Assistant Teacher

STATEMENT OF THE JOB: Under the overall supervision of the Early Childhood Director and the direct supervision of the Center Manager or Center Manager/Teacher, carries out educational duties as assigned.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Maintain a professional attitude with staff, parents, volunteers, and children at all times.
2. Promote developmentally appropriate practices in the center.
3. Responsible for forming positive, trusting and nurturing relationships with children.
4. Assist teachers by:

• observing children regularly and individualizing for each child based on these observations,
• creating a warm and welcoming environment that supports children’s growth and development,
• providing activities to facilitate children’s growth and development and
• ensuring the health and safety of children.

1. Take every safeguard to protect children and makes careful decisions as he/she works with them daily.
2. Feel that his/her job is as important and responsibilities are as great as that of the Teacher and work accordingly. Work with children as assigned.
3. Encourage the involvement of the families of the children and support the development of relationships between children and their families. .
4. Assist with the orderliness and cleanliness of the center.
5. Perform other duties as needed and required for efficient operation of the center and needs and welfare of the children.
6. Work cooperatively with other classroom/center staff.
7. Promote good eating habits by sitting at the table and eating with the children when food is served, conversing with children and encouraging good table manners.
8. Assist in obtaining and documenting In-Kind for parent and community activities.
9. Attend and participate in center staff meetings. Participate in parent meetings and staffings as requested.
10. Must be able to see, hear and respond to children’s needs, emergencies and conflicts that might occur in the classroom, playground, bathrooms or other areas used by children.
11. Responsible for data management in designated child development areas.
12. Assist in the avoidance or appearance of fraud in the center.

NON-ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Respect confidentiality in all aspects of the Head Start Program.
2. Document attendance of a minimum of 15 clock hours of approved professional development per year that is high-quality, sustained, intensive and classroom-focused.
3. Willing to participate in training to further education as required by Head Start to maintain the position.
4. Able to handle stress, tension and exasperation that contact with many children and adults may bring every day.
5. May be called upon to administer first aid to children or staff at any time in the program. The incidental nature of this circumstance effectively establishes first aid as a collateral duty, rather than a primary one.
6. Perform other job-related duties as necessary for the overall operation of the program.

Requirements

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

1. Educational Requirements:

• High school diploma or GED AND Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential with Preschool Endorsement required. Being enrolled in a Child Development Associate credential program to be completed within 2 years of hire or enrolled in a program leading to an associate or bachelor degree in Early Childhood Education may be accepted in lieu of current CDA if deemed appropriate."

1. Experience Requirements:

• Must be 18 years of age or older.
• Three months experience working with young children (3 to 5 years of age).
• Computer literate.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) a plus

1. Physical Requirements:

• Good physical condition.
• Able to lift children and sit and stand for long periods of time.
• Participate in activities requiring bending, stooping, kneeling, and jumping. Occasionally stand or walk on uneven surfaces.
• Must pass tuberculosis screening assessment annually and initial health examination within 90 days of hire.
• Valid driver's license, access to transportation with liability insurance and willing to use vehicle for Agency related travel.
• Must be able to travel out of area overnight to attend training.
• Able to hear and communicate orally with children and adults.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, distance and peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.

1. Skill Requirements:

• Able to read, write and perform mathematical calculations.

1. Personal Traits:

• Be in sympathy with the concepts of the Head Start Program.
• Keep confidential information without inappropriately divulging it.
• Make decisions and work without continual close supervision.

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

Start Date: ASAP, Currently budgeted for 10 months per year

Hours of work:

Children present: 7:30-3:30

Children not present: 7:30-4:00, with a 30-minute lunch break

Job posted for the employer by: Workforce Connections, Arkansas Department of Commerce.