Teacher Aide (MULTIPLE LOCATIONS)

The Teacher Aide position is responsible for assisting the Center Teacher in the education, safety, and well-being of children/families enrolled in the Early Childhood Program. They will also assist 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 to provide quality services of education.  Teacher Aides will assist in the cleaning/sanitizing of the classroom, follow the active supervision policy when responsible for children, prepare meals and follow policies/procedures for meal times, and assist with diapering/toileting learning skills.  Some Teacher Aides will be designated to ride the school bus and be responsible for assisting the bus driver in the transportation of children.  Some Teacher Aides will have child care duties.  They are responsible for the opening or closing of the classroom, submitting sign-in sheets to the Enrollment Clerk at the end of each day, collecting child care fees from families, and reminding caregivers to complete TAPS on the tablet for ODJFS reimbursement.

Essential Functions…

Functional Area: Child Development/Health/Disabilities

Estimated Effort: 30%

Responsibilities, Deliverables, Outcomes and Expectations

• Supervise and monitor children at all times and employ active supervision techniques as outlined in the Early Childhood Supervision of Children procedure 09.03.00.47 shall only discharge a child to someone listed on the child’s emergency card.
• Willing to engage in professional development efforts with a minimum of 15 hours of related training per year.
•  Assist in meal preparation, removal of food waste and clean up. Will take trash to dumpster and sweep the floor.
•  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 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 teacher in the development and utilization of integrated curriculum plans which reflect mandated elements/components and parental/cultural influences. Promote social, emotional, physical and cognitive development of children.
•  Follow a consistent classroom 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.
• Will utilize intentional teaching strategies throughout the day to encourage experimentation, exploration, problem solving, making choices, cooperation, and socialization. Shall ask open ended questions and listen respectfully.
• Assist in preparing classroom materials to support developmentally appropriate curriculum plans; create and change learning centers as needed.
• Assist in documenting ongoing assessments according to Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework, School Readiness Goals, the Head Start Child Development and Early Learning Framework, Ohio Early Learning and Development Standards.
• Conduct daily health checks to ensure that children are free from communicable diseases.
• Complete all required tracking of information and documentation attendance records and all other essential records required by the program in a timely and comprehensive manner.
• Assist individual and group needs, attending to special needs, specific interests, strengths and concerns. Assist in the adaptation of the curriculum to address and meet individual goals for children as identified in the Individual Education Plans (IEP), Individual Family Service Plans (IFSP), and/or assessment information.
• Must engage in appropriate interactions and use appropriate language with children. Shall greet each child at arrival and departure.
• Assist Center Teacher in establishing weekly goals that promote individual and group education plans and include safety, dental, nutrition, and mental health activities.
• Act as liaison between the Center Teacher and the parent. Shall assist the Center Teacher with educating parents on the importance of prevention, early interaction and well child care. Shall encourage parents to provide documentation of all health related appointments.
• Accommodate therapists in the classroom as needed to develop a collaborative approach that benefits children.
• Assist in distribution and collection of children’s papers and Teacher/parent messages.
• Complete documentation on incident report for children in a timely manner.

Functional Area: Parent, Family, and 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.
• Encourage all aspects of family engagement, document all relevant contacts with parents on case notes in Child Plus.
• Notify Supervisor or designated staff if a family needs or requests special resources or services.
• Encourage volunteerism and attendance to all parent activities and provide an atmosphere that promotes and reinforces parental involvement in the classroom and on the bus.
• 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 transitions between programs.
• Assist the Center Teacher with the required parent/teacher conferences and home visits for the purpose of assessment and support.
• Gain knowledge of Community Action Programs to help families, co-workers and others in the community.

Functional Area:  Transportation

Estimated Effort:30% (if applicable)

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 restraint systems.
• Adhere to child boarding and exiting procedures.
• Keep the bus clean and neat inside and out.
• Adhere to emergency response, evacuations procedures, use of special equipment (fire extinguishers, flares, reflective triangles, etc.)
• Complete annual four hour in-service training including the two hours ODJFS Ohio Pre-service driver curriculum training.
• Complete the Bus Safety Checklist prior to riding the bus.

Functional Area:  Other Duties

Estimated Effort: 10%

Responsibilities, Deliverables, Outcomes and Expectations

• Assist in the collection of child care fees from parents. Shall work closely with Enrollment Coordinator or designee to ensure that parents with unpaid fees are not permitted to leave their children in the classroom.
• Assist in ensuring that parents required to use the TAP system are keeping up with arrival and departure times in the system.
• Must handle confidential information in accordance with agency policy.
• 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.
• Assist with the general maintenance, security of facility, inventory of equipment and supplies. Shall request supplies as needed to ensure provision of services.
• Must immediately divulge information to supervisor if charged and/or 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.
• Responsible for reading and adhering to all agency policies and procedures, Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Licensing Rules and Head Start Performance Standards.
• 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.
• Participate in recruitment and enrollment as necessary to ensure that full enrollment is maintained.
• Participate in program planning and ongoing monitoring including the Program Self-Assessment, Strategic Planning, etc.
• Complete all ODJFS licensing and HSPPS requirements for staff files as documented on prescribed forms.
• Is aware that personal cell phones are not permitted in classrooms.
• Accountable to the assigned supervisor for completion of assignments and to the high standards of accuracy, attention to detail, and timely completion of work.