Early Learning Assistant

Catholic Charities Jacksonville; Ponte Vedra Beach (FL); On-site; USD 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

Catholic Charities Jacksonville is seeking an ELC Paraprofessional in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. This role is responsible for creating a nurturing and stimulating environment for children under the guidance of lead teachers. Key responsibilities include planning educational programs, conducting health checks, and fostering family partnerships. Candidates should have a high school diploma or GED, with a preference for those with prior experience in child care settings. The position allows for professional training and development opportunities.

Qualifications

• Must have knowledge of developmentally appropriate practices for children ages birth to 5 years.
• Pass a criminal background check and TB screening.
• Participate in on-site and off-site professional development trainings.

Responsibilities

• Assist in planning and implementing daily lesson plans.
• Conduct daily health checks on each child.
• Participate in family involvement activities.

Skills

Child growth and development knowledge

Ability to read and analyze professional documents

Communication skills

Teamwork

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

Reports to: Director

FLSA: Non-Exempt

Position Title: ELC Paraprofessional

General Summary

Under the direction of the lead teacher and director, the assistant teacher is responsible for providing a warm, nurturing, stimulating, safe, and loving environment, where each child has the opportunity to develop cognitive, verbal, social, emotional, and physical skills appropriately.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Assists with planning and implementing a culturally sensitive educational program that is developmentally appropriate for each child’s age and language.
• Assists in planning and implementing daily lesson plans based on the approved curriculum to promote cognitive, verbal, social, emotional, and physical development of children.
• Assists in conducting ongoing assessment and individualization documentation in a timely manner.
• Assists in planning a balanced daily routine that encourages play, exploration and learning, and which includes teacher-directed and child-directed activities, both inside and outside.
• Provides a developmentally appropriate, stimulating learning environment that includes adding new and interesting materials each week, meeting the developmental levels of all children in the group, including children with special needs, over the course of their enrollment.
• Other duties, as assigned.
• Children’s Health and Developmental Services Responsibilities:
  • Conducts daily health checks on each child.
  • Plans weekly activities that promote a healthy lifestyle.
  • Follows policies and procedures regarding medical and dental emergencies, short-term exclusion of children, and the administration, handling and storing of medication.
  • Ensures safe practices are followed to prevent injuries to children or others.
  • Maintains sanitation and hygienic procedures and participates in the maintenance of the center.
• Nutrition Responsibilities:
  • Eats with children, encouraging proper eating habits and conversation.
  • Serves food in a way that encourages the development and socialization of the children.
  • Assists in kitchen duties, as assigned.
  • Follows infants’ individual feeding schedules and holds infants who cannot sit independently while feeding.
• Family Partnerships Responsibilities:
  • Attends parent meetings as assigned.
  • Assists in informing parents concerning their children’s progress formally and informally, including parent notes, portfolios, and parent conferences.
  • Assists in planning and implementing family involvement activities.
• Training and Communication Responsibilities:
  • Participates in on-site and off-site professional development trainings and workshops; completes a minimum of 35 annual in-service training hours.
  • Maintains confidentiality at all times.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required

• Practicing Catholic in good standing with the Church preferred.
• A minimum of a high school diploma or GED.
• DCF 45‑hour training preferred, or must be started within 30 days of hire and completed within 6 months.
• Prior experience in a child care setting preferred.
• Knowledge of child growth and development as well as developmentally appropriate practices for children ages birth to 5 years.
• Knowledge of applicable safety and abuse reporting procedures.
• Must successfully pass the required criminal background check prior to employment and every five years; must complete Protecting God’s Children (PGC) workshop prior to employment.
• Must complete TB screening and physical within ten (10) days of hire and every two (2) years thereafter.
• Must register and complete Infant & Child First Aid and CPR certification within 6 months of hire and renew prior to expiration.
• Must be able to complete 35 hours of in‑service training each fiscal year.

Language Skills

• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.
• Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, vendors, employees, and the general public.

Mathematical Skills

• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
• Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

Reasoning Ability

• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here 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. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and talk or hear. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 30 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and ability to adjust focus.

Working Conditions

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. The position may require some evening and weekend hours.