Part-Day Teacher Assistant

Pinal Gila Community Child Services; Casa Grande (AZ); On-site; USD 27,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Pinal Gila Community Child Services seeks a Teacher Assistant to work directly with children in the Head Start classroom, supporting the lead teacher and volunteers. You will help plan developmentally appropriate activities, monitor child progress, and assist with family engagement activities and conferences.

The role emphasizes strong communication, teamwork, and adherence to CACFP and Head Start standards. Bilingual skills and CDA-related credentials are highly regarded.

Qualifications

• Requires HSD/GED; enrolled in a CDA credential program to be completed within 2 years.
• CDA/ECE certificate or AA/AS degree preferred.
• Proficient in communications with families and staff; demonstrates professionalism.

Responsibilities

• Directly supervise children during daily activities in Head Start.
• Assist with developmentally appropriate lesson plans and IEP/IFSP goals.
• Encourage parent involvement and volunteering in classroom activities.
• Communicate with families daily about child progress.
• Maintain a clean and safe classroom and assist with meals per CACFP guidelines.
• Assist with child screenings and documentation of referrals.
• Support children with differing abilities in daily routines.

Skills

Communication skills

Teamwork

Computer skills

Bilingual English/Spanish

Education

HSD/GED

CDA credential program (within 2 years)

CDA/ECE certificate or AA/AS degree preferred

Job description

Job Summary

Responsible for working directly with all children in the classroom, assists the classroom teacher in planning and implementing appropriate early childhood activities with the assistance of parent volunteers, including working under the supervision of the Teacher and is responsible for temporary assignments of teaching duties as assigned by his/her supervisor, the Site Manager, within the Head Start Program.

Essential Functions

The Teacher Assistant will ultimately be evaluated on a combination of skills, dispositions, and behaviors, some of which are related to the specific service area of this position and others that represent general expectations of all our agency employees.

The Teacher Assistant responsibilities chiefly fall within the following essential functions, although s/he may perform other tasks and/or duties as assigned. The Teacher Assistant will demonstrate competency to perform essential functions that include:

• Directly supervises and assists children in performing daily activities in the Head Start Center.
• Actively participates in classroom operations by creating developmentally appropriate lesson plan support, including IEP goals, assessment goals, age-appropriate language development, pre-math skills, staff-child interaction, appropriate room arrangement and classroom environment, observations/assessments, family-style meals, and behavior management.
• Encourages parents to participate and volunteer in classroom and other Head Start activities.
• Communicates with families daily.
• Maintains a clean and safe classroom.
• Assists with two home visits per child per year.
• Assists with the planning and implementation of parent meetings and related parent activities.
• Assists with parent/teacher conferences, ensuring parents are kept informed of their child's progress.
• Assists children in serving food, practicing appropriate table behavior, and good nutritional habits per CACFP guidelines.
• Assists with children's screenings (audio, vision, height/weight, anemia, IEP, mental health, developmental); assists with documentation and follow-up on referrals.
• Assists children with differing abilities in their daily routine, including diapering and feeding.
• Assists staff to incorporate IEP/IFSP goals into classroom activities as directed.
• Completes reports assigned by supervisor with accuracy and timeliness.
• Actively participates in recruitment of eligible Head Start children and families.
• Maintains strict child confidentiality.
• Attends and actively participates in staff meetings, training sessions, CDA/ECE classes, and related career development.
• Proficient in utilizing various virtual platforms to facilitate seamless communication and collaboration.

Minimum Requirements

• Requires HSD/GED. All Head Start teacher assistants must be enrolled in a CDA credential program that will be completed within 2 years from the date of hire. CDA/ECE Certificate or AA/AAS degree preferred. All education must be from an accredited institute.
• Teacher Assistant must be at least 18 years old.
• Six months BCCL or Head Start parent, volunteer work in Head Start (HS) or Child Care (CC).
• Advanced computer skills in word processing, Internet and e-mail.
• Arizona Driver's License, proof of insurance, fingerprint card, Social Security card, CPR and First Aid, and provide a vehicle for program business.
• Health Questionnaire is required at hire and will be updated every 3 years.
• Meet all agency, state and federal required immunizations or have an approved exemption on file.
• Employee must be able to speak, read, write, and understand English.
• Bilingual English/Spanish skills highly desirable.
• Food Handlers Card or Certificate within 30 calendar days of hire.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge

• Knowledge of the application of the principles of early care and education, adult learning styles, cultural and ethnic diversity, and family dynamics.
• Knowledge of Head Start Program Performance Standards and the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and how to implement it within the position.

Skills

• Excellent oral and written communication skills and team-membership skills; communicates in a professional manner with internal and external customers.

Abilities

• Ability to supervise Birth-Preschool children as appropriate, ensuring a safe learning environment, including monitoring and responding to events in the classroom, outdoor play area, and on field trips.
• Ability to prioritize workload while being flexible; makes frequent decisions to assure developmental progress of children and responds appropriately, both mentally and physically, to an emergency or crisis situation.
• Ability to demonstrate/capable understanding of the DCS reporting system and the signs and symptoms of child abuse and neglect.

Physical Requirements

Able to perform the following physical requirements of the position with or without reasonable accommodation: critical sensory requirements include general vision, specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Hear or listen in the normal range (corrected) and speak and give directions clearly. Able to walk, sit, stand, kneel, crouch, crawl, reach, lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects up to 40 lbs., run 50 feet, and demonstrate exercises - jumping jacks, leg lifts, etc.

Working Conditions

Work is performed in a classroom/office setting where minimal exposure to injury exists. The hours of work will generally be during regular business hours and average at least 40 hrs. per week. There will be work variations in work hours due to special employee projects, deadlines, and other concerns. PGCCS employees have the possibility of exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials through collateral duty to their routine work assignments, such as rendering first aid if need arises, and seldom exposure to vibration, toxic conditions, odors, dust, mold, and poor ventilation.