Teacher Assistant 9/22/2026

South Central Child Development Inc; Yankton (SD); On-site; USD 28,000 - 29,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

Retirement Benefits

Paid Time Off

Other Benefits

Job summary

South Central Child Development Inc. (SCCD) provides Head Start preschool and family services in South Central South Dakota since 1978. The organization seeks a dedicated helper to work with 3- to 5-year-old children in the center, supporting health, nutrition, and early learning activities.

The role involves assisting the lead teacher, preparing materials, and helping manage behavior to foster a positive classroom environment. On-site, full-time hours with benefits are offered.

Qualifications

• Must be willing to be flexible with work assignments and schedules.
• Ability to work effectively with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Must cooperate with team, leadership and staff.
• Must document and report suspected child abuse.
• Maintain confidentiality of information.
• Ability to interact with preschool children and perform physical tasks as needed.

Responsibilities

• Assist the lead teacher with center operations and classroom setup.
• Supervise children during activities and meals to ensure safety.
• Help create learning centers and prepare materials for lesson plans.
• Support independent skill building and behavior management techniques.
• Assist with transportation duties and bus safety procedures.
• Attend required training and staff meetings.

Skills

Communication skills

Teamwork

Confidentiality

Diversity awareness

Dexterity (up to 40 lbs)

Observational skills

Education

High school diploma or GED equivalency

Tools

Basic computer skills

Job description

Summary

South Central Child Development, Inc. (SCCD) provides Head Start preschool and family services within 16 counties in South Central South Dakota since 1978. SCCD is seeking a highly motivated individual to work with children in our center to help prepare them for school.

Teacher Assistant/Disability Tutor Responsibilities:

Teacher assistants work directly with a lead teacher and Head Start children between the ages of 3 and 5. The assistants/tutors will participate in all activities, including health, nutrition, mental health, self-awareness and self-concept for all children enrolled in the center. Assistants will help the teacher with setting up the classroom and note taking. As a member of the classroom team, assistants will prepare classroom materials to support lesson plans, create learning centers as needed and helps to plan and initiate meaningful learning activities. Assistants will support independent skill building with students and behavior management techniques developed by the team.

Meal Assistant Responsibilities:

Teacher assistants will facilitate the daily health and nutrition of our center. Assistants provides a safe, clean and healthy food service environment. Assistants also prepare and deliver food on a timely basis, follows the preplanned menus in accordance with the policies and procedures and purchases food and materials needed to promote children’s health and well-being. The assistant will complete the nutrition reporting at the center.

Bus Monitor Responsibilities:

Teacher assistants work with the bus driver to ensure the safety of the children while boarding, riding and exiting the bus. Assistants ensures that all children remain seated in their safety restraints at all times. Assistants maintain a bus that is free of debris and hazards, including ensuring children’s items are stored in backpack and out of aisles and walking areas. Assistants will help to clean and sanitize the bus as needed and maintains accurate transportation and emergency information. Assistants compile and collect daily pick-up and drop-off logs, reports absences and shares updated information with teachers and families.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Assist the teacher in all aspects of the center operations
• Supervise children's daily activities as directed by the teacher and site supervisor
• Help maintain a safe and orderly environment for children
• Observe each child for signs of illness or health problems
• Assist children in table setting, meal/snack delivery and/or preparation of nutrition activities
• Promote appropriate conversation at meal/snack time (child focused), modeling table manners
• Assist the teacher in maintaining Creative Curriculum anecdotal observation records on each child
• Help provide an environment conducive to the child's intellectual, physical, emotional, and social development
• Receive meals from the vendor and prepare bulk food into family style meals
• Serve food items and assist children with meals (i.e. passing food, dishing food onto plates, opening
  milk cartons, etc.)
• Assist children in the clean-up line
• Clean-up after class meals and snacks
• Ensure that food temperatures are taken on all hot foods and maintains safe food temperatures and records
• Greeting parents when dropping off and picking up children
• Assist children boarding and departing from the bus
• Assist children with appropriate safety restraints on buses
• Attend all required training and staff meetings (including Bus Monitor Training)
• Must keep confidential information (including all information regarding families and children)
• Other duties as assigned by the Site Supervisor, Leadership and Administrative Teams

Other Information

This position is located at the center, remote work is not available. This position typically works Monday through Thursday with children in the classroom. Friday hours are required for cleaning, classroom preparation, purchasing food, make-up days and/or training and in-services. The starting pay for this position ranges from $20.22 to $21.24 per hour, depending on education and experience.

Reports To: Site Supervisor / Area Leader

Also Works With: Executive Director, Fiscal Administrator and SCCD's Leadership Team

Qualifications and Skills

Required:

• Must be willing to be flexible with work assignments and work schedules
• Must be able to effectively and productively work with people of diverse economic and cultural backgrounds
• Must be able to work cooperatively with the team, agency leadership and administrative personnel
• Must have basic computer skills
• Must document and report suspected child abuse and neglect by following the program's reporting procedures
• Must be able to maintain confidential information
• Must be able to work effectively (individually and in a group) and have good communication and people skills with other staff and enrolled families
• Must be able to actively interact with preschool children, which includes having good dexterity with the ability to lift up to 40 pounds, push, pull, carry, climb, balance, kneel, sit, stand, walk, bend and squat
• Must have a high school diploma or GED equivalency
• Must be willing to obtain a CDA (Child Development Associate) Credential if required (determined by the candidate's education)
• Must be willing to complete First Aid and CPR certification (provided by the agency) within the first 3 months of employment.
• Must complete mandatory background screens as part of your employment in a Head Start Preschool program (including State and FBI fingerprinting, Reports of Child Abuse and Neglect screening, Sex Offender Registries, health screener and employment physical)

Preferred:

• Experience working with children between 3 and 5 years.
• Post-secondary education in Early Childhood Education or related field
• Center CDA Credential
• Previous experience with Head Start Preschool, early childhood education or preschool programs and/or with adult education and instruction
• Possess knowledge of child development principles.

Comprehensive Benefits

• Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Life Insurance
  • $50,000 employer paid life insurance
  • Voluntary options for spouses and children
• Retirement Benefits
  • 100% employer paid profit sharing retirement plan
    • New employees become vested after 5 years
  • Employee 401(k) with both Traditional and Roth options available
  • Direct access to a financial expert for free retirement investment advice
    
• Paid Time Off
  • Paid personal leave
  • Paid sick leave
  • Paid weather leave
• Other Benefits
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for employees, their spouses and dependent children
  • AFLAC
  • Priority enrollment for children of SCCD employees.
  • Student Loan Forgiveness: SCCD is a qualified employer under that Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. See PSLF for details.