Center Assistant Teacher Job Description

Supervisor: Early Childhood Coordinator

Benefit Package:  VA Retirement System (VRS), Anthem Health Insurance, Cafeteria Plan, Life Insurance, Optional Life, Dental, Saving Bonds, Direct Deposits

Salary: $13,912– $20,744                                                       Classification: Non-Exempt                                       Fiscal Responsibilities: None

Qualifications:

          Associate Degree in early childhood/ or working toward the same

• Computer skills required
• One (1) year work experience working with young children
• Criminal Record Check Clearance
• Current certification in CPR/First Aid
• Valid Driver’s license 

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Complies with Head Start performance standards, program policies and procedures; federal, state, and local regulations.
2. Drives a bus as needed (applies to assistants with a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) license only).
3. Plans work in conjunction with other staff.
4. Keeps supervisor informed.
5. Assists in writing lesson plans and developing small-group activities.
6. Assists in preparing and maintaining an orderly and educationally appropriate classroom.
7. Performs and conducts routine center maintenance.
8. Supervises children from the time the first child arrives until the last child leaves within the 8-hour work day time frame.
9. Maintains communication with families, staff, volunteers, school, and community.
10. Accompanies lead teacher on all field trips with children.
11. Administers “emergency” first aid/CPR as needed.
12. Observes children and records entries in child’s portfolio during the school year.
13. Attends to children’s physical needs which may include assisting child with toileting skills, diapering, and illness or accidents.
14. Promotes children’s physical development by actively participating in activities with physical movement.
15. Completes necessary forms daily to keep records of family contacts, food service reports, or any other forms and records required by the program.
16. Assists the lead teacher when possible with input in the Galileo assessment system.
17. Participates in team-oriented approach with lead teacher and Family Service Providers.
18. Assists with the daily house cleaning chores.
19. Assists in making daily parent contacts for all absentees and documents on attendance information report.
20. Communicates daily with the center lead teacher about the operation of the center, plans, activities, and concerns.
21. Promotes good nutrition, good health, and safety practices with the children and families in the program.
22. Records and reports injuries and illnesses of children.
23. Informs parents of injuries or illnesses of the children.
24. Involves children in the selection, preparation and clean-up of meals and snacks.
25. Assists the lead teacher in referring to the Head Start case manager for children’s needs for services related to behavior and mental health issues.
26. Works actively to recruit volunteers.
27. Follows standards of conduct.
28. Utilizes the CLASS child-adult interaction strategies.
29. Accompanies Lead Teacher on at least two (2) home visits per child.

General:

1. Performs other duties as assigned by immediate supervisor and/or School Board.
2. Maintains a neat and professional appearance.
3. Reports problems promptly to supervisor.
4. Maintains confidentiality of all records and information regarding staff and families enrolled in the program.
5. Shall not verbally abuse the operation of the Head Start program in public or spread gossip or rumors which may be detrimental to the Head Start program and its relationships to community growth.

Professional Development:

1. Participates in training and professional development activities planned or provided by the program.
2. Maintains an annual log of training and/or professional development opportunities to be placed in personnel file each program year end.

Employee Conduct:

1. Reliability: Employee will be relied upon to accept responsibility for and complete job assignments on time.
2. Working Relationships: Employee will function as a team member by working cooperatively with other staff.
3. Observation of agency rules, regulations, and polices. Employee is to follow Head Start Performance Standards, state licensing requirements, Lee County School Board policies, Head Start procedures, and personnel policies and to seek clarification from supervisor when needed.
4. Attendance: Employee observes scheduled work time and reports absences as required.

The following reflects requirements of the American Disabilities Act.

Physical Demands:

This job may require lifting of objects that exceed 25 lbs., with frequent lifting and/or carrying of objects weighing up to 10 lbs. Other physical demands that may be required as follows:

(A.)Stooping and/or kneeling    (B) Reaching    (C) Talking   (D) Hearing     (E) Seeing

Temperament (Personal traits):

1. Adaptability to performing a variety of duties, often changing from one task to another of a different nature without loss of efficiency or composure.
2. Adaptability to accepting responsibility for the direction, control, or planning of an activity.
3. Adaptability to dealing with people beyond giving and receiving instruction.
4. Adaptability to making generalizations, evaluations, or decisions based on sensory or judgmental criteria.

Capacity and Ability Requirements:

Specific capacities and abilities may be required of an individual in order to learn or perform adequately a task or job duty.

Intelligence: Ability to “catch on” and understand instructions and underlying principles. Ability to reason and make judgments.

Verbal: Ability to understand meanings of words and ideas associated with them.

Numerical: Ability to perform arithmetic operations quickly and accurately.

Data Perception: Ability to understand and interpret information that may be presented in the form of graphs, charts, or tables.

Work Conditions:

Normal working environment - A work week consists of 168 hours in seven consecutive days beginning 12:01 a.m. Saturday and ending midnight on Friday. A pay period will be one month. All time sheets/activity reports, including substitute time sheets, should be delivered to the Head Start office by the 16^th of the month. The Lee County School Board generates payroll during the third week of the month so that checks are ready on the first day of the month.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this position. They are not intended to be a complete list of responsibilities, duties and skill required of personnel so assigned.

The Lee County Public Schools System/Lee County Head Start will hire personnel in compliance with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.