Head Start Teacher Assistant

Independence School District; Independence (AL); On-site; USD 23,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

Independence School District seeks an Early Education Teacher Assistant for a 9-month (or 12-month) term. The role supports the teacher in implementing Head Start Performance Standards and maintaining a safe, nurturing classroom for preschool children.

Responsibilities include classroom preparation, family communication, two home visits, two parent conferences yearly, and participation in meetings/trainings. Requires CDA or equivalent credentials and physical ability to lift up to 50 pounds.

Qualifications

• Must meet one of the following: degree with nine hours in early childhood coursework, completed CDA, or CDA in progress.
• Successful experience with preschool children is desired.
• Able to lift, carry, and hold children up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to stoop, crawl, kneel, and bend to speak to children at eye level and handle toys/equipment.

Responsibilities

• Provide a nurturing, appropriate learning environment for children in the Early Education program.
• Support a program that values individual differences across abilities, cultures, languages.
• Assist in classroom setup, daily sign-in/out, and activity planning guidance.
• Support and implement a process-oriented curriculum.
• Communicate and build relationships with families.
• Attend parent and staff meetings and trainings; participate in two home visits and two conferences annually.
• Use positive guidance and discipline techniques.
• Maintain safety awareness in classroom, playground, and field trips.
• Contribute to lesson planning and record keeping as a team member.
• Maintain client confidentiality per policy; adhere to district procedures.
• Attend evening meetings as required.
• Submit initial physical exam and biennial updates; tuberculin screening on hire.
• Complete CPR training within 30 days of hire.
• Be flexible for nontraditional program days; perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Preschool experience

Lifting up to 50 lbs

Flexible hours

Education

Degree with 9 hours EC coursework

Completed CDA

Enrolled in CDA program (2 years)

Enrolled in degree with 9 EC hours

Completing 120 CDA clock hours

Job description

9-month Position

Qualifications:

• Must meet one of the following:
  • A degree with nine (9) hours in early childhood coursework
  • Completed CDA
  • Be currently enrolled in a CDA program to be completed within two (2) years
  • Be currently and continually enrolled in a degree program including at least nine (9) hours in early childhood coursework
  • Have a degree and are completing 120 CDA clock hours
• Successful experience working with preschool children desired
• Able to lift, carry, and hold children up to 50 pounds
• Ability to stoop, crawl, kneel, and bend in order to speak to children at the child's eye level, to play with children, and to pick up toys and equipment from the floor

Fair Labor Standards Act Status:

Non-Exempt

Reports to:

Principal

Job Goal:

To assist the teacher in the implementation of Head Start Performance Standards.

Performance Responsibilities:

• Responsible for providing a nurturing and appropriate learning environment for children in the Early Education program
• Responsible for implementing a program for children that will provide experiences that encourage individual differences of the children regardless of special abilities, talents, ethnic heritage, culture, and language
• Share responsibilities of maintaining the physical environment by assembling materials needed for the daily activities, being responsible for daily sign in/sign out of children, participating in the daily classroom activities and making suggestions in planning and guiding of the learning activities
• Support and implement a process-oriented curriculum
• Assist in communicating and establishing rapport with families
• Attend and participate in parent and staff meetings and training sessions
• Participate in at least two home visits and two parent conferences per year
• Know and use appropriate, positive guidance, and discipline techniques
• Maintain visual and auditory awareness of children at all times to ensure their safety in the classroom, on the playground, and on field trips
• Act as a team member in lesson planning and record keeping
• Maintain client confidentiality according to established policy
• Attend all required meetings, including designated evening meetings
• Submit initial physical examination upon hire and every two (2) years following
• Submit initial tuberculin screening upon hire
• Complete CPR training within 30 days of hire
• Follow district policies and procedures
• Have the ability to be flexible in working alternative hours on nontraditional program days
• Other duties as defined and assigned

Terms of Employment:

The Early Education Teacher Assistant will be employed in a nine (9) or twelve (12) month position. The salary and the work year will be established annually by the Board of Education.

Required Testing:

Post offer employment medical physical exam and essential functions test (EFT) required.

Work Environment/conditions:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works indoors with minimal temperature variations and under conditions with risk of injury and/or illness. The employee may also occasionally work with cleaning chemicals. The noise level of the work environment is usually moderate, but occasionally can be loud. Generally the job requires 5 % sitting, 50% standing, and 45% walking.

Physical Demands:

• The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, use hands and fingers, and talk and hear.
• The employee is frequently required to bend at the neck.
• The employee is frequently required to climb or balance, reach, bend, crouch or crawl, squat, stoop, and kneel.
• The employee must frequently lift, carry and/or hold, push, or move up to 50 pounds.

Evaluation:

Performance of this job will be evaluated by the Principal using the Early Education Teacher Assistant Evaluation.