Teacher Assistant

The Agricultural and Labor Program Inc; Port Saint Lucie (FL); On-site; USD 17,000 - 22,000; Full time

Job summary

The Agricultural and Labor Program, Inc. (ALPI) is seeking a Head Start Teacher Assistant to support services for children ages 3–5 in the Head Start Program at ALPI Child Development & Family Service in Port Saint Lucie, Florida.

Under teacher supervision, you will help plan lessons, supervise an assigned group, observe development, support family engagement, and assist with safety, attendance and learning materials.

Qualifications

• Ability to read, interpret safety rules and procedures.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
• Ability to speak effectively before groups.
• Ability to work with children ages 3-5 and support development.

Responsibilities

• Assist the teacher in planning lessons and designing activities.
• Assist the teacher in curriculum implementation.
• Observe children daily and record outcomes.
• Supervise children in classroom, playground and restrooms.
• Assist with daily observation and evaluation of children’s development.
• Support family visits to encourage parental involvement and inform learning activities.
• Assist with meal service and maintaining attendance records.
• Ensure safety checks and supervision of classroom activities.
• Assist in gathering and developing educational materials.

Skills

Observation & record-keeping

Effective communication

Safety rules interpretation

Education

High School Diploma or GED

CDA or AA in Early Childhood

Job description

About the Organization The Agricultural and Labor Program, Inc. (The ALPI) is a private, non-profit, community-based agency that provides services to migrants, seasonal farm workers, disadvantaged and disenfranchised children, individuals and families, in the State of Florida. The ALPI encourages the involvement of individuals served in decision‑making processes affecting their lives.

The ALPI was established in 1968 with five underlying principles that guides all its activities:

• Involvement of people
• Emphasis on long term accomplishments rather than promises
• Assurances of economic viability
• Emphasis on self‑help, and
• A sound, integrated, total systems approach

In conceptualizing the ALPI overall program, five (5) main areas of activity continue to emerge:

• EMPLOYMENT AND INCOME
• ORGANIZATION DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT
• HOUSING
• COMMUNITY RELATIONS AND SUPPORT
• EDUCATION, HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES

ALPI's Children and Family Services Division focus is on activities that enhance the process of providing developmentally appropriate early education activities including, but not limited to, health, nutrition, dental, mental health, parent information and referral on quality child care and health services programs. The ALPI is a certified Child/Adult Care Food Program agency. Through this program, ALPI provides nutrition and meal services for Head Start and Child Care Program participants and certifies private child care providers to participate in the program.

The ALPI will continue to follow its mission of helping and advocating for those affected by poverty, as well as continue our commitment to bridging gaps that hinder self‑sufficiency.

EOE Statement We are an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

SUMMARY

The Head Start Teacher Assistant reports to the Teacher and assists in providing services to the children ages 3-5 years in the Head Start Program.

The Teacher Assistant is responsible for assisting the teacher with program planning and daily supervision of an assigned group of children (17-20) ages 3-5 years. Duties involves performing developmentally appropriate activities related to the social, physical, intellectual and emotional development of children. Work is performed under the guidance of the Teacher and is reviewed through monitoring, conferences and evaluation.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assist the teacher in the interaction of children in the classroom in order to aid in the educational, social, and motional development of children by helping the teacher prepare lesson plans and design learning activities.
• Assist the teacher in the implementation of the curriculum.
• Observes children daily and records child outcomes data on Teaching Strategies Gold ongoing assessment only system when needed.
• Assist with supervision of children in classroom, playground, restrooms and all other activities.
• Assist the teacher in the daily observation and evaluation of the cognitive, social, physical and educational development of children.
• Assist the teacher in providing social and learning experiences during family‑style meal service and assist with mealtime clean up. Maintains accurate attendance and meal records.
• Assist teacher in observation and recording of children’s behavior.
• Assist with individualization of children.
• Ensures safety of children by performing safety checks, facility checks (indoor and outdoor).
• Assist the teacher in the selection and design of educational materials to enhance and improve the classroom and training of children.
• Prepares materials for learning centers and maintains teaching materials, equipment and supplies.
• Assist with home visits in order to encourage active parental participation in the Agency's program; to inform parents of the educational needs of their child(ren); and to inform parents of learning activities that may be conducted in the home.
• Provides immediate supervision of classroom activities in the absence of the teacher.
• Reports suspected child abuse/neglect situations.
• Work with parents and volunteers under the direction of the teacher. Assist in recruiting volunteers.
• Attends and participates in staff meetings when required. Attends required trainings, meetings and conferences to keep abreast of educational trends and enhance knowledge.
• Serves as a bus monitor as needed. Assists with loading and unloading of children from buses.
• Collects in‑kind contributions.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

None

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable the individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Ability to read, interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of clients or employees of organization.

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals; and compute rate, ratio and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

Level I: High School Diploma or General Development Diploma (GED) and no experience. Or

Level II: High School Diploma or General Development Diploma (GED) and one or more years’ child care experience in a school setting. Or

Level III: High School Diploma or General Development Diploma (GED) and a Child Development Associate (CDA) or additional education in an accredited institution of higher learning, such as an Associates of Arts Degree in Early Childhood, may be substituted for experience.

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form; and deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

Valid driver's license.

OTHER SKILLS and ABILITIES

Must have means of transportation.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

This position requires physical fitness and includes a variety of activities such as running, ability to move quickly, playing and being actively involved with children. It also includes bending, stooping and sitting at children’s level.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand, use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to walk; sit; climb or balance; stoop; kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell.

The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and peripheral vision.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable the individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Location ALPI Child Dev. & Family Service

Open Date 8/17/2026

Close Date

Exempt/Non-Exempt Non-Exempt

Full-Time/Part-Time Full-Time

Shift Days

Number of Openings 3

This position is currently accepting applications.