Head Start Teacher Assistant

Family Services; Winston-Salem (NC); On-site; USD 25,000 - 33,000; Full time

Job summary

Family Services, Inc. seeks a Teacher Assistant to support planning and implementing learning experiences that advance children's cognitive, emotional, social, language and physical development in a safe, healthy Head Start setting.

You will assist the teacher with classroom activities, supervise children, document progress, and engage families through parent involvement, with regular hours Monday–Friday 7:30 am–3:30 pm in Winston-Salem, NC.

Qualifications

• CDA credential and/or NC Child Care credentials are required.
• Associates in Early Childhood Education are preferred.
• Minimum of 1 year of direct child care experience.
• Ability to understand and articulate oral and written instructions.
• Ability to work with a diverse population.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to travel between agency sites and to home visits.

Responsibilities

• Assists the teacher in all classroom activities, field trips and outdoor activities.
• Instructs and supervises children in classroom activities.
• Participates in screening, observation, and documentation of children.
• Monitors meals to encourage good nutrition and social skills; maintains a clean classroom.
• Maintains accurate meal counts and attendance; completes paperwork timely.
• Supports parent and family involvement and attends workshops and meetings.

Skills

Spanish language

Team player

Oral and written instructions

Education

CDA credential

North Carolina Child Care credentials

Associates in Early Childhood Education

Job description

The Teacher Assistant helps with planning and implementing learning experiences that advances the cognitive, emotional, social, language and physical development of children within a safe healthy learning environment. The Teacher Assistant encourages the involvement of the families and supports the development of relationships between children and their families. The working hours for this position is Monday -Friday 7:30 am - 3:30 pm.

Position Responsibilities

• Assists the teacher in all classroom activities, field trips and outdoor activities including lesson planning.
• Assist in instructing and supervising children in classroom activities.
• Participates in the screening, observation, and documentation of children.
• Helps supervise at meal time, eating with the children to encourage good nutrition and proper social skills.
• Assist in keeping the classroom clean and orderly.
• Assists monitoring and recording child outcome in Teaching Strategies Gold.
• Assist the teacher in any aspect of the Head Start program as needs arise.
• May be required to take charge of the classroom in the Teacher I absence.
• Makes home visits with the teacher as required or requested and assists with documentation.
• Assists the teacher in meeting the programs needs for parent and family involvement.
• Attends all workshops and meetings as requested.
• Has a complete understanding of Head Start Performance Standards and DCDEE Licensing requirements.
• Continuously monitor children to ensure safety at all times, and report child abuse and neglect when necessary.
• Complete all necessary paperwork for classroom activities including screenings, parent/teacher conferences, and home visits, etc., in a timely manner.
• Assist with maintaining accurate meal counts and attendance and submit in a timely manner.
• Adheres to protocol and procedures for Active Supervision.
• Must adhere to the Code of Conduct at all times.
• All other duties as assigned.

Parent and Community Engagement

• Assist with conducting home visits and parent/teacher conferences as required by Head Start Performance Standards.
• Participates in workshops, meetings, community events, etc. (e.g. partner meetings, conferences,etc.) for the purpose of receiving and/or presenting information.
• Assist in recruiting and orienting volunteers, providing them with guidance as needed.

Compliance and Reporting

• Assist with maintaining compliance by adhering to Agency Policy and Procedures, Administration for Children and Families, Performance Standards, North Carolina Day Care rules and regulations.
• Completes and maintains all necessary documentation to demonstrate compliance with Head Start performance standards.
• Responsible for maintaining training hours as directed by the Division of Child Development and Day Care Licensing requirements through Agency pre-service and in service, and workshops, conferences, etc.

Professional Responsibilities

• Assist in maintaining staff/child ratio at all times.
• Responsible for reporting potential abuse and neglect according to the Head Start/Early Start Policies and Procedures.
• Responsible for adhering to professional development plan including renewal of annual credentials (*which are required for continued employment in this position).
• Must be able to periodically attend out of town conferences and training session.
• Maintain professionalism at all times through actions and behaviors.
• Display a friendly and positive attitude towards job duties, parents, children, staff members and others (visitors, volunteers, community partners) and willingly perform job duties.
• Communicate effectively by using productive comments, pleasant expressions and welcoming gestures.
• Must be a team player.

Position Qualifications

• Minimum of Child Development Associate (CDA) credential and/or North Carolina Child Care credentials
• Associates in Early Childhood Education preferred
• Minimum of 1 year of experience in direct services to children in a childcare setting
• Ability to understand and articulate oral and written instructions.
• Ability to work with a diverse population.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to travel between various agency sites, community resources, and home visits

Preferred

• Proficient in conversational Spanish
• Experience in a Child Development, Head Start, or Early Head Start organization

Essential Physical Functions

The physical demands and work environment characteristics 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.

Physical Activity

• Carrying
• Writing
• Stooping
• Grasping
• Standing
• Twisting
• Lifting
• Walking
• Communicating with internal and external stakeholders
• Using computers, telephone, mobile device, and fax machine keyboards

Physical Requirements

• Push, pull, lift or carry up to as much as 25 pounds occasionally
• Must be able to sit or stand for long periods of time.

Visual/Audible Acuity Requirements

• Must be able to read and distinguish small print
• Must have depth perception and be able to distinguish basic colors
• Must be able to distinguish normal sounds with some background noise
• Must be able to speak clearly and make self-understood while also understanding others using the English language

Family Services, Inc. is committed to a diverse and drug-free workforce. EOE

Family Services, Inc. values flexibility and the willingness to take on new challenges. As opportunities arise and work responsibilities change, your job description will be adjusted to meet the organization’s needs.

Job Responsibilities

The above statements reflect the general duties, responsibilities and competencies considered necessary to perform the essential responsibilities of the job and should not be considered a detailed description of all the work requirements of the position. Family Services, Inc. reserves the right to revise the job duties and responsibilities at any time with or without notice, based on the needs of the organization.

Family Services, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals without regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, or non-disqualifying physical or mental handicap or disability.

Americans with Disabilities Act

Applicants as well as employees who are or become disabled must be able to perform the essential duties and responsibilities either unaided or with reasonable accommodation. Family Services, Inc. shall determine reasonable accommodation on a case-by-case basis in accordance with applicable law.