What are the responsibilities and job description for the Classroom Assistant position at Opportunity Council?
DETAILED SUMMARY:
The Classroom Assistant (CA) works with teachers, co-workers, and volunteers to provide learning experiences for children, aged three to five-years old, in a Head Start and/or ECEAP Preschool. The CA will assist with planning, set-up, clean-up, and training as well as center transportation activities as needed. In addition, the CA maintains working knowledge of Head Start Performance Standards, state ECEAP standards, agency policies and procedures and other applicable regulations.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Assists in planning, implementation and evaluation of individual and group center activities, field trips, parent/child activities and health care.
- Develops lesson plans for an assigned area or individual learning experiences as assigned.
- Assists in the preparation, set-up and clean-up of classroom/center activities as assigned.
- Works directly with children in small groups and individually.
- Assists with maintenance of materials and equipment.
- Assists with record keeping, routine center and parent communications and related documentation.
- Assists the bus driver in ensuring a safe environment on ELAFS buses.
OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Attends parent events, meetings and training sessions as required by supervisor.
- Provides occasional internal guidance to work team regarding daily issues, which enables others to act or make decisions.
- Assists with food service delivery, when needed.
- Transports materials and equipment on occasion.
- Provides pupil transportation by driving a 22-passsenger bus on field trips and provides daily transportation of children when assigned.
EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, TRAINING REQUIREMENTS:
- High school diploma or equivalent; and
- A Child Development Associates (CDA), Associates in ECE, or Baccalaureate in any field with 12 college quarter credits in ECE and experience in ECE.
- One year volunteer or work experience in early childhood education preferred.
- Experience working with families under stress preferred.
- Valid Washington State driver’s license or obtain by date of hire.
- Must submit driving abstract of driving record for previous 3 years prior to start date.
- If recruitment is for a Bilingual position: Must bilingually speak, write and read with fluency and proficiency between English and Spanish, Russian, Punjabi, and/or other languages
SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:
- Able to work effectively with parents, volunteers, children and staff.
- Basic language skills including the ability to read and express oneself clearly verbally and in writing.
- Competent in documentation and record keeping.
- Demonstrated ability to relate in a supportive, non-judgmental manner to families of varying cultural, educational and socioeconomic backgrounds.
- Knowledge of other languages and cultures preferred.
- May occasionally be involved in projects that require new ideas or approaches; position is responsible for developing modifications to established procedures related to educational activities.
- Able to explain and/or instruct others in routine existing policies, practices, and procedures and extract information from clients to understand their problems.
- Basic computer skills, including familiarity with word processing, spreadsheet applications, and data base input and e-mail for communication and record keeping.
- Able to adapt interpersonal skills in response to individual styles, personalities, and cultures.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS UPON HIRING:
- Initial health examination indicating you are fit for duty and free from communicable disease within 60 days of hire. Medical checkups are required every two years thereafter.
- Completed TB test and test results submitted to HR prior to hire date.
- Criminal record check (Portable Background Check through DCYF) to ascertain that the applicant has not been convicted of a child abuse or neglect offense per Washington State Child Abuse Law (Ch. 486, Laws of 1987) or DSHS licensing requirements.
- Have (or obtain prior to hire date) and maintain Washington State Food Handler’s Permit during length of employment.
- Current First Aid card and Infant/Child CPR training (or obtain within 30 days) and must maintain current certificates for length of employment.
- May obtain a Class “C” commercial driver’s endorsement (CDL) when the program provides training. This license must be maintained during the length of employment.
- Policy Council approval prior to the start of employment.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
Work is generally performed in a noisy, active preschool classroom or office environment, following current COVID-19 mandates. Regular exposure to communicable diseases and body fluids and occasional crisis situations. Regularly requires local travel to and from classroom sites, special workshops and trainings, and other job-related activities. May drive program vehicles to transport children.
Benefits@Opportunity Council
Opportunity Council offers the following benefits to eligible employees:
- Paid time off earned on an accrual basis (vacation, sick, personal holidays)
- Paid time off for wellness needs
- Employer-paid holidays (13 in 2023)
- Employer-paid HDHP and low-cost traditional health care options
- HSA and FSA, subject to plan terms
- Eligibility for Critical Illness coverage
- 403(b) retirement plan (5% employer contribution)
- Eligibility for health coverage for legal dependents
- Eligibility for employee/family dental and vision coverage
- Voluntary benefits such as life insurance, long-term disability, long-term care and personal legal services
- Benefits vary dependent on employment status.
Opportunity Council is a private, non-profit Community Action Agency serving homeless and low-income families and individuals. Our mission is to help people improve their lives through education, support, and direct assistance while advocating for just and equitable communities. For over 50 years we have offered a broad scope of services that range from addressing immediate and crisis-oriented needs (food, emergency shelter, eviction-prevention) to longer-term programs that promote self-sufficiency in our community (early childhood education, home weatherization). For more details, please visit our website at https://www.oppco.org.
