Head Start Assistant Teacher

Easter Seals; Danielsville (GA); On-site; USD 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Easter Seals in Georgia seeks an Assistant Teacher to support the Teacher in delivering quality, developmentally appropriate early childhood education in an inclusive setting.

You will help plan and implement activities, promote children's growth, support social development, ensure parent involvement, and assist with health and safety, attendance, and daily routines in line with Head Start and GA licensure requirements.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of child growth and development, early childhood education, and family support.
• Ability to communicate with children and families, including those with limited English.
• Minimum CDA credential with preschool endorsement or equivalent; pursue higher credentials if needed.

Responsibilities

• Assist in planning and implementing developmentally appropriate activities.
• Maintain classroom organization, safety, attendance, and daily schedules.
• Lead classroom in Teacher's absence; accompany children on bus and outings.
• Conduct health and safety checks and support parent involvement and transitions.
• Participate in home visits and parent conferences as required by Head Start.

Skills

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Public relations

Education

Childhood Development Associate Credential (CDA) with preschool endorsement

Job description

PURPOSE OF POSITION:The Assistant Teacher assists the Teacher in facilitating quality, individualized, early childhood education by implementing developmentally appropriate practices in an inclusive environment.SUMMARY:Works as a team member with the Early Childhood Specialists to assist in the planning and implementing of a variety of developmentally appropriate activities for children, that will enhance their growth and development, promote social competence, and ensure parental involvement in all aspects of the program.ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (include but are not limited to):Behavior Standard – 50% of PositionMaintains a positive work atmosphere by acting and communicating in a manner so that you get along with customers, clients, coworkers, and management.Attendance StandardMaintains excellent punctuality and attendance.Fundamental: Day to Day ActivitiesAssists in planning and implementing developmentally and linguistically appropriate activities, that recognize and supports each child’s rate of developmentAssists in assessing the safety of classroom and outdoor play areas before engaging children in activitiesAssists in organizing classroom environment into areas to be used for learning, eating, resting, and playing in accordance with the Creative Curriculum,Accompanies children to and from the bus, classroom, playground, and out-of-center activities maintaining attendance checks and headcountServes as Bus Monitor as neededAssists in the development of a daily schedule of child-initiated and teacher-initiated activities that are well defined to help children in the order of events accruing each dayMaintains staff and classroom ratios at all timesLeads the classroom in the absence of the TeacherCommunications/Public RelationsMaintains a communication system plan that ensures appropriate communication among the children, their families, teaching staff, the Center Manager and other community organizationsSupports and participates in the values and missions of ESNG.MonitoringAssist in the completion of the Health and Safety Checklist for classrooms weeklyAssists in the monitoring and reports accurate numbers for the program's weekly reportRecord KeepingAssist in the maintenance of updated and accurate records for children (educational and nutritional)Maintains confidentialityComplianceAdheres to policies, procedures, and practices that ensure the achievements and maintenance of GA licensure, NAEYC accreditation, and Head Start performance standardsConducts and documents a minimum of 2 home visits for Head Start children and 2 parent conferences for all children during the program areaAssist with the child transition plan as it relates to assisting parents to be advocates for their children, cross-training and sharing needs related to transition, assisting with field trips for children and their parents to feeder schools, and assisting parents to become familiar with community resources.Learning and GrowthParticipates in all mandatory Easter Seals trainings to include pre-service, in-service, and other educational programs and trainingsCompletes the minimum number of training hours required by DHR, OSR, Georgia Pre-K and Head StartKNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:Must have the knowledge, skills, and experiences needed to perform the assigned functions responsibly.Must be familiar with the ethnic background and culture of families in the program and be able to serve and effectively communicate, to the extent feasible, with children and families with no or limited English proficiency.Must possess training, experiences, and knowledge that includes theories, and principles of child growth and development, early childhood education, and family support.Must possess excellent communication skills and fluency to communicate with children and familiesMust possess the ability to move/lift children up to age (5).OTHER DUTIES:Performs other duties as assigned by management.MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - Assistant Teacher:Must possess a minimum of a Childhood Development Associate Credential (CDA) with the preschool endorsement, TCC, TCD or equivalent or higher. If an employee is hired without this minimum credential, the employee must pursue and complete the credential within the timeframe prescribed by the agency.Must be eighteen years of age or older.Must pass the Drug Test.Must pass pre-employment tests if applicable.EDUCATION REQUIREDMinimum of a Childhood Development Associate Credential (CDA) with the preschool endorsement, TCC, TCD orhigher credentials in Early Childhood Education, Early Childhood Development, Special Education or equivalent.PHYSICAL JOB REQUIREMENTSThe ability to stand for sustained periods of time.The ability to sit for sustained periods of time.The ability to walk for sustained periods of time including responding quickly to safety concernsThe ability to use hands and fingers to feel, operate a computer, and perform picking, pinching and whole hand or arm handling tasks.The ability to climb stairs.The ability to stoop, kneel, crouch, sit on the floor, or crawl as needed when working with small children on their level.The ability to reach, extending arms in any direction.The ability to push or pull objects weighing up to 25 pounds.The ability to lift and carry a child up to age 5The ability to talk in order to accurately exchange information.The ability to hear in order to accurately exchange information.The ability to see clearly in order to maintain child safety and supervision, use a computer, and for extensive reading and writing.The ability to work in both indoor conditions and outdoor conditions.The ability to assist children as needed while on a moving bus.Equal Opportunity Employer.