Floater

Priority Dispatch Corp.; United States; On-site; USD 26,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Priority Dispatch Corp. is seeking a dedicated Head Start classroom assistant to supervise daily activities and support developmentally appropriate learning.

In the absence of a teacher, you will lead classroom activities, document screenings, and implement IEP/IFSP-based plans within two weeks of screening results. You will collaborate with the Mental Health Manager, Center Administrator, and Family Community Workers to coordinate services for children with special needs, maintain meal records,

Qualifications

• Oral and written communication skills to facilitate feedback between parents and staff.
• Strong safety awareness and ability to enforce universal precautions in classrooms.
• Observation and assessment skills to identify health concerns and behavior issues in children.
• Ability to collaborate with teachers, families, and staff to coordinate services.

Responsibilities

• Supervise children indoors and outdoors and ensure no unattended children.
• Record attendance and document screenings/assessments in the data system.
• Develop and implement IEP/IFSP-based lesson plans within two weeks of screening/assessment.
• Coordinate with teachers and family workers to address behavioral concerns and referrals.
• Maintain meals records and implement family-style meal services.
• Attend required trainings and maintain confidentiality of child and family information.

Skills

Oral and written communication

Safety awareness

Observation and assessment

Team collaboration

Education

CDA Certification

Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education

Job description

Essential Job ResponsibilitiesAssist in providing constant and continuous active supervision of children daily during all activities, both indoor and outdoor. Children should not be left unattended for any reason.Conduct classroom activities in the absence of an assigned teacher.Assist with the implementation of developmentally appropriate activities for each assigned child in each of the required learning domains.Review the screening of each enrolled child according to parent's assessment using the ASQ and ASQ3. Record results within 5 days manually and in the ChildPlus data system of screening/assessment.Implement individual (and bi-weekly lesson plans as appropriate) lesson plans IEP/ISFP based on screening/assessment results within two (2) weeks of screening/assessment.Referral immediately to classroom teacher observations of children with behavioral concerns or suspected learning disabilities; maintain, record, and follow up bi-weekly, at a minimum, until referral concern is addressed.In the absence of the teacher, record child attendance daily for each assigned child; reportabsences to assigned Family Community Worker.Maintain order during indoor and outdoor activities continuously each day using positive approaches to behavior management. Corporal punishment of any kind is prohibited.Work with the Mental Health Manager, Center Administrator, Teacher, and Family Community Workers to coordinate services for special needs children in the classroom and to develop a collaborative approach that benefits the child and meets the needs as specified on the IEP/IFSP.Maintain an accurate record of meals provided to each child daily.Implement family-style meal service at each meal provided for children.Other duties as assigned.Understands, generates, and documents in-kind and other allowable costs applied toward the non-federal share requirement.Responsible for understanding Head Start Performance Standards and local childcare licensing regulations.Expected to be knowledgeable of the regulations associated with the prevention of occupational disease and injury, including the exercise of universal precautions and the prevention of contamination.Maintains strict confidentiality with respect to Head Start and Early Head Start children, families, and staff in accordance with established policies and procedures.Attends all required training and workshops, including but not limited to 15 hours of classroom-focused professional development and methods that comply with applicable state and local laws for identifying and reporting child abuse and neglect.Regular and Predictable attendance is a requirement of the job.Parent Involvement and Community PartnershipsAccompany teacher on home visits and parent conferences as requested. Review proposed service delivery plans with parents prior to the onset of services; secure parental permission as needed.Encourage and recruit parents at each interaction to become involved in their child's ECD process by volunteering in the classroom and other ECD activities at least once per month.Establish and maintain relationships with family and community partners to facilitate the generation of non-federal share resources.Assist assigned teacher and other center staff in recruiting eligible children and expectant mothers, at a minimum, to fill vacancies in assigned caseload to include children with disabilities.Attend meetings and training as scheduled to stay abreast of policies, procedures, and best practices in Head Start and field of expertise.Observe children daily for health concerns, including signs of child abuse or neglect; report concerns immediately to the Center Administrator; record as appropriate in manual and computerized records.Provide for daily hand-washing and tooth-brushing in accordance with established hygiene procedures.Daily, prior to children's arrival, conduct a visual inspection of the classroom to ensure, at a minimum, emergency lighting is in good working order, electrical outlets are covered, and that equipment and materials present no safety threat to human life; report concerns immediately to the Center Administrator.Maintain classroom in a neat and orderly fashion (free of clutter and debris) daily; remove objects immediately deemed hazardous to human life.Communicate frequently via telephone, e-mail, or in-person contact with parents, Center staff, District and Central Office staff, and consultants for information exchange, problem-solving, and coordination of efforts.In the absence of custodial staff, ensure daily walk-through of playground areas is conducted prior to children's outside activities.Assist in maintaining clear and concise records for each child.Ability to travel, sometimes overnight and with short noticeAssists the teacher in meeting the program’s needs for parent/family involvement in each classroom.Establishes a relationship of trust and rapport with the families of the children.Communicates with families to facilitate positive interaction with the program, awareness of the child’s needs and development, how the activities of the program promote positive development, and their roles in the child’s overall education and development.Involves parents/families in the educational activities of the program:To emphasize their role as the principal influence on the child’s education and development; andTo assist parents/families to increase their knowledge, understanding, stills and experience in basic child development.Assists with identifying and arranging for parents to volunteer in the classroom as volunteers and substitutes.Assists the teacher in collecting monthly in-kind records from parents and community members participating in the program.Child and Adult Care Food ProgramContribute to the collection and editing progress of correct documentation for the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). This process is important and contributes additional dollars, which in turn enhances food delivery.Be knowledgeable about CACFP requirements regarding portions and components of each meal service.Conduct point-of-service meal documentation, count meals when children are seated, and have been offered a credible meal by USDA standards for portions and components.Enter the point-of-service meal counts in appropriate forms or software used by the program to support claim reimbursement.Active Supervision Duties – Applies any time you are working with childrenUnderstands and implements all required policies and procedures related to the active supervision of children at all times, including:Observation of the environment evaluation that children have a place to play and they can be observed and listened at all times.Continuously scan & count for children under care and report accurate numbers when asked.Listen to children at all times to identify potential danger, like specific sounds or the lack of any sound that may trigger an action.Develop knowledge of the children under care to anticipate their behavior, perform wellness checks, and be proactive and avoid putting children in danger.Collaborate with the bus driver to teach children the correct safety procedures for boarding and exiting a bus, as well as the danger zones around the vehicle.Ensures that indoor and outdoor equipment and facilities are clean and do not present any hazards.Ensure that classrooms and centers are equipped with safety supplies that are readily accessible to staff.Knowledge/Skills/Experience and Other RequirementsChild Development Associate (CDA) Certification with six (6) months of demonstrated experience in childcare, early childhood development environments, or currently enrolled in college.Strong knowledge of theories and practices of Early Childhood Development in Head Start. Working knowledge of Head Start and Child Care regulatory environment.Associate Degree or above in Early Childhood Education or a related area and six months of experience working with children or as a Head Start Teacher Aide.Demonstrated experience in child care, early childhood development, or related areas.Oral and written communication skills that facilitate and support positive feedback from parents and between staff at all operational levels.Physical/Mental Abilities and ProcessesAbility to visually assess children's health and behaviors and make frequent significant decisions to assure their health and safetyAbility to apply developmentally appropriate practices for young children in a classroom, playground, and bus setting.Frequent kneeling, bending at the waist and neck, sitting on the floor, and frequently getting up and down from the seat to assist children on the bus and in the classroom.Occasional lifting (up to 50 lbs.) in a classroom setting and assisting children into seats on the bus, and the ability to carry or drag a child out of a bus to a safe area in an emergency situation.