Para Pre-K

Para Pre-K (2024-2025 School Year)

Job Title: Paraeducator Pre-K

Position Function: Provide assistance in all early childhood classroom activities under the direct supervision of the Pre-K director in providing children with a learning environment and experiences to help foster their development socially, intellectually, physically and emotionally.

Essential Performance Responsibilities:

• Conducts outreach, recruitment, and enrollment procedures for four year old children in Pre-K Programs throughout the District
• Works with students and families, assisting with transitions into Kindergarten
• Maintains caseload records of assigned classrooms; accountable to be in communication with classroom teachers and Early Childhood Learning Services staff on a regular basis
• Makes telephone calls to verify, receive, and transmits information to parents
• Works with an individual or groups of students
• Relates to all children in encouraging and positive ways
• Encourages and assists students during center and individual selected activities
• Supervises children during breakfast, lunch and snack time, and encouraging good eating habits
• Supervises daily activities such as toileting, hand/face washing and brushing teeth
• Supervises children in all areas of the building and on play equipment/playground, fieldtrips
• Assists with mealtime and snack activities while facilitating nutrition education
• Changes toddlers diapers and record on daily charts
• Provides parents with daily reports of student's activities
• Assists with general classroom management and positive discipline
• Assists with clerical responsibilities such as taking attendance, recording, maintaining inventories, and monthly program required records
• Demonstrates the ability to lift student, sit on floor and in small chairs
• Prepares instructional materials needed to implement the daily activity plans
• Provides art, science and storytelling projects for centers
• Prepares and cleans up after curriculum
• Prepares projects for creative art and science including mixing paints and other necessary steps
• Continuously arranges the children environment to reflex the work and interests of subjects to be taught
• Replenishes materials as needed within the center
• Plans daily with other classroom team
• Organizes storage of necessary items required
• Observes safety hazards ensuring that children observe rules
• Keeps floors and other necessary spaces clean and free from any potentially dangerous situations
• Prepares healthy snacks as necessary for children

Additional Duties: Assists with additional duties as assigned by supervisors.

Equipment: This position may require the ability to use SMART boards and iPads in addition to basic office equipment such as computers, copiers, scanners, and fax machine. Must always comply with USD 259's guidelines for equipment use.

Travel: Limited travel between schools and central offices may be required.

Physical and Mental Demands:

• Be able to work in various weather conditions
• Be able to react immediately to an emergency situation for the safety and welfare of the students and staff, which may include the use of physical restraint technique
• Be able to walk long distances, stand for long periods, bend, twist, balance, stoop, climb steps and reach overhead
• Possess the manual dexterity, physical ability and stamina for a full day of physical activity
• Be able to see and hear well
• Be able to lift, carry, push and pull up to 50 pounds; Be able to lift and carry up to 100 pounds with assistance.
• Be able to demonstrate good finger dexterity
• Be able to sit on floor and in small chairs

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to follow daily directions, and accurately communicate program information to the public
• Ability to perform and meet deadlines, submit well-written accurate reports and work in a calm and efficient manner
• Ability to work with a diverse population
• Ability to communicate both verbally and written in order to communicate with others inside and outside of the organization for the purpose of giving and obtaining information
• Ability to communicate effectively with a Supervisor when their discretion is needed
• Ability to perform as an effective team player
• Ability to plan, organize, make decisions and prioritize work to meet the daily demands of the building
• Exhibit a professional manner and a positive attitude
• Use good judgment to make decisions on recurring assignments
• Display a significant degree of professionalism and confidentiality
• Ability to conform to proper standards of professional dress and appearance
• Knowledge of company's mission, purpose, goals and the role of every employee in achieving each of them

Interrelations:

• Contact with personnel within the district and with customers and vendors
• Will be working under the direct supervision of the department supervisor in order to complete day to day tasks
• Will be working with a diverse population requiring the ability to handle all situations with tact and diplomacy
• Must understand and respond appropriately to customer needs and maintain a positive attitude with all customers and colleagues
• Expected to interact with all internal and external customers in a friendly, professional manner and provide quick, responsive customer service

Employee Punctuality and Appearance:

• In order for schools to operate effectively, employees are expected to perform all assigned duties and work all scheduled hours during each designated workday, unless the employee has received approved leave
• Any deviation from assigned hours must have prior approval from the employee's supervisor or building administrator
• All employees are required to report to work dressed in a manner that reflects a positive image of USD 259 and is appropriate for their position

Qualification Profile:

• HS diploma or GED required
• Must have a minimum of 48 accredited college credits verifiable with a transcript or pass a state approved assessment
• Associate's Degree in Early Childhood preferred
• Must pass a Physical Capacity Profile (PCP) test

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt