Assistant Teacher

The Assistant Teacher position is responsible for the education, safety, and well-being of the children enrolled in the Early Childhood Program. This position is responsible for assisting in the creation of developmentally appropriate lesson plans, preparing materials, and implementing these activities. Responsibilities may include opening/closing of the classroom with the potential to possibly rotate these roles with the other staff in the classroom. Child Care Staff will work with the Enrollment Coordinator and Clerical Specialist on collecting child care fees from families, reminding parents to complete TAPS on the tablet for ODJFS reimbursement. Responsible for taking daily attendance, taking anecdotal notes on children daily, assisting the teacher in maintaining child files, communicating daily with families, and assisting children with diapering/toilet learning skills. This position will substitute for the Teachers in their absence.

Essential Functions

Functional Area: Child Development/Health/Disabilities
Estimated Effort: 55%

Responsibilities, Deliverables, Outcomes, and Expectations

• Supervise and monitor children at all times. Employ Active Supervision techniques as outlined in the Early Childhood Active Supervision procedure.
• Participate in regularly scheduled team meetings to plan and deliver collaborative services across all service areas.
• Respond appropriately to crisis or emergency situations.
• Assist in giving other center staff adequate time for breaks while maintaining staff/child ratio. Hours may vary from 5:45 am to 6:15 pm. Will be expected to substitute for other team members to ensure the provision of services and to maintain staff/child ratio.
• Assist in assessing individual and group needs, attending to special needs, specific interests, strengths, and concerns.
• Assist in developing and utilizing 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 experiences, choice time, music and movement, large and small motor activities, skill development, meals, and effective transitions between activities.
• Utilize intentional teaching strategies throughout the day to encourage experimentation, exploration, problem solving, cooperation, socialization, and choice making. Ask open-ended questions and listen respectfully.
• Assist in establishing weekly goals that promote individual and group education plans, including safety, dental, nutrition, and mental health activities.
• Prepare classroom materials to support developmentally appropriate curriculum plans; create and change learning centers as needed.
• Document ongoing assessments according to the Head Start Child Development and Early Learning Framework, Ohio Early Learning Content Standards, and/or Ohio Infant/Toddler Guidelines.
• Conduct daily health checks to ensure that children are free from communicable diseases.
• Adapt curriculum to address and meet individual goals for children as identified in Individual Education Plans (IEP), Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP), and assessment information.
• Meet and greet parents daily, distributing written information as needed.
• Assist in meal preparation, removal of food and waste, and clean-up. Take trash to the dumpster and complete all required tracking of meal counts.
• Assist in collecting child care fees from parents, working closely with the Enrollment Coordinator or designee to ensure parents with unpaid fees cannot leave children in the classroom.
• Become knowledgeable of Community Action Programs and local community resources.
• Complete all required tracking of information and documentation regarding attendance records, reports, and all other essential records required by the program in a timely and comprehensive manner. Upload all documentation into the online ChildPlus system.
• Participate in program planning and ongoing monitoring, including Program Self-Assessment, Program Plans, Strategic Plan, etc.
• Complete inventory of food and classroom supplies.
• Ensure parents provide schedules in advance and submit them to the Site Supervisor.
• Assist in collecting child care fees and assist caregivers with any back-taps they may have.

Functional Area: Parent, Family, Community Engagement
Estimated Effort: 30%

Responsibilities, Deliverables, Outcomes, and Expectations

• Build trusting and respectful relationships with families that integrate their values, beliefs, and caregiving practices.
• Document all relevant contacts with parents on case notes per agency policy.
• Encourage volunteerism and attendance at all parent activities, promoting an atmosphere that reinforces family engagement in the classroom.
• Notify the Family Services Manager or designated staff if a family needs or requests special resources or services.

Functional Area: Other Duties
Estimated Effort: 10%

Responsibilities, Deliverables, Outcomes, and Expectations

• Handle confidential information in accordance with agency policy.
• Assist with general maintenance, security of facility, inventory of equipment, and supplies. Request supplies as needed to ensure provision of services.
• Inform supervisor immediately if charged and/or convicted of criminal or traffic offenses that could affect agency insurance coverage.
• Social networking sites are banned during work time unless program-specific.
• Read and adhere to all agency policies and procedures, Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Licensing Rules, Ohio Department of Education Licensing Rules for Preschool Children, and Head Start Performance Standards.
• Along with other staff, keep center, office, kitchen, and supply areas clean and orderly.
• Assist with other duties as defined by the assigned supervisor to fulfill the obligations of the Early Childhood Program and/or CAC.
• Participate in recruitment and enrollment as necessary to maintain full enrollment.
• Complete 15 hours of related training per year.
• Complete all ODJFS/ODE licensing and HSPPS requirements for staff files as documented on prescribed forms.
• Expectations include a pleasant demeanor, a positive attitude, a willing spirit, and team commitment. Exhibit teamwork, cooperation, and an effort to ensure a pleasant work atmosphere. Maintain a courteous, professional demeanor with children and families, reflecting positively on CAC and the Early Childhood Program.
• Personal cell phones are not permitted in classrooms.