Description

Definition and Primary Objective:

The Assistant Teacher assists in implementing the curriculum, working with parents, and assessing the needs of individual children under the guidance of the Lead Teacher and Teacher.

Reporting Relationships:

Reports to: Lead Teacher and Teacher

Primary Responsibilities:

To Establish and Maintain a Safe and Healthy Environment
• Assist in establishing and maintaining an environment for children that is clean, safe, stimulating and which is appropriate for each child’s developmental level.
• Assist the Lead Teacher with the appearance, decor, and learning environment of the classroom.
• Assume an equal share of the housekeeping responsibilities of the staff.
• Promote healthy eating practices through participating in family style meals and planning and implementing nutritional activities.
• Meet and maintain licensing requirements for ratio.
To Advance Physical and Intellectual Competence
• Interact with children in accordance with developmentally appropriate practices established by NAEYC guidelines.
• Ability to manage classroom through positive redirection, problem solving, setting appropriate limits and active listening.
• Assist in implementing lesson plans that promote the development of each child.
To Support Social and Emotional Development and Provide Positive Guidance
• Treat each child, parent, family member and coworker with dignity and respect.
• Consider the individual child in relationship to his/her culture and socio-economic background.
• Help each child to become aware of his role as an integral member of a group.
To Establish Positive and Productive Relationships with Families
• Communicate parent questions and concerns to Lead Teacher and/or Director.
• Communicate your concerns about a child’s development to the Lead Teacher and/or Director.
• Make families feel welcome in the environment, greet parent and child at arrival and departure times.
• Offer support to teaching team relaying observations.
To Ensure a Well-Run, Purposeful Program Responsive to Participant Needs
• Maintain daily schedule as posted in the classroom.
• Assist in implementation of daily, weekly and monthly plans under the guidelines of the Lead Teacher and Teacher.
• Assist in documentation of a child’s progress.
To Maintain a Commitment to Professionalism
• Upon hire, each employee must begin training to meet state requirements. This training must include first aid, communicable disease and child abuse recognition and prevention, CPR as well as other child development topics as required by your director.
• Attending all staff meetings, parent meetings, and other mandatory or required in-services.
• Follow agency code of ethics.
• Keep open communication with the Lead Teacher and Teacher at all times.
• Maintain professional attitude and loyalty to the program at all times.
• Maintain confidentiality regarding staff, families and children at all times.
• Address concerns regarding program issues, (i.e., staffing, safety, program, operations) to the Director.
• Relate to families in a positive and respectful manner.
Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Minimum Education, Experience and Other Skill Requirements:

• Ability to read, speak, and write English
• High school diploma or equivalent
• Ability to manage classroom through positive redirection, problem solving, setting appropriate limits, and active listening.
• Support lead teacher in development and implementation of lesson plans.
• Prior experience working with young children commensurate to responsibilities
• Completion of State Approved Orientation for Child Care Providers
• Current First Aid/CPR Certification
• Successful clearance of required Criminal Background Checks
• Compliance with licensing requirement for TB testing
• No physical or mental/emotional limitations that would prevent the implementation of caring for and safe- keeping of infants through school age children
• Willing to fulfil their responsibilities in accordance with the center’s educational philosophy

Work Environment:

Classroom settings with children between the ages of 6 weeks to 6 years old.

Physical demands:
The physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to:

Regularly required to sit, stand, walk, bend and lift objects of up to 20 pounds