Teacher Assistant

Teacher Assistant Job Description 

Title: Teacher Assistant 

Responsible For: Education Role 

Reports To: Education Managers 

Exempt Position: No 

Position Summary: 

The teacher assistant is responsible for providing instruction and supervision in a safe and healthy learning environment for preschool aged children.  Participates in planning and implementing the program curriculum to fidelity by engaging in learning opportunities in all developmental domains.  Assists in screening, on-going assessment and individualization for each student.   Works in collaboration with other components and parents to ensure the educational, health, and social services needs of individual children and their families are met.  Encourages involvement of families in all aspects of the program. 

Meets requirements for Head Start Performance Standards, Montana childcare licensing regulations, STARS to quality program, and Child Start, Inc. Head Start policies and procedures. Maintains confidentiality regarding PII (Personally Identifiable Information) for children, families and staff members.

Duties and Responsibilities: 

Classroom Functions:

• Assist in maintaining a safe, healthy learning environment.
• Clean and sanitize the classroom weekly.
• Follow the classroom’s clear, consistent schedule set by the Teacher.
• Offer constructive input into lesson planning, including individualizing for each student, and classroom learning activities.
• Assist Teacher in implementation of lesson plans and everyday tasks.
• Engage in age/developmentally appropriate learning opportunities for students to support growth in the areas of language and literacy, social and emotional development, math, science, social studies, creative arts, and physical development.  
• Utilize and implement CLASS strategies appropriately in the classroom to create an optimal learning environment.  
• Guide students’ behavior in positive ways that support total growth and development following Child Start, Inc. Head Start’s Child Guidance policy and Behavior Management procedure.  
• Promote and model good health and nutrition practices for students. 
• Monitor the health and safety of students while at school.  
• Playground cleanup.
• Follow active supervision to ensure the safety of all children.
• Assist in documenting children’s developmental progress using program’s data collection systems. 
• Assist in completing developmental screenings for each student within the first 45 days of attendance. 
• Assist in taking anecdotal records for each student and enter into the TS GOLD weekly. 
• Assumes the role of classroom Teacher, and all responsibilities, when the Teacher is absent. 
• Performs potty training and pull-up/diaper changing duties according to the established policies and procedures.
• As directed, complete required forms and documentation, including but not limited to BIR reports, work orders, materials requests, injury reports, newsletters, etc. 

Collaboration:

• Actively seeks to involve parents and families in the educational process and development of their child.
• Promotes regular communication with parents via phone calls, newsletters, e-mails, flyers, school activities, and meetings to form mutually supportive relationships. 
• Participates in required home visits and parent-teacher conferences to share developmental progress and set appropriate goals.
• Works collaboratively with all components of Child Start, Inc. to provide comprehensive services for children and families.
• Provides support to volunteers, substitutes, and parents when in the classroom. 
• Collaborates with all staff to support a positive working environment.
• Maintains a positive working relationship with Teacher to ensure the students are receiving quality educational experiences.        
• Participates in all required program meetings and training.  
• Completes all tasks in the required time frame. 
• Follows Child Start, Inc.’s procedure for any absences. 
• Participate in program-wide events.

General Responsibilities:

• Ability to take direction and accept flexibility in job expectations.
• Ability to understand and follow written and verbal instructions.  
• Basic computer skills.
• Ability to prioritize, organize, identify and solve problems, and effectively handle multiple tasks.
• Physical ability to move quickly in order to respond to children for safety purposes.
• Ability to respond appropriately to an emergency or crisis situation. 
• Attends and participates in all required service-area and program-wide meetings and training.
• Ability to work and communicate effectively and appropriately with staff members, children, parents and the community.
• Promotes a positive work environment.
• Able to perform duties in an active environment.
• Ensures the Head Start Performance Standards and state childcare licensing requirements are followed.
• Abides by Child Start, Inc. Standards of Conduct and Policies and Procedures to accomplish agency goals.
• Other duties as assigned

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by a person in this position. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all duties that may be performed in such a position.

Recommended Qualifications, Education and Experience:

This position requires at least a CDA credential or a state-awarded certificate that meets or exceeds the requirements for a CDA credential, are enrolled in a program that will lead to an associate or baccalaureate degree or are enrolled in a CDA credential program to be completed within two years of the time of hire, per HSPPS §1302.91(e)(3).

Preferred:

• Experience working with children in a Head Start or preschool setting. 
• Training in child development, classroom management, child abuse prevention, positive guidance, social work, communication, and organization.
• Intermediate to advanced computer skills, internet, and e-mail. 
• Proficiency Excel, ChildPlus, Microsoft Office Suits Programs, and/or other computer software programs related to documentation. 
• Strong verbal and written communication abilities.
• Strong problem-solving skills and a proactive approach.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships with stakeholders.

 Required:

• Must be 18 years or older.
• Must be in possession of a valid Montana Driver’s License.
• Must possess CDA (Child Development Associate) certification or be willing to obtain it within first 2 years of employment, or be level 4 or higher on the Montana Early Care and Education Practitioner Registry. 
• Must complete required health screenings, immunizations, and physical.
• Must pass a comprehensive State and FBI fingerprint background check. 

 Working Conditions:

Tasks that involve possible exposure to blood, bodily fluids, or tissues. Risk involved with travel on national flights, main highways, side streets, and rural roads during business travel, including travel to meetings and training events. Tasks may involve handling implements or utensils, use of public or shared bathroom facilities or telephones and personal contacts. Possible exposure to communicable diseases. This is a job that is a mixture of desk work, highly active classroom and outdoor environment, standing for long periods of time, and visits in the community and in participant households. This job may require you to lift items up to 50 lbs. in weight. The ability to successfully perform the job in this manner is required.

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