Preschool Teaching Assistant

Position: Capstone’s center-based program for young children in Morrisville offers full-day, high-quality services, and is seeking a Preschool Teaching Assistant position to work collaboratively with and support the preschool team in all classroom activities. Teaching Assistants work directly with children and assist Teachers in facilitating nurturing, and appropriate activities and learning experiences in a safe, comfortable, and welcoming environment.

Qualifications: The required, minimum qualifications for the Preschool Teaching Assistant include a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential (or equivalent, state-awarded credential), or enrollment in an undergraduate program leading to an associate or bachelor’s degree or a CDA credential program to be completed within 2 years. Experience working with young children is a strongly preferred qualification.

Competencies and other requirements for this position include:

· Excellent communication skills with both young children and adults.

· Demonstrated competency in engaging in effective, nurturing interactions with children.

· Ability to facilitate appropriate, child-centered learning experiences.

· Positive regard for and ability to engage with diverse populations and people with low incomes.

· Ability to meet physical demands of working with young children in a center-based setting, including regularly lifting 50-60 pounds; frequently standing, walking, climbing, stooping/bending, squatting/crouching; and occasionally running/sprinting.

· Commitment to working collaboratively with a team toward shared goals and objectives.

Compensation & Benefits: This is a full-time, non-exempt position, with a 40-hour per week standard schedule and competitive pay at $17.98 – $21.55 per hour. Capstone’s full-time benefits program offers generous paid time off; health, dental, and life insurance plans; and a 401k retirement plan with employer match. Head Start programs also offer and support exceptional opportunities for training and professional development.

To Apply: Please send your resume and cover letter (preferred, but not required unless otherwise stated) and/or a completed application (here or at capstonevt.org/careers). We encourage applicants to apply via email to jobs@capstonevt.org; applications may also be mailed via USPS mail to Capstone Community Action Human Resources, 20 Gable Place, Barre, VT 05641. Please note that only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.

If you need assistance or an accommodation in the application process, please contact us at jobs@capstonevt.org or at 802-479-1053.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $17.98 - $21.55 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week

Capstone Community Action is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Provider. Applications from women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and people from diverse cultural backgrounds are encouraged.

• JOB DESCRIPTION
• Program: Head Start

Job Title: Preschool Teaching Assistant Pay Grade: 2

• General Statement: The teaching assistant works as part of the local field office team and is responsible for assisting in all aspects of the classroom including planning, preparation, implementation and assessment of activities. The teaching assistant is supervised by the team manager and works under the day-to-day direction of the center-based teacher(s).

Essential Duties

• Facilitate participation of all children in classroom activities. Assist in providing children with safe, nurturing, individualized environment and the varied experiences, which help them to develop socially, intellectually, emotionally, and physically in a manner appropriate to their age and development.
• Supervise children’s activities both on-site and off-site for safety. Participate in daily center site maintenance and up-keep, orderly and safe storage of materials, sanitation and cleanliness according to state licensing standards.
• Support and implement the Professionals’ Code of Ethical Conduct and the Positive Guidance Policy of the program. Maintain confidentiality of all Head Start child and family information.
• Create and maintain an atmosphere in which children and their parents feel welcome, valued, comfortable, and secure. Represent the classroom, program and the agency positively and professionally in all interactions with parents and LEA staff. Refer all parent concerns to the classroom teacher or team manager.
• Assist staff and children in family style snack and or meal preparation and with other duties as needed, such as setting up, cleaning and organizing classroom, shopping and preparing learning experiences. Participate in classroom planning and implementation of learning experiences as directed by the classroom teacher and/or team manager.
• Under the guidance of the classroom teacher, assist in adapting program services to the needs of families with a child or member with disabilities. Join the on-going efforts of other providers engaged with the family as requested by the classroom teacher.
• Complete any administrative and/or record keeping duties such as filing, providing supplemental observations, monitoring daily attendance and production of the monthly newsletter as assigned by the classroom teacher.
• Participate in professional development and collaborative activities including staff meetings, pre-service and monthly in-service training as requested by team manager. Attend basic staffing teams, IEP meetings, etc. as directed by the classroom teacher. Meet with team manager as scheduled to review professional development. Develop an individual professional development plan annually. Promote Head Start and Capstone positively and proactively within the collaborative setting and in the community.
• C. Other Duties as Assigned
• D. Qualifications:
• Minimum of center-based, preschool setting CDA or enrolled in a CDA credential program to be completed within two years of hire. Willingness to enroll in a program that will lead to an associate or baccalaureate degree in early childhood education or child development.
• Experience working with preschoolers strongly preferred, particularly in a Head Start setting.
• Desire to work with children and adults.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Must be able to evacuate preschoolers from the building in a timely, efficient manner.
• Must be able to assist preschoolers in navigating stairs, playground equipment and changing tables. Must be able to quickly catch up to a fleeing preschooler.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $17.46 - $20.93 per hour

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Monday to Friday

Work Location: In person

Salary : $17 - $21