What are the responsibilities and job description for the Early Childhood Teacher Assistant position at Cleveland Sight Center?
POSITION: Early Childhood Teacher Assistant
DEPARTMENT: Preschool
EEO Job Category: Service Worker
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Reports to: Manager of Preschool
Position Overview
CSC Preschool, licensed by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS), provides a nurturing, inclusive, and supportive environment for children with visual impairments, additional complex needs, and their sighted peers. As an Assistant Teacher, you will support the Lead Teacher in creating a learning environment tailored to each child’s unique abilities, fostering growth, independence, and confidence. This role requires a solid commitment to working with children of diverse abilities, a collaborative mindset, and a desire for continued learning.
Essential Functions:
DEPARTMENT: Preschool
EEO Job Category: Service Worker
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Reports to: Manager of Preschool
Position Overview
CSC Preschool, licensed by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS), provides a nurturing, inclusive, and supportive environment for children with visual impairments, additional complex needs, and their sighted peers. As an Assistant Teacher, you will support the Lead Teacher in creating a learning environment tailored to each child’s unique abilities, fostering growth, independence, and confidence. This role requires a solid commitment to working with children of diverse abilities, a collaborative mindset, and a desire for continued learning.
Essential Functions:
Classroom Support:
- Assist in implementing and adapting curriculum activities and interventions to meet the diverse developmental needs of all children.
- Facilitate daily routines, activities, and transitions in a way that supports each child’s growth and independence.
- Help prepare and organize materials and resources tailored to children’s visual and physical needs.
- Maintain confidentiality of all information regarding the children and their families assigned.
- Performs other related duties as assigned.
Support for Children with IEPs:
- Collaborate with special education staff to ensure children with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) receive the required support and accommodations.
- Aid in tracking IEP goals in partnership with the Lead Teacher and other related service providers.
- Encourage the use of specialized materials and assistive technology as appropriate.
- Assists students with basic dress and grooming self-care.
- Administers medications as trained, assigned, and directed.
- Attends to the physical needs of students. This may include physical lifting, handling equipment such as a gait trainer, HOPSA dress, activity chair, wheelchairs, and braces (how to refit once removed, use correctly).
Team Collaboration:
- Work closely with Lead Teacher, special education staff, therapists, and other team members to promote a cohesive, supportive learning environment.
- Participate in team meetings to discuss strategies, progress, and adaptations for children with complex needs.
Professional Development:
- Demonstrate a commitment to continued education, specifically in areas relevant to early childhood education, visual impairments, and other complex conditions.
- Participate in professional development required by ODJFS (at least 10 hours per year), including topics on working with children with low vision, blindness, and additional disabilities, and maintain current information in the OCCRRA account.
- Stay informed on evidence-based practices and techniques to best support children with visual and other impairments.
Health and Safety:
- Support children in daily self-care and hygiene routines, promoting independence and following all health and safety standards.
- Ensure the classroom and equipment are clean, organized, and safe for children’s activities.
- Performs healthcare procedures as required. This may include any of the following, which qualify for the Bodily Fluid Increment if performed regularly.
- Special dietary Feeding (includes preparation)
- Toileting
- Diapering
- Tube feeding
- Other duties assigned
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Demonstrates knowledge of early childhood development, including strategies for fostering growth and independence in children with diverse abilities
- Ability to express ideas simply and understandably.
- Ability to stay calm under pressure.
- Ability to adapt to a child’s unique learning pace and to be attuned to children’s non-verbal cues and emotional needs.
- Demonstrates ability to assist with specialized feeding, mobility, and healthcare procedures as needed.
- Ability to be receptive to change and innovation.
- Ability to share insights and learn from peers.
Supervision Functions: N/A
Qualifications:
Required:
- Minimum of one year of experience working with young children.
- Infant/Child CPR and First Aid Certification.
- Must clear full background check and pass drug screening.
- Must pass employee physical examination for child care.
- Passion for working with young children and a deep commitment to inclusive education.
- Excellent collaboration and communication skills, with a team-oriented attitude.
- Ability to operate essential office equipment, including computers, copiers, etc.
- Basic knowledge of the most popular Microsoft Office programs such as Word and Outlook.
- Ability to use and input into software applications
- Work occasional extended and off hours as needed
- Maintain the physical and skill requirements of the position.
Preferred:
- Coursework or experience in Early Childhood Education (ECE).
- Knowledge or willingness to learn about the specific needs of children with visual impairments and other disabilities.
Education:
High School Diploma or GED
Physical Requirements:
The Assistant Teacher in our preschool classroom will work in an active and dynamic environment tailored to support the growth and development of young children with various needs. While performing the duties of this role, the employee will:
High School Diploma or GED
Physical Requirements:
The Assistant Teacher in our preschool classroom will work in an active and dynamic environment tailored to support the growth and development of young children with various needs. While performing the duties of this role, the employee will:
- Regularly engage in activities at the child’s level, requiring frequent bending, squatting, kneeling, and sitting on the floor.
- Be able to exert up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, or a negligible amount of force frequently, to lift or assist a child, carry materials, push, pull, or otherwise move objects within the classroom.
- Assist in transferring children to and from wheelchairs or adaptive equipment as needed, following safe handling procedures to ensure child and employee safety.
- Frequently use hands for fine motor tasks, such as handling, fingering, or feeling objects, tools, or controls specific to classroom activities.
- Frequently reach with hands and arms above shoulder height to access materials, organize equipment, or engage in activities.
- These physical demands are essential to fostering a safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environment, allowing for meaningful engagement with children of varying abilities.
Work Conditions:
The work environment characteristics described here represent those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. Work is performed primarily in a classroom setting, and the noise level in the work environment is typical of a classroom setting. PTO is to be taken during scheduled holidays, breaks, etc.
The work environment characteristics described here represent those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. Work is performed primarily in a classroom setting, and the noise level in the work environment is typical of a classroom setting. PTO is to be taken during scheduled holidays, breaks, etc.
The employee is expected to adhere to all agency policies and to act as a role model for the adherence to agency policies, including HIPAA and the Code of Ethics.
