Head Start Teacher Assistant

Join our team! Our Head Start program is looking for qualified, energetic, early childhood education professionals to assist in our classrooms.

Teacher Assistants in the Clarksville-Montgomery County Community Action Agency (CMCCAA) Head Start program assist the Lead Teacher with planning and implementing learning experiences that promote the intellectual, emotional, social, and physical development of preschool-aged children within a safe and healthy learning environment. All Head Start Teaching staff receive block leave: two paid weeks of vacation during the winter holidays, and one paid week off for spring break.

Pay is commensurate with level of education. A minimum of a Preschool Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, or enrollment in a CDA program, is required.

More information about our Head Start program is available on our website: https://cmccaa.com/community-programs/head-start-program/

Reports to: Education Manager and Lead Teacher

Service Key Result Areas:
1. Child Health and Development
2. Education and Early Childhood Development
3. Child Nutrition

Requirements:

• Education: Preschool Child Development Associate (CDA) credential required; or an Associate or Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education or a closely related field, or enrollment in an Early Childhood Education or CDA program.
• Experience: Experience working with young children, including those with disabilities, and their families in a preschool setting is preferred.
• Skills: Excellent verbal communication and interpersonal skills. Record-keeping and computer skills are highly desired.
• Knowledge: Knowledge of developmentally appropriate curriculum and instruction techniques for preschool-aged children.
• Ability: To work as a team member.

Responsibilities:

• Maintain professional communication skills and confidentiality of all records and information for staff, parents, children, visitors and community representatives.
• Adhere to all operational policies and procedures for the CMCCAA and Head Start Program to ensure compliance with CMCCAA personnel policies; Federal Performance Standards; State Regulations; and established Written Plans. You may be needed to assist in another classroom.
• Assist in ensuring safe and timely transportation of children to and from the center– will do a 3rd person bus check/will ride as a bus monitor as needed.
• Assist with posting emergency information, fire and tornado drill reports, and food allergies.
• Assist the Teacher in using the DRDP Assessment Tool to assess each child’s developmental level and to develop individualized educational plans (IEPs).
• Assist, promote and support cultural diversity awareness and children’s individual strengths along with preparing and implementing lesson plans for their classroom and discuss any changes and/or recommendations with the Teacher.
• Interact with parents and other family members in a positive manner to promote optimum participation of family members in all aspects of the early childhood education component - will assist/help all families.
• Serves as the Teacher in the classroom in the absence of the regular Head Start Teacher for short or extended periods of time.
• Teacher and Teacher Assistant will alternate each month with lesson plan development and submission.
• Prepare and submit one literacy activity quarterly.
• Assist with the accurate and timely completion of children’s classroom records and required documentation including agreement and permission forms, home visit reports, Parent/Teacher conference reports, parent contacts, IEPs (when required), etc.
• Input data into DRDP on a weekly basis.
• Possess the capacity and empathy to work with a diverse population, low-income families and children including those with disabilities.
• Assist in translating of LAP-D objectives into developmentally appropriate activities.
• Assist the Teacher in ensuring parents are informed of screenings and results as well as the purpose and results of any subsequent evaluations.
• Assist in maintaining a classroom that meets cleanliness, health, and safety standards.
• Assist in arranging the physical environment by selecting the number and types of interest/learning centers, choosing developmentally appropriate curriculum, equipment and materials in order to integrate health, nutrition, and mental health services.
• Use guidance and classroom management techniques developmentally appropriate for young children.
• Assist in providing developmentally appropriate activities related to curriculum areas and assist with implementing activities as specified in the IEP for children with disabilities.
• Assist in ensuring posting of the monthly menu on the parent board and with integrating nutrition education concepts into the lesson plan using the Color Me Healthy curriculum.
• Assist in preparing at least one monthly nutritional food activity, one quarterly, with the class; ensure family-style meal service is implemented in the center daily.
• Assist in planning one transition visit to a Kindergarten classroom at the public school.
• Implement School Readiness Goals.
• Use CLASS as your guide for Teacher-Child interactions and participate in CLASS observations/trainings.
• Maintain and submit accurate time sheets and leave forms to the Classroom Teacher in a timely manner, ensuring complete and accurate information.
• Assist the Lead Teacher with daily operations.
• Follow the Lead Teacher's instructions.

All offers of employment are contingent upon clear results of a thorough background check, drug/alcohol test and the approval of Head Start Policy Council.

CMCCAA is an Equal Opportunity Employer and hires without regard to race, color, sex, age, disability, or national origin.

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About Clarksville-Montgomery County Community Action Agency (CMCCAA)

Mission Statement

It is the general purpose of CMCCAA to identify problems of poverty and to seek the elimination of conditions of poverty as they affect people in the communities of Clarksville and Montgomery County, Tennessee.

It shall further be the general purpose and functions of the CMCCAA to utilize and mobilize the resources of the community to implement programs that are designed to alleviate the effects of poverty in the Clarksville-Montgomery County area.

The purpose and function of our agency is to:

• Administer programs from the office of Community Services, Tennessee Department of Human Services, their successors and other appropriate Federal state and local governments, private and public agencies, corporations and foundations in Clarksville and Montgomery County Tennessee;
• Work with the three (3) significant groups in the agency's service area (the poor sector, the public sector and the private sector) to identify causes of poverty;
• Make the entire agency's service areas more sensitive to the needs and interests of the poor, and develop priorities among projects and activities to be implemented by the agency to eliminate the causes of poverty.
• To empower clients to become more economically self-sufficient by planning and assisting them in locating and accessing resources enabling participants to identify their strengths and barriers as well as to assume responsibility within and for their community. Additionally, families will be assisted to strengthen family units by making informed decisions and initiating positive actions.

What is a Community Action Agency?

Community Action Agencies are private non-profit or public organizations that were created by the federal government in 1964 to combat poverty in geographically designated areas. Status as a Community Action Agency is the result of an explicit designation by local or state government. A Community Action Agency has a tripartite board structure that is designed to promote the participation of the entire community in the reduction or elimination of poverty. Community Action Agencies seek to involve the community, including elected public officials, and representatives from the low-income and private sectors on the Board of Directors.

Visit our website: https://cmccaa.com/

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $13.90 - $15.38 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discount
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday
• No weekends

License/Certification:

• Child Development Associate Certification (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $14 - $15