What are the responsibilities and job description for the Assistant Teacher position at Southern Kennebec Childhood Development Corp?
Position Summary:
The Assistant Teacher is responsible for assisting the Teacher in implementing the classroom program for preschool children.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Become familiar with Agency?s child development philosophy, Performance Standards, plans and policies.
- Work under the guidance and direction of the Teacher to ensure growth in the area of child development and classroom skills.
- Assist Teacher in planning and implementing a daily age appropriate program that meets the needs of groups of children as well as individuals, providing for their health, safety and education. Refers to the Agency?s research based curriculum and other adopted models that support curriculum implementation and the Teaching Strategies Gold Assessment System. Assist with the implementation of strategies to align with CLASS recommendations, as applicable.
- Support the nutrition philosophy and health policies of the Agency as outlined in Guidelines for Feeding Children and Health Policies and Procedures.
- Help plan and implement a daily program which fosters the emotional, social, physical, language and cognitive development of each child.
- Promote and model good health habits (hand washing, tooth brushing). Assist in integrating health and safety education into the classroom.
- Ensure the safety of children at all times. Never leave a child unattended or unsupervised.
- Recognize and report signs of illness and other concerns to the supervisor.
- Share observations and assist in providing documentation and record keeping on children as requested by Teacher.
- Assist in maintaining a clean, safe and developmentally appropriate environment for children.
- Assist Teacher in orienting families and other volunteers, encourage family participation and visitation in the classroom, attend family meetings as requested and/or provide child care as needed.
- Engage in ongoing staff development to support continued growth in personal and professional skills.
- Assume classroom responsibility in absence of Teacher as assigned.
- Participate in staff or related meetings as requested.
- Work cooperatively as a team member, assist where needed in the center.
Non-Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Perform additional duties as assigned.
To maintain a commitment to professionalism:
- Join the Maine Roads to Quality Registry, as applicable.
- Possess or apply for an Education Technician Certification from the Maine Department of Education within 30 days of employment, as applicable.
- Attend meetings, staff pre and in-service trainings, and other trainings, as required.
- Additional training requirements for Assistant Teachers who work in infant/toddler programs:
- Infant/Toddler Development
- Safety issues (i.e. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), etc.)
- Methods for communicating effectively with infants and toddlers, their parents and other staff members.
- Participate in Maine Roads to Quality Core Knowledge trainings, if you do not currently hold a CDA credential.
- Participate in State of Maine Early Childhood Learning Guidelines and Supporting Maine?s Infants/Toddlers: Guidelines for Learning and Development training, as applicable.
- Provide leadership and maintain effective working relationships with staff, families, consultants and the general public.
- Practice reliability and dependability and maintain a professional attitude in all aspects of employment, as outlined in the Agency?s Operation Plan and the Code of Conduct.
- Maintain accurate organized paperwork as defined by policy and procedure.
- Engage in ongoing staff development to improve personal and professional skills.
General Expectations:
- Promote and commit to the philosophy and mission of SKCDC.
- Adhere to attendance requirements.
- Work in harmonious relationships with all employees, applicants, co-workers, management, clients, community partners and visitors.
- Maintain confidentiality and protect the Agency by keeping information concerning clients, employees and the Agency itself confidential.
- Client-Centered Focus: Conduct that demonstrates commitment to providing excellent service to recipients of SKCDC services.
- Personal and Professional Conduct: Actions characterize high ethical and moral standards and behavior towards others at work and that portray the organization in a positive and professional manner.
- Teamwork: Conduct through which working relationships are effectively established and continuously improved.
- Initiative/Creativity: Conduct demonstrating originality and imagination to identify new, efficient, useful methods or improvements to implement SKCDC philosophy.
- Technology: Use technology effectively, as appropriate to the position.
- Comply with human resource laws, policies, procedures, and practices.
Physical Requirements:
The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by the Incumbent to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to stand and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee is occasionally required to sit and taste or smell. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, peripheral vision, and ability to adjust focus.
Work Environment:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those the incumbent encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Work is performed in a classroom setting. The potential exists to be exposed to blood borne pathogens. The incumbent must have the competency to work effectively with the diverse needs of all children including those with challenging behaviors and special health care needs.
Qualifications Needed for Position:
Experience and Skill Requirements: The following experience and skills are considered essential:
- Experience in early childhood desirable.
- Must be reliable and conscientious.
- Must have an interest in working with young children in a supportive and meaningful manner.
- Must possess a valid Maine driver?s license with a good driving record and must have an adequately insured vehicle, if conducting Agency business.
Minimum Education Requirements: The following education requirements are considered essential:
- Head Start Assistant Teacher
- Minimum of 18 years old, possess a minimum of a High School Diploma/GED/HiSet Diploma and have completed fifteen (15) hours of Maine Roads to Quality ? Core Knowledge Training or equivalent approved training.
- If the Head Start Assistant Teacher possesses the minimum of (15) hours of Maine Roads to Quality ? Core Knowledge Training or equivalent approved training, they must enroll in a CDA credential program to be completed within two (2) years or
- Possess an Associate?s or Bachelor?s degree (Early Childhood Education (ECE)/coursework equivalent to a major relating to ECE) or be enrolled in a program leading to such degree.
- Pre-school CDA credential /AS/BS a plus.
- Infant Toddler Child Care Assistant Teacher:
- Minimum of 18 years old, possess a minimum of a High School Diploma/GED/HiSet Diploma and have completed fifteen (15) hours of Maine Roads to Quality ? Core Knowledge Training or equivalent approved training.
- If the Head Start Assistant Teacher possesses the minimum of (15) hours of Maine Roads to Quality ? Core Knowledge Training or equivalent approved training, they must enroll in an Infant/Toddler CDA credential program to be completed within six (6) months or
- Infant/Toddler CDA Credential/AS/BS a plus.
