Preschool Assistant/Camp Lead - Senior Recreation Leader

POSITION SUMMARY:  
Under the supervision of the Preschool Director (Recreation Supervisor) and Preschool Teacher / Camp Director, incumbent implements the Fair Oaks Preschool program and activities for ages 3 to 5 years; provides direct supervision to children in the classroom and on the playground while actively working towards maintaining positive student relations while following established behavior management procedures; supervises classroom parents, and is responsible for communicating with parents and FORPD staff.  Additionally, under the direction of the Camp Director & Recreation Supervisor, supervises assigned camp participants and aids with the planning, organizing, implementing, leading and monitoring of Summer Camp activities.  Implements the Camp Fair Oaks program and activities for ages 6-15 (including Counselors in Training); provides direct supervision to children in the camp setting including but not limited to on-site activities, off-site field trips, and other program locations while actively working towards maintaining positive camper and staff relations and experiences while following established behavior management procedures.  Ensures a safe, fun and educational environment for camp participants. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 
The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices. 

Under general direction of the Recreation Supervisor and Preschool Teacher/Camp Director: 

• Assist in managing classroom behaviors and enforcing classroom rules
• Prepare and teach short daily activities such as music and movement, socialization, arts and crafts, sensory play, etc.
• Work directly with the children practicing letters, numbers, colors, shapes, etc.
• Supervises classroom parents and organize volunteer schedule with the Preschool Teacher
• Assist in the implementation of the daily program under the direction of the Preschool Teacher
• Participate in planning weekly/session lessons and classroom activities
• Be a role model for students and families
• Assist in maintaining a safe and healthy environment
• Willing to lead in the absence of the Preschool Teacher
• Support cooperative relationships with Preschool Teacher, FORPD Staff, Parents, and students.
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the performance of duties
• Communicate effectively, orally and in writing
• Attend professional meetings, educational conferences, and preschool teacher training workshops in order to maintain and improve professional competence
• Mandatory District Events: Saturday of Easter Weekend, Kid’s Art (last Saturday in April), Fair Oaks Chicken Festival (3rd Saturday in September)
• Maintains a sincere interest in providing each child with a positive summer camp experience
• Supervises and accounts for assigned participants and staff at the day camp location and
  on field trips; ensures sign in and out procedures are followed
• Aids with the planning, organizing, implementing, leading and monitoring of Summer Camp activities
• Leads a specific age group of children and serves as liaison between assigned group and Camp Director; communicates any issues and updates Camp Director on activities; ensures daily schedule is followed and activities are carried out
• Prepares, leads and takes part in recreational activities, both active and passive, for school-age children such as games, sports, arts and crafts, field trips, and songs at an assigned day camp location
• Aid in the CIT (Counselor in Training) training and mentorship
• Demonstrates a positive, courteous and enthusiastic attitude with the children, parents and camp personnel in day-to-day activities
• Acts as a liaison between the parents, children, camp staff, Camp Director, and Recreation Supervisor
• Attends all preseason and ongoing staff meetings and training sessions
  
• Aids in keeping the camp site neat and clean and all equipment and supplies in good order
  
• Establishes positive and professional relationships with assigned parents and children, co-workers, and others contacted through the course of work
  
• Follow District policies and procedures; follows established discipline techniques and other standards
  
• Follows safety procedures and gives first aid as needed; responds to emergency situations as they arise and follows emergency procedures; aids Camp Director to ensure that accidents and incidents are promptly documented and reported
  
•  Meets with Camp Director daily; notifies Camp Director of any problems with site maintenance, assigned children and parents, and recommends proper action as necessary
  
• Actively encourage and live the District’s mission
  
•  Performs other duties as assigned

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: 
This position supervises parents in the classroom. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include training parents, planning, assigning, and directing work, addressing complaints and resolving problems.   

MEASURES OF PERFORMANCE: 
The Preschool Assistant shall be considered to be performing in an acceptable manner when the following have been accomplished: 

1. Customer Service - Manages difficult or emotional customer situations; Responds promptly to customer needs; Solicits customer feedback to improve service; Responds to requests for service and assistance; Meets commitments.
2. Interpersonal Skills - Focuses on solving conflict, not blaming; Maintains confidentiality; Listens to others without interrupting; Keeps emotions under control; Remains open to others' ideas and tries new things.
3. Oral Communication - Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; listens and gets clarification; Responds well to questions; Demonstrates group presentation skills; Participates in meetings.
   
4. Written Communication - Writes clearly and informatively; edits work for spelling and grammar; Varies writing style to meet needs; Presents numerical data effectively; reads and interpret written information.
   
5. Teamwork - Balances team and individual responsibilities; Exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; Gives and welcomes feedback; Contributes to building a positive team spirit; Puts success of team above own interests; Ability to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; Supports everyone's efforts to succeed.
   
6. Ethics - Treats people with respect; Keeps commitments; inspires the trust of others; Works with integrity and ethically; Upholds organizational values.
   
7. Organizational Support - Follows policies and procedures; Completes administrative tasks correctly and on time; supports organization's goals and values; Benefits organization through outside activities; Supports affirmative action and respects diversity.
   
8. Cost Consciousness - Works within approved budget; Develops and implements cost saving measures; Contributes to profits and revenue; Conserves organizational resources.
   
9. Professionalism - Approaches others in a tactful manner; Reacts well under pressure; Treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; Accepts responsibility for own actions; Follows through on commitments.
   
10. Attendance/Punctuality - Is consistently at work and on time; Ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent; Arrives at meetings and appointments on time.
    
11. Dependability - Follows instructions, Responds to management direction; Takes responsibility for own actions; Keeps commitments; Commits to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals; Completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternate plan.

QUALIFICATIONS: 
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

• All applicants must be live scan fingerprinted and pass pre-employment background check, physical examination and drug screen.
  
• Must be at least eighteen (18) years of age prior to appointment due to hazards of the job.
  
• Must obtain a Pediatric CPR/First Aid Certificate & Negative TB Test prior to working on site with children.  If CPR/First Certificate is not already acquired at time of hire, the District will schedule a date prior to the start of working in-person to certify the employee.
  
• Must be able to work weekends, holidays and irregular hours based on District needs.
  
• Required to wear District provided uniform, badge, appropriate shoes & safety equipment while working.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE: 
Candidate must possess a High School Diploma or GED and must possess or be in the process of obtaining twelve (12) Early Child Education, Recreation, Elementary Education Units, or related field. Candidate must have a minimum of six (6) months of experience in working with children ages 3-5 in the classroom. 

• ADDITIONAL SKILLS AND ABILITIES: 
  Knowledge of activities appropriate for preschool school age children.
• Demonstrated ability to deal with customers and handle conflict in a professional manner; ability to communicate effectively with coworkers, children, and parents.
• Leadership and organizational skills.
• Ability to use independent judgment and take appropriate action to ensure the safety of children and parents.
• Ability to manage multiple people and projects at one time.
• Ability to deal with emergencies and stressful situations.
• Basic computer skills in word processing and spreadsheet development.  
  Possession of, or ability to obtain, CPR/First Aid certification prior to start of working in the program.
• All applicants must be fingerprinted and pass pre-employment background check.
• Reliable transportation to and from work.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: 
Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos. Ability to write simple correspondence. Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to customers, clients, and other employees of the organization. 

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: 
Ability to add and subtract two digit numbers and to multiply and divide with 10's and 100's. Ability to perform these operations using units of American money and weight measurement, volume, and distance. 

REASONING ABILITY: 
Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions. Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations. 

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS: 
Must possess and maintain a valid California class C driver’s license, proof of personal vehicle insurance and a satisfactory driving record are required. American Red Cross certification (varies by program, First Aid and CPR certifications required). At the option of the appointing authority persons hired into this class may be required to either possess at entry or obtain within specified time limits designated licenses, certifications or specialized education and training relevant to the area of assignment. 

COMPUTER SKILLS: 
To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of Adobe Acrobat, the Microsoft Office Suite of products and possess typing skills of at least 40-50 wpm. Knowledge of basic office equipment should include: Internet and email, copy and fax machines, postage meter, telephone and answering machine. 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND EMOTIONAL DEMANDS:  
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  

• Mobility and dexterity to work in an office environment, use office equipment and attend off-site meetings.
  
• Strength and agility to lift and carry items weighing up to 20 pounds.
  
• Ability to bend and stoop down to a child's eye level and sit in the smaller, preschool chairs or on the floor.
  
• Will be required to accompany children outside for play in all types of weather.
  
• May need to move furniture, toys and supplies for efficiency each day.
• Frequently needed to lift or carry up to 10 pounds.
• Occasionally required to lift or carry up to 30 pounds.
• Frequently required to push or pull up to 40 pounds.
• Frequently required to walk, run, stand for extended periods of time, reach, kneel, squat, sit, reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and talk or hear and bend while watching children and taking part in activities.
• Hearing and speech adequate to communicate in person and over the phone.
• Vision adequate to watch children and read fine print.
• Manual dexterity to grasp and hold objects, use fine manipulation, write, and use a telephone.  
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT: 
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Indoor and outdoor recreational facilities; frequent public contact; exposure to heat and inclement weather; frequent travel for field trips. Schedule may vary. 

HOW TO APPLY FOR THIS POSITION: 
When a recruitment opens for this position, an applicant must submit, during the application filing period, an online application and attach any supplemental information as required in the job announcement which may include submitting responses to a supplemental questionnaire. Online resumes and other unsolicited materials may be attached, but will not be considered in lieu of the required online application, unless otherwise specified in the job announcement. FORPD reserves the right to limit the number of online applications when necessary. Applicants are responsible for maintaining/updating their contact information through the online application system. 

SELECTION PROCEDURES:

Initial Selection Review:

The Fair Oaks Recreation and Park District reviews all initial application materials to identify qualified applicants. Applicants meeting minimum qualifications will be invited to the first phase of the recruitment process. FORPD reserves the right to refer only the better qualified applicants if the number of applicants is high. If the number of applicants is high, the review process may include a secondary screening (by a panel of job knowledge experts) of the applications and/or supplemental questionnaires in which the better qualified applicants are referred to the next phase of the recruitment process. Because recruitment processes vary, applicants are advised to thoroughly review the job announcement before submitting their online application materials. 

Testing: 
Testing for this position or any other position may include, but is not limited to the following: written exam, practical exam, panel interview, physical ability test, assessment center, oral presentation, project assignment, etc. If a revision is made to a testing component during a recruitment process, the assigned recruiter will notify by email all affected applicants. 

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accommodation:  
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, anyone who needs an ADA accommodation for the purposes of employment testing should contact the assigned recruiter upon opening of a recruitment. 

Withdrawing from Recruitment Process: 
Whenever an applicant chooses to withdraw from a recruitment process, he/she is required to submit an email notification to the assigned recruiter requesting a withdrawal from the process. The email to the recruiter must include the applicant's current phone number. 

Questions: 
All questions regarding this position should be directed to the assigned recruiter upon opening of a future recruitment.

NOTE: The provisions of this publication do not constitute an express or implied contract. Any provision in this publication may be modified or revoked without notice. 

Equal Opportunity Employer: 
The Fair Oaks Recreation and Park District is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. 

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Position Open Until Filled 

INTERVIEWS: If selected, interviews may be held anytime Monday-Friday. Candidates must be available to interview between the hours of 8:00am – 5:00pm on the date options provided at interview acceptance. 

TO APPLY: 
Submit a District application, resume, cover letter and references online at forpd.org/jobs 

ASSIGNED RECRUITER: 

Jennifer Larkin 
Administrative Services Manager/Human Resources hr@forpd.org | 916-966-1036 

jlarkin@forpd.org

Salary : $19