Teacher Assistant, Early Head Start

Start Early; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 40,575 - 41,535; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive Health Plans

Diversity & Inclusion initiatives

Wellness Program

401k Contribution

Paid Volunteer Days

Paid parental leave

Job summary

Start Early seeks dedicated staff for Educare Chicago's birth-to-five program, serving families on Chicago's South Side.

Responsibilities include classroom support, documentation, family engagement, and collaboration with lead teachers to promote school readiness and growth across cognitive, social, and emotional domains.

Qualifications

• Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education (ECE) or Child Development (CD) or 60 college credits with 12 in infant/toddler development.
• Gateways Level 4 Infant & Toddler Credential required upon hire.
• Minimum 1 year experience in an Early Childhood/Childcare program.
• CPR/First Aid, Food Handler certs, and continuing education requirements.

Responsibilities

• Develop and monitor child education binders with Lead Teacher; ensure confidentiality and prompt documentation.
• Observe, document child growth with entries; follow IEP/IFSP/IHP as applicable.
• Plan and implement developmentally appropriate experiences to promote readiness; create goals with parents.
• Supervise classroom, ensure children are not left unattended; support behavior guidance following policy.
• Schedule and conduct Parent/Staff conferences, home visits, and three classroom meetings.

Skills

Discretion

Communication

Organization

Teamwork

Education

Associate’s degree in ECE/CD

60 college credits with infant/toddler focus

Job description

Educare Chicago provides high-quality care, best-in-class education, and a stimulating learning environment to children from birth to five years old on Chicago’s South Side. As a program that serves low-income families, Educare’s research-based program helps children develop the literacy, language, early math, and social-emotional skills they need to succeed in kindergarten and beyond. We are recruiting individuals who want to join us in this mission and share a commitment to our core values of appreciation & respect, empowerment, diversity, excellence, learning, and communication.

Job Type: Full-time

Responsibilities

• Administrative Responsibilities: In conjunction with the Lead Teacher, develop and regularly monitor child education binders for each child and ensure all confidential information is protected. Accurately complete all required program documentation and submit it promptly to the Lead Teacher. Participate in recruitment efforts to help maintain full program enrollment. As assigned by the lead teacher, monitor and confirm daily attendance, health checks, parent sign/scan in, and meal participation reports are completed daily. Read and respond to Outlook emails daily.
• Child Development: Observe, assess, and document each assigned child’s growth and development in TSG with a minimum of two entries per child each week and three entries per child with an IFSP/IEP. Adhere to all IEP, IFSP, and IHP Implementation Plans, and/or strategies provided by Education Managers and/or Consultants. Provide opportunities for children to develop positive self-images and experience success. Ensure goals are made with parents and are reflected in children’s individual plans. Participate in Family/Child Reviews. Identify any developmental concerns regarding the children and follow agency protocol.
• Curriculum and Assessment: In conjunction with the classroom teaching team, plan and implement developmentally appropriate experiences that will promote the social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development of each child and support their school readiness. In conjunction with the classroom teaching team develop lesson plans with goals, objectives, experiences, and outcomes for children. In conjunction with the classroom teaching team utilize standardized and authentic assessment data to create learning opportunities to advance children’s development and learning. Develop and maintain observation, technological, and individualization skills required for assessment and lesson planning, including completing all assigned TSG modules and trainings. Establish and maintain a classroom environment that ensures appropriate child guidance and discipline techniques are implemented in accordance with Educare’s philosophy, curriculum, policies and procedures, Head Start standards, Ounce standards of conduct and state regulations.
• Classroom Environment: Assume responsibility for the management of the classroom during the Teacher’s absence. Ensure all children are always under appropriate supervision and no child is left unattended. In the absence of the Lead Teacher, perform and delegate child development and documentation responsibilities as needed. In conjunction with the teaching team maintain a classroom environment that reflects the use of "New Beginnings" and follows the guidelines of ITERS or ECERS. In the absence of the Lead Teacher, assume proper care and responsibility for your classroom.
• Parent Involvement: As assigned by the Lead Teacher, schedule and conduct Parent/Staff conferences and adhere to the parent/staff conference guidance policy. As assigned by the Lead Teacher, schedule and conduct home visits and adhere to the home visit guidance policy. In conjunction with the Lead Teacher, encourage parent participation in the program, including participation in parent events, home visits, conferences, and volunteering in the classroom. In conjunction with the teaching team and Family Support Specialists, plan and implement three classroom meetings. Hold friendly daily conversations with families and maintain professional boundaries. Develop positive and effective partnerships with families using the Touchpoints Approach (once trained).
• Follow all mandates of federal regulations, state and local licensing, and the Ounce’s philosophy, agency policies and procedures, curriculum, and Standards of Conduct. Attend and actively participate in all required meetings and trainings, and reflective supervision. Perform other duties as assigned, within the scope of the job description. Administer medication as needed (ex. Nebulizer treatment, Epipen).

Requirements

• Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education (ECE) or Child Development (CD), OR Sixty (60) college credit hours with a minimum of fifteen (15) semester hours (12 semester hours of which are in infant/toddler development), or an unrelated degree with a current Infant and Toddler CDA.
• The Gateways Level 4 Infant & Toddler Credential for Early Head Start is required upon hire.
• A minimum of one year of experience in an Early Childhood or Childcare Program.
• 20 hours of annual continuing education. CPR and First Aid certification, and Food Handlers certification. Additional training requirements include Mandated Reporter, Health and Safety Basics, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, and Shaken Baby Syndrome.
• Maintain required certifications and continuing education.
• Knowledge of and ability to implement Early Head Start/Head Start or other developmental child care programs. Knowledge of and ability to implement child development and early childhood principles, practices, and curricula for the specific age group (0-3 or 3-5). Ability to remain abreast of ongoing developments in the child care field.
• Ability and willingness to work in a program located in a high-risk, low-income community.
• Ability to work a flexible work schedule between the hours of 7:00am – 6:00pm.
• Ability to exercise discretion in handling confidential information and materials.
• Deep commitment to advancing diversity and incorporating it into interpersonal routines and practice.
• Efficiently establish and handle relationships with colleagues/clients and gain their trust and respect.
• Relief and experience in handling risk and uncertainty to move work forward.

Salary

$40,575.00 - $41,535.00, + $3,000 Sign On Bonus. Base annual salary based on skills, qualifications, experience, and business needs.

Benefits

Comprehensive Health Plans, Dedication to Diversity & Inclusion, Holistic Wellness Program, Professional Development Program, 401k Contribution, Paid Volunteer Days, 6 months of paid parental leave, and much more.

Start Early is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to our core values by crafting an inclusive environment for all staff.