What are the responsibilities and job description for the Teacher Assistant (ECE) position at HRA of New Britain Inc?
Description: To
assist the classroom teacher with planning and executing activities that will
promote the development of children as individuals through the implementation
of best practices developmentally; to be aware of and attentive to the needs of
individual safety and welfare; to develop and actively maintain positive
communications with parents, to maintain a clean, organized, healthy and safe
classroom environment in Early Childhood, Head Start, Early Head Start and
School Readiness Programs.
Primary Duties and
Responsibilities (others may be assigned based upon program needs):
- Demonstrate
adherence to universal precautions and principals of hygiene and safety as
appropriate for children, families and staff. - Create and
implement tracking systems to assure all responsibilities are met within
an appropriate time frame. - Demonstrate
regard for others in any and all communication and encounters – oral and
written. - Demonstrate
communication skills that promote a positive image of the program and
agency. - Demonstrate
the ability to communicate adequate and complete explanations. - Complete
required forms, reports and projects accurately and on time. - Demonstrate
the ability to maintain a professional demeanor in difficult situations. - Demonstrate
openness to varying opinions and recognizes the role of management in
decision-making. - Demonstrate
regard for children by communicating praise and respect, engaging them at
eye level, etc. - Demonstrate
an understanding of program policies and procedures regarding
communication at all levels. - Practice
capable and effective problem identification and resolution skills as a
method of sound decision-making. - Considers all
sides to a problem before passing judgment or coming to a final conclusion
or decision-making. - Considers the
health and safety of children first in the decision making process. - Assist
in the development and implementation of lesson plans and classroom
activities that encourage experimentation, exploration, problem solving,
cooperation, socialization and choice making. - Promote and support parent involvement and leadership
throughout the program - Assist
in maintaining accurate, comprehensive, and orderly classroom files and,
when required, electronic files that include assessment and screening
results, anecdotal observations and other required forms - Maintain
proper regard for the housing of files. - Other duties
as assigned.
Minimum Requirements:
Must be at least 18 years of age and meet one
of the following requirements:
A Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education or a related degree from a college or
University and one year of verifiable full day experience in-group care of
unrelated children less than six years old.
OR
An Associate’s Degree in a related field or CDA Certificate with 12 credits in Early
Childhood Education and one year of verifiable full day experience
in-group care of unrelated children less than six years old.
- OR
A High School Diploma or GED and experience in working with children less than six years
of age and a commitment to acquire CDA certification within two years of
the date of hire to ensure continued employment.
Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:
- Demonstrate knowledge of and compliance with organization and departmental policies
and Federal, State and Head Start, Early Head Start, School Readiness and
Early Childcare Performance standards. - Knows child
development characteristics for age group(s) served. - Knows current
best practices in the areas of child development. - Knows diverse
and appropriate activities for children in various developmental groups. - Knows the
elements of good classroom organization and scheduling of activities. - Knows the Performance
Standards particularly as they relate to the implementation of all service
and components within the classroom. - Knows and is
sensitive to watch child’s and family’s values, beliefs, traditions,
cultural influences, make-up and circumstances. - Knows all
elements necessary to create a health, safe and clean environment that is
interesting and inviting with properly labeled interest areas. - Knows
elements of developmentally appropriate lesson plans and classroom
activities that also reflect diversity, particularly as it is reflected in
the children and their families. - Knows
elements of developing appropriate individualized lesson plans. - Knows the
health and nutrition needs of all children including CACFP guidelines and
regulations. - Knows the
special education process particularly as it relates to the Individualized
Education Plan (IEP). - Knowledge of
the special education process especially as it relates to Individual
Family service Plans (IFSP) and assists with implementation on behalf of
children with special needs. - Knows the
aspect of positive discipline and behavior management in classrooms. - Has a
self-understanding of personal values, experiences and biases that
facilitate and present barriers in working with certain groups of people
of a diverse population including low-income families. - Ability to be
empathetic, non-judgmental, respectful and professional. - Ability to
work as a team member collaborating with parents and community resources. - Must have strong
interpersonal and organizational skills with excellent written and verbal
communication skills. - Must possess
personal qualities necessary to relate to parents, children and staff. - Must have
strong documentation skills.
Classroom Management:
- Assist in creating an environment that is healthy, safe and clean and which
facilitates developmentally appropriate activities. - Assist in creating an environment that is interesting and inviting with properly
labeled interest areas. - Assist in the development and implementation of lesson plans and classroom activities
that are developmentally appropriate, culturally diverse and address
aspects of health, mental health and nutrition and individualization for
all children. - Assist in the development and implementation of lesson plans and classroom activities
that encourage experimentation, exploration, problem solving, cooperation,
socialization and choice making. - Assist in the implementation of Individualized Education Plans (IEP’s) on behalf
children with disabilities. - Use positive discipline practices and behavior management in classrooms.
Parent Involvement:
- Assist in
promoting and supporting parent involvement and leadership throughout the
program. - Participate
in the collaboration with Social Services Staff in coordinating and
facilitating parent meetings. - Assist in
sending home a monthly newsletter that informs parents of curriculum
topics, field trips, parent workshops and community events. - Assist the
teacher in completing a minimum of two home visits per child each year,
two parents conferences per child each year and additional conferences as
needed.
File Management:
- Assist in maintaining accurate, comprehensive, and orderly classroom files and, when
required, electronic files that include assessment and screening results,
anecdotal observations and other required forms. - Annotate the Central File as required by the Teacher and per program’s policies and
procedures for doing so. - Assist in the assessment of classroom file information to assure quality and timely
service delivery in all areas and to generate outcome information. - Maintain proper regard for the housing of files.
Advocacy:
- Function as mandated reporter on behalf of children about whom there is the suspicion
of abuse or neglect. - Bring child development issues to the Quality Service Review Team and the Case
Management Team in order to institute or strengthen child supports toward
age appropriate developmental progress.
Physical/Mental Requirements:
- Demonstrate the ability to make frequent, significant decisions to assure
developmental progress of children. - Demonstrate the ability to supervise age appropriate children and ensure a safe
learning environment including the ability to monitor and respond to
events going on at all times in classroom, outdoor play areas and on field
trips. This includes the physical ability to move quickly in order to
respond to children who are very active and may need restraint or
redirection in order to ensure their safety or the safety of others in the
environment. - Demonstrates the ability to respond appropriately (both mentally and physically) to an
emergency or a crisis situation. - Ability to kneel, stoop, bend, and sit on the floor on a daily basis in order to
attend to the children. - Ability to lift up to fifty (50) pounds.
Language Requirements:
- Ability to read, write and speak English.
HRA of New Britain, Inc. is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer, including Disabilities/Vets