Teacher Assistant (Head Start. Part Time)

Sprague Resources; Arizona; On-site; USD 27,524 - 28,158; Part time

Job summary

Lower Columbia College seeks a Teacher Assistant to support Lead Teachers in Head Start classrooms, contributing to school readiness for preschool children. The role averages 17.5 hours per week over 9.25 months, with pay of $19.98–$20.44 per hour for qualifying credentials.

The position involves assisting with lesson delivery, behavior guidance, screenings, and parent engagement, with occasional bus monitoring and strict confidentiality.

Qualifications

• Minimum Qualifications: 18 years old, High School diploma or equivalent, enrolled in an Early Childhood Education program with 1+ year experience, ECE certificate or plan to obtain within 3 years, knowledge of child development, ability to work in a team, experience serving diverse populations, strong communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Assist Lead Teacher with promoting cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development using the lesson plan and directing children during activities.
• Help maintain an environment in accordance with the Creative Curriculum.
• Use positive guidance techniques; follow the Discipline Policy.
• Observe and record behaviors to assist teaching and growth planning.
• Manage the classroom in Lead Teacher's absence.
• Support a welcoming atmosphere honoring diverse backgrounds.
• Assist with administering developmental screenings.
• Possibly act as bus monitor for transportation of children.
• Foster parent partnerships and handle inquiries.

Skills

18 years old

High School diploma

ECE program enrollment

ECE certificate commitment

Knowledge of child development

Teamwork

Diversity sensitivity

Strong communication

Education

High School diploma or equivalent

ECE Certificate

AA Degree in Early Childhood Education

Job description

Job Overview

Teacher Assistants are a vital support to the Lead Teachers in Head Start classrooms. The role is to help implement an appropriate Early Childhood center-based program for preschool children with a focus on school readiness skills and goals.

The classification for this position is Early Childhood Program Specialist Early Childhood Program Specialist2. The position averages 17.5 hours per week (no more than 19 hours per week), 75 hours per month, for 9.25 months per year. Pay is $19.98 for meeting minimum qualifications and $20.44 for desired qualifications.

Responsibilities

• Assists Lead Teacher in providing experiences through utilization of the lesson plan to promote cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development, directing children in educational activities as well as during lunch, free time, field trips, transitions between activities and playground periods.
• Assist Lead Teacher with providing and maintaining an environment in accordance with the Creative Curriculum.
• Uses positive guidance techniques such as redirecting challenging behavior, setting and maintaining limits, maintaining self‑control in a respectful manner without being threatening or humiliating, following the Discipline Policy and Procedure.
• Observes and records behaviors of children to assist the teacher in the identification of each child's strengths, areas to grow and areas of progress.
• Manages the classroom in Lead Teacher's absence.
• Helps achieve a pleasant, inviting atmosphere in which the child feels comfortable and secure including reinforcing ethnic and cultural backgrounds of children.
• Assists the Lead Teacher in administering developmental screening tools on enrolled Head Start/ECEAP children.
• Assists as a bus monitor monitoring transportation of children to and/or from school daily, as needed.
• Establishes friendly cooperative relationships with parents and encourages parent participation in the classroom.
• Receives visitors and telephone inquiries, explains procedures and program routine.
• Respects the confidentiality of information about enrolled children and families, personnel issues and program operations as defined in the Confidentiality Policy. Discusses concerns directly and openly with appropriate staff persons.
• Administers prescribed medication and first aid; handles medical emergencies as they arise.
• Meets with team members to collaborate on planning and delivery of services.
• Attends appropriate workshops, classes and other professional development activities.

This description is not intended and should not be construed to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, effort, work conditions, and benefits associated with the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• 18 years old
• High School diploma or equivalent
• Enrolled in an Early Childhood Education program with one or more years of experience in an early childhood program setting, ages birth to five.
• Early Childhood Education (ECE) Certificate or commitment to achieve ECE certificate within 3 years of hire
• Knowledge of child development including cognitive, social, emotional, and physical
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Previous experience and/or willingness to serve diverse, low-income and/or underrepresented populations
• Strong communication skills

Preferred Qualifications:

• 12 college quarter credits completed in Early Childhood Education, or an Initial or higher Washington State Early Childhood Education Certificate.
• AA Degree in Early Childhood Education.
• Bilingual preferred

Physical Requirements

• Seldom (1–10% of the time): Lift up to 50lbs; Sit for long periods of time (up to 7 hours) during mandatory trainings.
• Occasionally (11–33% of the time): Multiple uses of bleach solution for cleaning/sanitizing classroom and classroom supplies daily/weekly; Classroom arrangement including moving furniture.
• Frequently (34–66% of the time): Bend over to pick up items and/or assist children; Stack chairs; Sit either on child‑sized chairs or the floor; Squat; Extended periods of standing; Maintain sight and sound supervision of children; Walk during outside play; Lift – carrying classroom materials (up to 5‑10lbs.).

Required Pre‑Employment Documentation

• Washington State Patrol Background Check
• Sex Offender Registry Check
• TB test completed within the last year
• Food Worker Card
• Valid Driver’s License
• Cleared Portable Background Check through MERIT (includes fingerprinting)
• Policy Council Approval
• Physical Exam
• Provide Certificate of Immunization Status (CIS) or Acceptable Version of CIS in accordance with the Washington Department of Health, including MMR Vaccine or proof of immunity to measles.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Lower Columbia College provides equal opportunity in education and employment and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, age, perceived or actual physical or mental disability, pregnancy, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, creed, religion, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or use of a trained guide dog or service animal as required by TitleVI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, TitleVII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, TitleIX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Sections504 and508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act and ADA Amendment Act, the Age Discrimination Act of1975, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act and Washington State's Law Against Discrimination, Chapter49.60RCW and their implementing regulations. All inquiries regarding compliance with TitleIX, access, equal opportunity and/or grievance procedures should be directed to Kendra Sprague, Vice President of Foundation, HR & Legal Affairs, 1600 Maple Street, PO Box 3010, Longview, WA 98632, [e-mail], Phone number, (360) 442‑2120, Phone number/TTY (800) 833‑6388. Learn more on our Non-Discrimination and Anti‑Harassment page. The college encourages qualified members of protected classes to apply.

JeanneClery Statement

Notice of Availability of Annual Security and Fire Safety Report: In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act of 1998, Lower Columbia College reports the mandated information about current campus policies concerning safety and security issues, the required statistics, and other related information for the past three (3) calendar years. The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available online at lowercolumbia.edu/CleryASFR.

Declaration Regarding Sexual Misconduct

Pursuant to RCW28B.112.080, applicants must declare whether they are the subject of any substantiated findings of sexual misconduct in any current or former employment or professional associations or is currently being investigated for, or have left a position during an investigation into, a violation of any sexual misconduct policy at the applicant’s current or past employers or professional associations. By law, post‑secondary education institutions cannot hire an applicant who does not complete this form.