Assistant Teacher

Description

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF POSITION

The Assistant Teacher is responsible for but is not limited to providing high quality supervision and care for the well-being of the children in the program as well as positive interactions with staff and families to ensure the program goals are being met.  The Assistant Teacher is responsible for maintaining compliance with all reporting agencies such as DFPS Minimum Standards, Texas Rising Star requirements, CACFP, SA Metro Health regulations, and NAEYC criteria; implementing the daily lessons and schedules; and maintaining the classroom climate to promote learning, creativity, and growth of the individual child and the group.   The Assistant Teacher may serve as acting Lead Teacher in their absence and will be held accountable as such.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

This position requires face to face interactions with co-workers, families, children, and the public on a daily basis to accomplish all essential functions of the position.

• Responsible for direct, active, and adaptive supervision of the children to always ensure the safety of the group in care. Responsible for assisting with the management of the classroom environment and curriculum to include developmentally appropriate lesson plans based on each individual child’s developmental goals; creating and providing a warm, safe, and caring environment; maintaining an orderly, clean, and appealing classroom which allows the child to grow and to explore; assists with preparing and implementing daily activities (indoor/outdoor) as they relate to the curriculum; interacts with the children and encourages their involvement in daily activities; assists with maintaining ongoing developmental records for each child by tracking & documenting all developing skills based on the Teaching Strategies Gold assessment tool and assisting with maintaining “portfolios” of each child’s progress to include photographs, samples of artwork, writing, benchmarks, etc.; and is responsible for the health, welfare, and safety of the children at all times. (55%)
• Responsible for positive face to face interactions with child(ren), parents, and staff. Maintains great customer service as well as positive and professional communication with parents daily through the use of the ProCare system, and/or verbally.  Ability to work with other staff members to form a positive, supportive team atmosphere through effective communication and collaboration, and ensures confidentiality of privileged information. Ability to take direction and feedback from all lead teaching staff.  (20%)
• Assists with maintaining all required reports pertaining to the class and/or individual children for use with developmental assessments, checklists, and observational tools. Maintains portfolios and assist with all Teaching Strategies Gold functions including parent teacher conferences. (10%)

OTHER FUNCTIONS

• Responsible for compliance and understanding of the guidelines and general requirements needed for the program to include attending workshops, conferences, & any in-service training to maintain all required in-service training hours and completes an annual Individual Professional Development Plan. (5%)
• Attends all staff meetings (Exact meeting dates and times TBD); all supervisory meetings, team planning meetings, and curriculum meetings as scheduled by the Program Director. (5%)
• Responsible for performing all other duties as assigned, and ensuring deadlines given are met. Including, but not limited to maintaining quality in the overall environment and following precautionary measures procedures related to health, safety, cleanliness, and COVID-19 measures. (5%)

Qualifications

• Required: Must be 18 years of age or older and have a High School Diploma or equivalent. Must be meet all mental and physical demands listed with or without reasonable accommodations.
• Preferred: Two (2) or more years of experience working in a licensed and/or accredited childcare center, special and/or early child education, or other experience working with children 0-5 years of age. CDA, one-year certification, associates, or bachelor’s degree. (May be in progress).

NECESSARY SKILLS

• Ability to demonstrate, understanding and apply our Core Values which are at the heart of our organization and are embedded in all roles.
• High quality of work; organization and planning skills; problem solving and decision-making skills; self-improvement and initiative; adaptability and flexibility; excellent communication skills; ability to work well with others and independently; and professionalism.
• Ability to implement developmentally appropriate practices within the program.
• Ability to effectively interact and relate to children in a developmentally appropriate manner; must be sensitive to individual children’s differences and needs; and be willing to adjust the program & curriculum to meet those individual needs.
• Ability to use positive methods and engage in supportive interactions that align with positive guidance and modeling the behavior intended to be taught.
• Must be motivated to learn and grow in an educational environment; and be willing to continually increase knowledge in the field of Early Childhood Education.
• Must be able to relate with and speak to parents in a respectful and courteous manner; must be willing to work in a team environment to include willingness to share ideas & open to other’s ideas; and be flexible & willing to compromise.
• Ability to communicate effectively (written and verbal) with families, staff and community.
• Ability to work with others in a supportive, professional and cooperative manner.
• Demonstrates behavior that is professional, ethical and responsible.
• Excellent computer skills and knowledge of spreadsheets and word processing programs.
• Ability to learn, interpret, and apply rules and regulations.

MENTAL & PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Ability to maintain emotional control under stress and empathize with families.
• Ability to be flexible when there is unforeseen change or the need for unanticipated change.
• Ability to ensure personal accountability.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and prioritize under pressure.
• Ability to meet the physical demand of working with young children, such as twisting, lifting, moving, and sitting on the floor.
• Ability to stand for long periods of time and work outdoors.
• Ability to work regular hours and some evenings or weekends as required.
• Ability to lift and/or move up to 50 lbs.
• Ability to climb up and down stairs.

TOP COMPETENCIES:

• Interpersonal Skills
• Comfort Around Authority
• Customer Focus
• Compassion
• Intellectual Acumen & Adaptability (Learning on the Fly)
• Integrity and Trust
• Personal Learning and Development / Technical Learning
• Creativity

Salary : $13 - $19