Work Days: Monday-Friday
Supervisor: Site Supervisor
Job Summary:
The Head Start Assistant Teacher, in conjunction with the Lead Teacher and Center Aide is responsible for providing a developmentally appropriate, educational atmosphere where students have the opportunity to fulfill their potential for intellectual, emotional, physical, and psychological growth. The Head Start Assistant Teacher will assist in planning activities, developing appropriate lesson plans for the children and will work with the families to ensure compliance with the Head start Performance Standards sections 1302.30 – 1302.34, Subpart C, and Ohio licensing regulations in all divisions of the program.
Specific Responsibilities/Essential Functions:
1. Adheres to and follows:
• All state child care licensing requirements including reporting child abuse, and following child health and safety procedures.
• All CAA of CC, Inc. & Head Start Program’s Policies & Procedures, including the Active Supervision Policy.
• Head Start Code of Conduct.
2. Classroom Expectations (1302.31 & 1302.32):
• Maintains a safe, healthy, and well-organized classroom learning environment.
• Works cooperatively with the Site Supervisor, Lead Teacher, Center Aide, and Family Advocate to ensure the smooth operation of the classroom.
• Assists in maintaining ratio at all times.
• Provide the Lead Teacher with input on the lesson plan.
• Implement the Creative Curriculum into all aspects of the child’s education including, health, nutrition, and mental health activities.
1) Assist the Lead Teacher in completing the ongoing Teaching Strategies GOLD (TSG) assessment on every child three times per year. Due dates for TSG are located on the staff calendar.
2) Assist the Lead Teacher in maintaining an Evidence Binder, including one piece of evidence for each TSG indicator.
• Encourage experimentation, exploration, problem solving, cooperation, socialization, and choice making; ask open-ended questions and follow-up questions to promote further learning and thinking.
• Establish a positive classroom climate and respond to behavioral issues with appropriate behavior management techniques.
• Prepare the classroom environment and materials to support developmentally appropriate curriculum plans and learning experiences.
• Follow a consistent schedule which includes small and large group experiences, choice time, music and movement, large and small motor activities, skill development, meals and effective transitions between activities.
• Maintain education files by following and updating the Portfolio Tracker.
• Read, review, and implement strategies to meet IEP goals.
• Assists the Lead Teacher in completing two home visits and two parent conferences throughout the school year.
1) An initial In-Home Visit must be completed on all children entering the program and documented on the Initial Home-Visit form.
2) Dates for the second home visit and parent conferences are located on the staff calendar.
• Work with all classroom staff to generate In-kind.
• Maintain accurate classroom attendance and meal counts.
1) Is aware of the number of children present and signed in on the attendance sheet at all times.
2) Is able to give the correct number of children present when asked.
3) Meal counts taken at Point of Service.
• Becomes familiar with any nutrition or health plans in place for the children in the classroom.
• Assume bus, kitchen, and janitorial duties, as needed.
3. Developmental and Behavioral Screening Requirements (1302.33):
• A BRIGANCE screening must be completed on each child enrolled in the program within the first 45 calendar days of attendance.
• A DECA must be completed on each child enrolled in the program within the first 30 calendar days of attendance.
4. Supporting Families in Their Child’s Education (1302.34):
• Support the role of families as the first and primary teachers of their children.
• Actively promotes parent involvement in the child’s education process, health care, and the program.
• Assists with the recruitment process.
• Ability to handle situations in a non-threatening and professional manner.
• Ability to set and maintain professional boundaries with families.
5. Maintains professionalism at all times.
• Adheres to the agency dress code, daily.
• Represents the agency in a positive manner.
• Maintains a positive attitude about their work and others during the work day.
• Assumes responsibility for meeting his/her individual professional development goals.
Education/Skills Qualifications:
1. Must have a minimum of a CDA with experience, an AA in ECE or related field, or enrolled in an AA degree in ECE or related field.
2. Excellent written and oral communication skills;
3. Strong Computer skills;
4. Valid driver’s license/reliable transportation/automobile insurance coverage, and driving from site to site or trainings, etc.
Physical Requirements:
1. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; run; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.
2. The employee must be able to occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
Working Conditions:
1. Work directly with children including the various noises and behaviors associated with children from birth to 5 years old.
2. Ability to work in a fast-paced and often high-stress environment making quick, sound decisions while maintaining calm in potential emergency situations.
3. Working with children, staff, and families who at times will require patience and support.
4. Exposure to cleaning supplies utilized in the site.
Additional Requirements/Conditions of Employment:
1. Pass all background checks to acquire an ODJFS Background Clearance for childcare.
2. Physical exam and drug testing (updated when requested by CAA of CC. Inc.).
3. Training in First Aid/CPR, Child Abuse, and Communicable Disease provided by program.
4. Continuing Education credits or units.
5. Initial 90 day job evaluation followed by annual job evaluations.