What are the responsibilities and job description for the Classroom Floater - Full Time position at AKA Head Start?
All Kids Academy Head Start is seeking a Full Time Classroom Floater. Join our team in the mission to close the achievement gap by providing quality school readiness programs and comprehensive services to children, families, and communities in East County.
Summary:
The Classroom Floater maintains child/teacher ratios by providing breaks to classroom staff when they must leave the classroom and during planning time. Provides assistance with meal preparation and escorting children to the bathrooms. Typically works according to a schedule determined with input from teaching staff and the center director in all classrooms. Assistance for other center staff may be required for the purpose of ensuring an efficient and effective work environment. Maintains a positive, friendly, and cooperative attitude toward working together with teachers, teacher assistants, volunteers, and all other staff.
Hours per week: 40
Weeks per year: 45
COMPETITIVE BENEFITS:
- Group medical, dental, and vision insurance
- 403(b) retirement plan with up to 6% employer match
- Annual 5% pay rate increases, up to the maximum step
- 16 Paid holidays
- Two paid personal days
- Paid vacation and sick leave
- $1500 Tuition Reimbursement each year
- $1000 Service Awards every 5 years
- Employer-paid Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability Insurance
- Free Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Voluntary benefits: Life and AD&D, Accident Insurance, Short-term Disability, Critical Illness Insurance, and Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
- Paid professional development days
MINIMUM EMPLOYMENT QUALIFICATIONS
- 12 semester units of Early Childhood Education or Child Development courses; AND
- 3 semester units of infant/toddler development (can count towards the 12 units of ECE/CD)
Knowledge of:
1. Early childhood education, child development, and anti-bias education;
2. Local educational and community resources and their ability to be used in the classroom;
3. Second language acquisition; and
4. Head Start Policies and Procedures preferred.
Ability to:
1. Follow directions given by the Center Director;
2. Work well with young children;
3. Be proficient in oral and written communication in English language and interpret documents
such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals;
4. Write routine reports and correspondence;
5. Speak effectively with children, parents, and other staff;
6. Apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral
instructions
7. Deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations;
8. Communicate with people of various educational, socioeconomic, and cultural backgrounds;
9. Assist the teacher in planning and implementing activities with children between the ages of
three and five years, consistent with the curriculum guide, resources and training provided;
10. Follow basic principles of early childhood development;
11. Establish and maintain effective, working relationships with children, parents, staff, and
program specialists
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
1. Assist the teacher in planning and maintaining a safe, clean, learning environment and in
assuring the well-being and safety of the children in his/her care;
2. Maintain a cooperative attitude of working together with the teacher, volunteers, parents, and
program specialists in planning and implementing activities;
3. Assist teacher to implement the developmental assessment for each child to determine the
child’s strengths and areas in which each child may need help;
4. Plan with and assist the teacher in preparing materials and supplies in advance for activities;
5. Assist the teacher in maintaining confidential assessment information, consisting of
developmental assessments, individual goals, and observations of progress toward meeting
goals;
6. Assist the teacher as needed in coordinating and implementing classroom activities including
large and small groups.
7. Assist teacher in implementing behavior plans designed by resource/mentor teachers and/or
mental health specialist;
8. Maintain discipline and supervision of children during all activities;
9. Supervise children at all times (both indoors and outdoors);
10. Develop a positive relationship with each child and promote the development of self-esteem
and self-discipline;
11. Assist teacher in the full implementation of IFSP’s and IEP’s and inclusion of children with
disabilities and special needs;
12. Assist in developing activities based on Individual Education Plan (IEP) for children with special
needs;
13. Assist with direct observations on children and record data;
14. Collect data and file in children’s portfolios and files;
15. Assist with kitchen duties and mealtime preparation;
16. Assist teacher to promote parent involvement; and
17. Assist in diapering, toileting/training, hand washing, tooth brushing, eating, napping, and
transitioning between activities are carried out in a manner that is prompt, hygienic, and
consistent with regulations and good child development practice.
18. Observe and hear sounds of the environment for health and safety;
19. Be able to walk, squat/kneel, crawl, sit on floor, balance, see, hear, and speak with children to
ensure children’s health and safety; and
20. Move/lift up to 40 pounds while moving and holding children
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
1. Good manual dexterity;
2. Must have the ability to sit and stand for extended periods;
3. Must have excellent speaking and hearing ability;
4. Must be able to input data using a computer terminal keyboard;
5. Observe and hear sounds of the environment for health and safety;
6. Requires repetitive bending at the waist, as well as kneeling, stooping, crouching to assist
children;
7. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision,
peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus;
8. Be able to walk, squat/kneel, crawl, sit on floor, balance, see, hear, and speak with children to
ensure children’s health and safety; and
9. Move/lift up to 40 pounds while moving and holding children.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Prior to employment, in compliance with Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 as amended, employment candidate will be required to provide either proof of U.S. citizenship or other documents that establish the candidate’s eligibility to be employed in the U.S. Head Start regulations require that no person shall work in any Head Start program until they have been fingerprinted and cleared through the Department of Justice.
AKA Head Start is an Equal Opportunity Employer. No person will be denied employment, discriminated against, or prohibited from participating fully in employment opportunities for reasons of race, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, religion (including religious dress and grooming practices), creed, ethnicity, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical condition), age, gender, gender identity, political affiliation, sexual orientation, genetic characteristic, marital status, military or veteran status, medical or physical disability, medical condition, or any other characteristic protected by federal state, or local law.
Applicants will be required to obtain a Health Screening, TB clearance, proof of immunization against measles and pertussis (MMR and Tdap vaccines), and background clearance prior to starting employment.