Blended Teacher Assistant

Blueprints; Washington (Washington County); On-site; USD 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Blueprints seeks a dedicated early childhood educational assistant to support a warm, nurturing environment for 3- to 5-year-old children. You will help supervise activities, document progress, and collaborate with families while aligning with program standards.

Join a team focused on professional growth, confidentiality, and respectful communication; to ensure quality learning experiences and development for every child in our care.

Qualifications

• Associate Degree from an accredited college or university; Early Childhood Education degree preferred.
• Child Development Associate (CDA) credential in Preschool (minimum).
• Experience with children 3-5 years old in a professional setting preferred.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for active supervision of children indoors and outdoors.
• Assist in monitoring children's progress and in documenting play, conversations, routines, and work samples.
• Collaborate with families and specialists to set learning goals and plan activities.
• Align teaching practices with early learning standards and program policies.
• Assist in promoting children0s active exploration and development across domains.

Skills

Positive attitude

Initiative

Enthusiasm for learning

Accountability

Creative problem solving

Education

Associate degree

CDA Preschool credential

Tools

Word

Internet

Email

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

• Supports and speaks in positive terms about Blueprints mission and others in the organization.
• Takes initiative to do more than is required or expected in the job.
• Demonstrates genuine enthusiasm for learning new skills and assuming new/changing roles.
• Takes full accountability for meeting commitments and achieving expected results.
• Accepts challenges and uses creative approaches to assess and solve problems.

Core Competencies

• Supports and speaks in positive terms about Blueprints mission and others in the organization.
• Takes initiative to do more than is required or expected in the job.
• Demonstrates genuine enthusiasm for learning new skills and assuming new/changing roles.
• Takes full accountability for meeting commitments and achieving expected results.
• Accepts challenges and uses creative approaches to assess and solve problems.

Effective Practices

• Demonstrates respect for others by sharing information objectively and non-judgmentally and adjusting verbal and written communication strategies for different audiences, guarding against abuse of power and sexual misconduct and using appropriate language.
• Confidentiality Statement: Upon accepting employment with Blueprints you will not disclose or use any Blueprints confidential information, either during or after your employment.
• Effectively communicates with others by using available technologies (e.g. fax, voice-mail, computers - see attached chart). Ensures that own communication is easily understood by speaking and writing clearly and using standard grammar and spelling.
• Makes prudent use of resources by monitoring consumption, minimizing waste, and offering suggestions for improving agency efficiency (e.g. travel expenses, office supplies).
• Effectively carries out job responsibilities by familiarizing self with pertinent program plans and policies, and overall agency goals and working cooperatively as part of a program team.
• Provides a culturally competent and flexible approach when working with those from various cultures by acknowledging, accepting and accommodating differences.

Essential Functions

• Regular and reliable attendance is essential.
• Link current research on and best practice in education, family, health and/or disabilities services to own work by keeping abreast of new information and reflecting on its relevance.
• Further professional growth by seeking feedback, reflecting on and assessing own practice, and taking advantage of opportunities to improve skills and knowledge.
• Exhibit an understanding of early learning standards and guidelines by incorporating them into own teaching practice.
• Comply with all PA Pre-K Grant requirements for continued education, including CDA renewal when applicable.
• Responsible for the active supervision of children (indoors/outdoors) and assisting with classroom management.
• Assist in monitoring children's progress per the goals developed by self and other staff and specialists, including those in IEPs, by assisting in observing and documenting children's play, conversations, routines/schedules, and work samples and through conversations with families.
• Assist in setting learning goals and planning learning experiences by integrating knowledge of each child's temperament, interests, gender, culture, language, learning approaches, understanding, misconceptions, and abilities and by working collaboratively with families and a range of specialists (e.g., medical, dental, speech, nutrition, mental health).
• Assist in using information about children obtained through home visits, parent-teacher conferences, and other parent-staff interactions by incorporating this data into daily routines and interactions with children.
• Assist in supporting children's overall development by integrating learning experiences related to all domains throughout the curriculum, environment, and day, and by accessing opportunities in the community (e.g., field trips, classroom volunteers).
• Assist in promoting children's active exploration, creativity, and development in all domains by designing indoor and outdoor environments based on knowledge of how children develop and learn, and their individual abilities.
• Promote a unified approach to sharing child information with families by engaging in joint planning with other center staff and pecialists to prepare for home visits and other family contacts.
• Ensure volunteers and parents are knowledgeable of the curriculum and developmentally appropriate practices.
• Assist the Teacher with facilitation of appropriate transition activities including parents, school district personnel, etc.
• Assist the Teacher in the completion of the required environmental and developmental screenings/assessments.
• Responsible for obtaining and reporting Non-Federal In-Kind.

Computer Skills Needed

• Computer Intermediate
• Internet Basic
• Email Basic
• Word Intermediate
• Excel NA
• PowerPoint NA

Skills, Abilities and Experience

• One year of experience working with children 3-5 years old in a professional capacity preferred.
• Experience related to the program model of service delivery preferred.
• Operate agency vehicle when required.

Educational Requirements

• Associate Degree from an accredited college or university. Early Childhood Education degree preferred.
• Child Development Associate (CDA) credential in the area of Preschool (minimum).