What are the responsibilities and job description for the Assistant Teacher - Head Start position at Project NOW, Inc.?
SUMMARY: The Assistant Teacher is responsible for assisting the Teacher in creating, maintaining, and managing an attractive, warm, and challenging learning environment for all children enrolled in the Head Start program. The Assistant Teacher collaborates with all staff to facilitate the utilization of needed services to the children and their families.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Early Childhood Education Services
- Supports the Teacher as the curriculum is implemented through written lesson plans.
- Implements activities with children with the support and guidance of Teacher.
- Works with the Teacher to gather screening data, observations on individual children; enters data on observations on a weekly basis.
- Participates in data meetings to review child outcome data.
- Child Interactions
- Interacts with children frequently, affectionately, and respectfully at the child’s level.
- Acknowledges feelings with sensitivity and models appropriate social behavior.
- Fosters children’s positive self-concept by supporting individuality, independence, and the ability to make choices.
- Engage with children during mealtime by sitting and eating with the children.
- Interacts in a manner consistent with the organization’s commitment to anti-bias education.
- Supervision, Health and Safety of Children
- Maintains and follows all state, federal, and Head Start’s health and safety guidelines.
- Knows the numbers of children in direct care and maintains ratios at all times.
- Organizes the classroom environment and keeps equipment safe and clean.
- Responds immediately and appropriately to multiple or unexpected situations or emergencies.
- Building Effective Relationships with Families
- Develops and maintains meaningful, productive relationships with families.
- Participates in required home visits with families.
- Promotes parents' overall involvement and participation in program governance.
- Promotes family involvement in agency-wide activities (e.g., health fairs, festivals, other activities).
- Communicates regularly with families, both verbally and in writing, regarding the development and specific activities of the children.
- Maintains confidentiality regarding children and families both in the center and externally.
- Supporting Comprehensive Services
- Works collaboratively with other agencies to help meet the needs of families in the program.
- Works in collaboration with other program staff and consultants to monitor, track, and coordinate services for children and parents.
- Administrative
- Works to support the Teacher in preparing and submitting lesson plans to the Education Manager for review.
- Assist the Teacher in maintaining accurate records of center and home visit activities on each child according to program guidelines. Assist in submitting all required reports, forms, records, and expenses on follow-ups and other family records. This includes inventories, child observations, and assessments.
- Performs other duties requested by the Education Manager.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, and ABILITIES:
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to professionally interact with people of various cultural and social backgrounds.
- Ability to establish supportive relationships with staff and families from diverse backgrounds.
- Ability to utilize basic office equipment and familiarity with online learning and record-keeping databases.
- Ability to work within a team environment as a cooperative and supportive team member.
- Ability to sit on floor and lift children up to 40 lbs.
- Willing to pursue classes in Early Childhood Education, as required by the Office of Head Start.
- Travel area-wide, and access classroom sites and family homes requiring a valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and proof of insurance.
- Ability to pass a medical examination, certifying freedom from communicable disease upon employment offer.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:
- Requires minimum age Nineteen (19) years to comply with regulations.
- Requires a high school diploma or GED with CDA and 1 year of experience, or 18 hours of ECE with 1 year experience, or 2 years’ experience and must complete CDA within 1 year.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS and WORK ENVIRONMENT:
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk or hear; and taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. These physical demands are as with handling children of pre-school age. Environment will be of a normal office environment and normal pre-school environment.
Project NOW is an equal-opportunity employer and is committed to providing a workplace free from harassment and discrimination. We celebrate the unique differences of our employees because that is what drives our mission. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, pregnancy, parental status, genetic information, political affiliation, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. Accommodation is available for applicants with disabilities.
Positions within Project NOW are primarily grant-funded and funding decreases can affect our staffing needs.