Assistant Teacher / Bus Driver

The Assistant Teacher / Driver transports children to and from school daily. They assist the center teacher in the education, safety and well-being of children/ families enrolled in the Early Childhood Program. They will assist the teacher in the development and utilization of integrated curriculum plans and promote social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development of children to provide quality education services, cleaning/sanitizing of the classroom, follow the active supervision policy, prepare meals, and assist with toileting/diapering skills.At the Piketon Site, one driver will be designated at the Site Support Aide. See Site Support Aide job description in the meal time duties section for more information.

Functional Area: Child Development / Disability

Estimated Effort: 35 %

Responsibilities, Deliverables, Outcomes and Expectations

• Willing to engage in professional development efforts with a minimum of 15 hours of related training per year. 
• Supervise and monitor children at all times. 
• Employ active supervision techniques as outlined in the Early Childhood Active Supervision procedure. 
• Shall never discharge a child to anyone not listed on the emergency card.
• Participate in regularly scheduled team meetings to plan and deliver collaborative services across all service areas.
• Respond appropriately to crisis or emergency situations in the classroom or on the school bus.
• Assist in giving other center staff adequate time for breaks while maintaining staff/child ratio. 
• Will be expected to substitute for other team members to ensure the provision of service and to maintain staff/child ratio.
• Assists in assessing individual/ group needs, attending to special needs, specific interest, strengths, and concerns.
• Assist teacher in the development and utilization of integrated curriculum plans, which reflect mandated elements and components, parental and cultural influences, and promote social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development of children. 
• Follow a consistent schedule which includes small group and large group experiences, choice time, music and movement, large and small motor activities, skill development, meals, and effective transitions between activities.
• Must engage in appropriate interactions and use appropriate language with children. Shall greet each child at arrival and departure. Shall encourage experimentation, exploration, problem solving, making choices, cooperation, and socialization. Shall ask open ended questions and listen respectfully.
• Assist center teacher in establishing weekly goals that promote individual and group education plans and include safety, dental, nutrition, and mental health activities.
• Assist in preparing classroom materials to support developmentally appropriate curriculum plans, create, and change as needed.
• Assist in documenting ongoing assessments according to the Head Start Child Early Learning Outcomes Framework, 
School Readiness Gals, and Ohio Early Learning and Development Standards.
• Act as a liaison between the teacher and the parent. Shall assist the center teacher with educating parents on the importance of prevention, early intervention, and well child care. Shall encourage parents to provide documentation of all health-related appointments. 
• Conduct daily health checks to ensure that children are free from communicable diseases.
• Accommodate therapists in the classroom as need to develop a collaborative approach that benefits al children 
• Assist in the adaptation of the curriculum to address and meet individual goals for children as identified in the Individual Education Plans (IEP) or Individual Family Service Plans (IFSP).

Functional Area: Parent, Family, and Community Engagement

Estimated Effort: 10 %

Responsibilities, Deliverables, Outcomes and Expectations

• Encourage all aspects of family engagement, document all relevant contacts with parents on case notes / Child Plus.
• Assist parents in assuming the role of their child’s first teacher to maximize the potential for optimal growth and development. Assist parents in advocating for their child’s needs with other community agencies and during transition between programs. 
• Assist the teacher with required parent/teacher conferences and home visits for the purpose of assessment and support.
• Encourage volunteerism and attendance to all parent involvement activities and provide an atmosphere that promotes and reinforces parental involvement in the classroom/on the bus.
• Notify supervisor or designated staff if a family needs or requests special resources or services. 
• Build trusting and respectful relationships with families that integrate their values, beliefs, and caregiving practices.

Functional Area: Transportation

Estimated Effort: 45 %

Responsibilities, Deliverables, Outcomes and Expectations

• Drive safely at all times and follow all Ohio Laws, Regulations, CAC Agency Policies and Early Childhood Procedures.
• Secure all children in child restraint systems.
• Complete all necessary driving duties and paperwork and revise Bus Route form as changes occur.
• Complete a 4 hours annual in-service training including the 2- hour annual ODJFS Ohio Pre-service Driver Curriculum Training.
• Comply with all Department of Transportation regulations on drug and alcohol screening.
• Comply with the CDL recertification process. 
• Shall obtain a bus driver T8 physical each year or upon request by supervisor.
• Will be responsible for completing the Early Childhood Training Checklist annually with your Teacher Aide.
• Complete a DER (Defective Equipment Report) and report it to the Transportation Supervisor as soon as any bus defects occurs. Contact the Transportation Supervisor by phone or email about the defect.
• Ensure that an adult on the emergency card is home before leaving a child.
• Keep the bus neat and clean – inside and out.

Functional Area: Other Duties

Estimated Effort: 10 %

Responsibilities, Deliverables, Outcomes and Expectations

• Ensure general maintenance and security of facility and assist in inventory of equipment and supplies. Shall request supplies as needed to ensure provision of services. 
• Participate in program planning and on-going monitoring including the Program Self-Assessment, Program Plans, Strategic Plan, etc.
• Participate in recruitment and enrollment as necessary to ensure that full enrollment is maintained. 
• Must handle confidential information in accordance with agency policy.
• Adhere to all agency safety policies and procedures.
• Must immediately divulge information to supervisor if convicted of criminal offenses and /or traffic offenses that could affect agency insurance coverage
• Is aware that social networking sites are banned during work time unless they are program specific.
• Participate in committee assignments upon supervisor request. 
• Responsible, along with other staff, for keeping center, office, kitchen and supply areas clean and orderly.
• Assist with other duties as defined by supervisor when other work is necessary to fulfill the obligations of the Early Childhood Program and /or CAC.
• Gain Knowledge of Community Action Programs to help families, co-workers and anyone in the community. 
• Responsible for reading and adhering to all agency policies and procedures, Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Licensing Rules and /or Ohio Department of Education Licensing Rules for Preschool Children and Head Start Performance Standards.
• Must handle confidential information in accordance with agency policy.
• Complete all ODJFS/ODE licensing and /or requirements for staff files as documented on prescribed forms.
• Accountable to the assigned supervisor for completion of assignments and to the high standards of accuracy, attention to detail, and timely completion of work. 
• Expectations include: a pleasant demeanor, a positive attitude, a willing spirit, and team commitment. Must behave and act in ways between and among co-workers that is conducive to team work, cooperation, and an overall effort to ensure a pleasant and positive work atmosphere. Must maintain a courteous, professional demeanor with children and families and maintain a positive reflection of CAC and the Early Childhood Program.
• Must maintain a courteous, professional demeanor with children and families and maintain a positive reflection of CAC and the Early Childhood Program