Head Start Teacher Assistant

Center for Transforming Lives; Fort Worth (TX); On-site; USD 26,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid time off

Training & development

Vision insurance

401(k)

Dental insurance

Job summary

Center for Transforming Lives seeks a Head Start Teacher Assistant to support a high-quality early learning environment focused on school readiness. You will promote responsive caregiving, scaffold learning experiences, and ensure curriculum fidelity in alignment with Texas guidelines.

The role emphasizes collaboration with families and staff, implementing developmentally appropriate activities, and coordinating classroom volunteers to deliver reliable daily routines and learning progress for

Qualifications

• Must have CDA credential or be enrolled to complete within two years of hire.
• Must be at least 18 years old.
• Minimum of 24 months of classroom teaching experience in a Texas Child Care Licensed Center.
• Associates degree in early childhood education or related field (preferred).
• Minimum of 2–4 years of classroom teaching experience in a Texas Child Care Licensed Center.

Responsibilities

• Actively supervise and ensure the health, well-being, and safety of children.
• Implement age-appropriate preschool lesson plans with fidelity and provide inclusive instructional support.
• Ensure activities and transitions are developmentally appropriate and aligned with Head Start Standards.
• Articulate sound early childhood principles and effective teaching practices for preschoolers.
• Communicate with children, families, and staff to support school readiness strategies.
• Apply professional leadership in appearance and demeanor within the classroom.
• Facilitate family engagement experiences, two home visits/parent conferences per year.
• Coordinate other classroom staff and volunteers in the daily routine.

Skills

Excellent communication

Child development knowledge

Computer proficiency

Background check readiness

Education

CDA credential or in CDA program

Associate or Baccalaureate in ECE (preferred)

Job description

Benefits:

• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Training & development
• Vision insurance
• 401(k)
• Dental insurance

SUMMARY

The Head Start Teacher Assistant is responsible for supporting a positive, high-quality early learning environment for school readiness and demonstrating competency in the provision of responsive caregiving, effective and nurturing teacher-child interactions, planning and implementation of learning experiences, curriculum fidelity, and the use of ongoing assessments that capture children’s progress in alignment with the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework: Ages Birth to Five and the Texas PreK guidelines inclusively for children with disabilities and dual language learners.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Actively supervise and ensure the health, well-being, and safety of children.
• Implement age-appropriate preschool lesson plans, effectively implement curriculum components with fidelity, and inclusively scaffold instructional support to meet children’s individual needs.
• Ensure classroom activities and interactions (including transitions) are age and developmentally appropriate and aligned with the Head Start Standards.
• Articulate and demonstrate sound early childhood principles and effective teaching practices for preschoolers.
• Effectively communicate and partner with children, families, and staff to implement school readiness strategies.
• Implement positive decision-making strategies that affect the operation, care, and education of children within the classroom, demonstrating professionalism and leadership in appearance and demeanor.
• Facilitate family engagement experiences, two home visits/parent conferences per year.
• Coordinate other classroom staff and classroom volunteers in the daily routine.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• At a minimum, a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential or enrolled in a program that will lead to an associate or baccalaureate degree or are enrolled in a CDA credential program to be completed with two years of the time of hire.
• Must be at least 18 years or older
• Minimum of 24 months of classroom teaching experience in a Texas Child Care Licensed Center.
• -or-
• Associates degree in early childhood education or a related field (Preferred)
• Minimum of 2-4 years of classroom teaching experience in a Texas Child Care Licensed Center.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES

• Must demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication skills & be able to interact professionally with adults.
• Have a working knowledge of human behavior and early childhood education. Ability to incorporate creativity within classroom learning experiences.
• Computer proficiency required. Enjoy daily contact with children.
• Must pass a pre-employment and/or periodic physical examination, TB skin test, and a complete background check every 24 months.
• Ability to communicate a basic understanding of child development, Center for Transforming Lives policies and procedures, and regulatory requirements (including, but not exclusively, Texas Child Care Licensing Minimum Standards for Child Care Centers and Head Start Program Performance Standards).