Early Childhood Assistant

Hrcap; Portsmouth (VA); On-site; USD 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A nonprofit organization in Portsmouth, Virginia, seeks a classroom substitute to ensure safety and educational development of preschool children. Responsibilities include supervising children, implementing lesson plans, and fostering a supportive learning environment. Candidates should have at least a high school diploma, with a CDA credential or Associate Degree preferred. Daily physical activities are required, along with reliable transportation and certifications in CPR and MAT. Prior early childhood experience is a plus.

Qualifications

• Must have reliable transportation to worksites.
• Daily physical activities like kneeling and bending are required.
• Prior experience in early childhood education preferred.

Responsibilities

• Substitute in classrooms to maintain staff/child ratios.
• Supervise preschool children and ensure a safe learning environment.
• Assist in lesson plan development and implementation.
• Participate in team meetings and training.
• Maintain classroom and equipment inventory.

Skills

Child supervision

Emergency response

Microsoft 365 proficiency

Classroom management

Lesson planning

Education

High school diploma

Child Development Associate (CDA) credential

Associate Degree

Job description

Portsmouth, United States | Posted on 09/24/2025

• Industry Nonprofit Charitable Organizations
• Work Experience 1-3 years
• City Portsmouth
• Country United States

Job Description

• Substitute in classrooms as necessary to ensure compliance with staff/child ratios.
• Demonstrate ability to supervise preschool children and ensure a safe learning environment, including the ability to monitor and respond to events at all times in classroom, outdoor play areas, and on field trips. This includes the physical ability to move quickly to respond to children who are very active and may need redirection to ensure their safety or the safety of others.
• Assist in meeting the needs of all children, including those with special needs, gifted children, and those who are culturally diverse.
• Assist in developing and utilizing lesson plans that reflect mandated elements, parental and cultural influences, and promote the social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development of Head Start children.
• Implement ongoing early child/family literacy activities.
• 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.
• Observe and record behaviors of children to assist the teacher in identifying each child's strengths and areas to grow.
• Encourage experimentation, exploration, problem solving, cooperation, socialization, and choice making; ask open‑ended questions and listen respectfully to the answers.
• Provide an atmosphere that promotes and reinforces parental involvement in the classroom.
• Assist with the supervision and monitoring of children at all times.
• Respond to crisis or emergency situations that may occur and provide first aid and/or CPR. Prevent the spread of blood‑borne pathogens and access emergency services as needed.
• Participate in regularly scheduled team meetings to plan for and deliver collaborative services across all service areas.
• Serve as a Bus Monitor to help ensure children's safety to and from centers as needed.
• Assist with parental involvement and the development of balanced lesson plans that are developmentally appropriate, intellectually challenging and address each child's specific strengths and needs.
• Assist in the establishment of daily and weekly goals that promote individual and group educational plans and include other Head Start service areas.
• Assist in the preparation of classroom materials to support lesson plans, in addition to changing and creating learning centers as needed.
• Assist in adapting curriculum to address and meet individual goals for children as identified in their individualized plans.
• Attend meetings, trainings, and appropriate professional development activities.
• Assist in general classroom maintenance/sanitization and laundry.
• Assist in maintaining inventory of classroom equipment.
• Other duties as requested.

Effective 9/2022

Requirements

• Minimum educational requirement is high school diploma. A Child Development Associate credential (CDA) or Associate Degree preferred.
• It is expected that persons who do not possess any of the credentials listed above will work towards and obtain a CDA credential within 18 months of hire.
• Daily kneeling, stooping, bending, and sitting on the floor to attend to children's needs.
• Must have reliable transportation to designated worksites.
• Must pass Criminal Background Check and Child Protective Service Registry.
• Must obtain CPR and MAT certifications.
• Experience with Microsoft 365, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint a plus.
• Prior early childhood experience preferred.