Head Start Associate Teacher

Darlington-County-Community-Action-Agency; Pine Acres (SC); On-site; USD 33,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Darlington County Community Action Agency in Pine Acres, SC seeks an Associate Teacher to support preschoolers in social-emotional, physical, and cognitive growth under the Head Start program. You will assist in planning activities, supervise children, support families, and help with classroom operations, transitions, and daily records.

This role requires teamwork, reliability, and sensitivity to individual needs.

Qualifications

• Associate in ECD / related field or ECD credential/diploma.
• Background checks and health screening required.
• Experience with children, families, and the community preferred.

Responsibilities

• Engage with children during all activities; supervise indoors and outdoors.
• Assist in planning and conducting activities with Head Start Teacher.
• Guide and facilitate classroom projects and field trips.
• Provide a safe, developmentally appropriate learning environment.
• Maintain confidentiality regarding children; document observations and assessments.
• Assist in parent involvement activities and staff meetings.
• Lead in the teacher's absence and assist with bus monitoring and safety.

Skills

Verbal communication

Reading

Writing

Typing

Computer/data entry

Education

Associate in ECD / four-year degree in related field

Job description

The Associate Teacher assists in the instruction of preschool-aged children in activities designed to promote social-emotional, physical, and cognitive growth. Associate Teachers are also responsible for assisting the teacher in the Head Start classroom’s daily operations.

General Responsibilities:

• Engage with children during all activities throughout the day; provide constant supervision of children during all learning activities indoors and outdoors and ensure a safe environment.
• Assist in planning and conducting activities with Head Start Teacher to meet the individual needs of children in accordance with the daily schedule.
• Guide and facilitate activities with Head Start Teacher, including classroom projects and field trips.
• Provide a safe and developmentally appropriate learning environment; interact with children one‑on‑one and in small groups.
• Protect the safety of children by implementing active supervision techniques to ensure no child is left alone or unsupervised at any time
• Assist in creating ways to engage parents in their children’s education, including encouraging classroom involvement and home activities.
• Participate in parent‑teacher conferences to discuss children’s individual development and progress.
• Eat with and assist children with eating at mealtime to teach social and self‑help skills and sound nutritional practices.
• Assist children in healthy personal habits, such as resting, brushing teeth, and toilet habits.
• Assist the Head Start Teacher in record keeping; conduct and document observations, assessments, and screenings.
• Maintain confidentiality regarding children.
• Participate in staff meetings, committees, and training sessions.
• Assist in the mobilization and documentation of matching in‑kind activities, goods, and services.
• Will be required to take the lead in the absence of the teacher.
• Act as a bus monitor to ensure appropriate supervision of services and safe transportation for children and adults, i.e., includes boarding and existing, emergency evacuation, securing safety restraints, and appropriate child and adult behavior.
• Assist bus driver with checking bus at the end of the route to ensure that “no†child is left on the bus
• Maintain required training hours for licensing and job employment within the school employment year.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications / Skills / Experience and Abilities:

• Associate in ECD/four-year Degree in human relations or other related fields/ECD Cert./ECD Diploma.
• Minimum of three years experience in working with children, families, and the community preferred.
• Ability to pass background checks and health screening.
• Excellent verbal, reading, writing, and typing//computer/data entry skills.
• Sit on the floor and interact with children
• Visually observe and hear children from all areas of the classroom and playground at all times
• Lift at least 50 lbs.