stimulating learning environment to children from birth to five years old. As a program that serves low-income families, Start Early’s research-based program helps children develop the literacy, language, early math, and social-emotional skills they need to succeed in kindergarten and beyond.

We are recruiting individuals who want to join us in this mission and share a commitment to our core values of appreciation & respect, empowerment, diversity, excellence, learning, and communication.

Reporting to the Lead Teacher or Education Coordinator, the Teacher Aide will:

• Administrative Responsibilities: Accurately complete all required program documentation and submit in a timely manner to the Lead Teacher. Participate in recruitment efforts to help maintain full program enrollment. As assigned by the Lead teacher, monitor and ensure that daily attendance, health checks, parent sign/scan in, and meal participation reports are completed daily. Read and respond to Outlook emails daily.
• Child Development: Support Lead and Assistant teachers by observing and documenting children’s health, skills, behavior, growth and development as needed. Adhere to all IEP, IFSP, IHP Implementation Plans and/or strategies provided by Education Managers and/or Consultants. Provide opportunities for children to develop positive self-images and experience success. Participate in Family/Child Reviews. Identify any developmental concerns regarding the children and follow agency protocol.
• Curriculum and Assessment: In conjunction with the classroom teaching team, plan and implement developmentally appropriate experiences that will promote the social, emotional, physical and cognitive development of each child. Contribute to the development of lesson plans with goals, objectives, experiences and outcomes for children. In conjunction with the classroom teaching team utilize standardized and authentic assessment data to create learning opportunities to advance children’s development and learning. Develop and maintain observation, technological and individualization skills required for assessment and lesson planning, including completing all assigned TSG modules and trainings. Contribute to the establishment and maintenance of a classroom environment that ensures appropriate child guidance and discipline techniques are implemented in accordance with Educare’s philosophy, curriculum, policies and procedures, Head Start standards, Start Early standards of conduct and state regulations.
• Classroom Environment: In conjunction with the classroom teaching team maintain a classroom environment which includes positive guidance techniques, that meets state and local licensing regulations, Head Start Program Performance Standards and, program curriculum (Creative Curriculum) and approach (New Beginnings & Erikson Early Math Lessons) into individualized and group learning opportunities. In conjunction with the teaching team maintain a classroom environment that reflects the use of “New Beginnings” and follows the guidelines of ITERS or ECERS.
• Parent Involvement: In conjunction with the classroom teaching team, encourage parent participation in the program, including participation in parent events, home visits, conferences, and volunteering in the classroom. Develop positive and effective partnerships with families using the Touchpoints Approach (once trained). Hold friendly daily conversations with families and maintain professional boundaries. Participates in family engagement and recruitment events.
• Other: Follow all mandates of federal regulations, state and local licensing and the Start Early’s philosophy, agency policies and procedures, curriculum and Standards of Conduct. Attend and actively participate in all required meetings and trainings, and reflective supervision. Perform other duties as assigned, within the scope of the job description. Administer medication as needed (ex. Nebulizer treatment, Epipen).
• Virtual Learning: Develop a partnership with families to plan activities and to collect information about the child’s developmental progress. Maintain a center based and virtual classroom, with children enrolled in both program options. Partner with Family Support Specialists to conduct interdisciplinary virtual programming and promote family engagement opportunities. Follow the guidance of the lead teacher in implementing virtual learning experiences.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Non -Expired Birth-5 Child Development Associate (CDA) credential preferred
• A minimum of 6 months experience working in an early childhood program.
• Bilingual Spanish/English required. Must be able to effectively speak, read, and write in both English and Spanish to communicate effectively with children, families, and colleagues.

OR

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Applicants who do not currently hold a CDA must be willing to obtain the credential within their first year of employment. The organization will provide support and cover the cost of obtaining the CDA for eligible employees who are hired without the credential.
• A minimum of 6 months experience working in an early childhood program.
• Bilingual Spanish/English required. Must be able to effectively speak, read, and write in both English and Spanish to communicate effectively with children, families, and colleagues.

Physical and Health Requirements

• Ability to comfortably participate in classroom activities at children’s level, including floor-based activities that require sitting, kneeling, bending, and squatting
• Ability to move quickly and respond appropriately to children’s needs, including following or safely intervening when a child runs or moves away from the designated area.
• Ability to participate in and support children during active play and outdoor activities.
• Ability to safely assist, supervise, and respond to children in a variety of classroom and emergency situations.
• Ability to perform the essential physical functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Pre-employment and/or employment-related health assessments are required in accordance with organizational policies and applicable licensing and program requirements. Employees must complete all required health screenings, assessments, and documentation within the designated timeframe.

Base Annual Salary: $32,916.00 - $34,612.50 + $1,500 Sign On Bonus

We believe that all employees should be paid fairly. As of the time of this posting, this is the expected base annual salary range. The base annual salary will be based on a wide range of factors, including skills, qualifications, experience, as well as business needs and limitations.

Our generous benefits plan includes:

• Comprehensive Health Plans
• Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion
• Holistic Wellness Program
• Professional Development Program
• 401k Contribution
• Paid Volunteer Days
• 6 months paid parental leave
• much more.

Start Early is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to our core values by creating an inclusive environment for all staff.