Description

Position Summary:

The Teacher Assistant assists the teacher in conducting developmentally appropriate activities for children according to the department of Children and Families, and Head Start/Early Head Start performance standards. Incumbent in this position demonstrates sensitivity to the service population’s cultural and socioeconomic characteristics.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Work collaboratively with the Teacher to ensure the successful operation of a classroom.
• Build and Maintain a positive and effective line of communication with the Teacher Assistant, Education team, coordinators, other center staff and parents
• Assists in developing lesson plans according to funding sources and addresses children’s individual needs based on meaningful anecdotes, and scaffolding techniques.
• Maintain children ration (1:10 for HS, 1:4 for EHS) and active supervision at all time including during inside and outside transition time and field trips.
• Maintain the use of effective teaching making emphasize in nurturing and responsive practices, interactions, and environments that foster trust and emotional security; are communication and language rich;
• Promote child critical thinking and problem-solving; social, emotional, behavioral, and language development
• Provide supportive feedback for learning; motivate continued effort; and support all children’s engagement in learning experiences and activities.
• Implement high-quality early learning experiences that are responsive to and build upon each child’s individual pattern of development and learning; Integrate child assessment data in individual and group planning
• Assist in arranging the classroom-learning environment according to Head Start/Early Head Start performance standards, applicable regulatory bodies and changes it throughout the year to reflect children’s interest growth.
• Ensure that all children are dropped off and picked up by parent/legal guardian or authorize person does not pose a risk and as indicated in child enrollment form and center’s card.
• Follows the DCF, and Head Start/ Early Head Start performance standard guidelines and procedures in the administration of medicine and dispensation of first aid.
• Visually assesses or screens general health condition of children at arrival time.
• Maintain a safe, healthy learning environment.
• Support the social and emotional development of children.
• Refer to the appropriate service component of any child with suspected special needs, including accidents, unusual incidents, and child abuse and neglect within time frame.
• Complies with USDA Food Program guidelines following record meal counts, recommended portions, family style serving, and menu/nutrition discussions and activities as well as involves parents in the development and implementation of healthy nutrition habits.
• Assists in conducting and documenting parent/teacher conferences as per program guidelines and shares with parents happening that affect children on daily basis.
• Assist in measuring weight and height of children two times a year and appropriately documents obtained measures.
• Conducts home visits as per program guidelines.
• Obtains written, parent signature for special events according to program policies.
• Complete are required trainings as per Head Start/Early Head Start standards, funding, licensing and other trainings as requested by supervisor.

Physical Demands:

• Regular to frequent requirement, and as needed, to lift children (up to 50 lbs.), including bending, stooping, stretching, walking, squatting, pushing, pulling, kneeling, crawling, sitting on low chairs or on the floor.
• The work is in a childcare setting. In order to conduct classroom activities and interact with children in a meaningful way, some physical exertion such as the following physical demands are required:
  • Noise level can be moderate to loud.
  • Detecting unsafe situations by sight or sound.
  • Moving quickly to intervene in unsafe situations.

Qualifications

Educational & Experiential Requirements:

• High School Diploma or GED with an active National Child Development Associate Credential, or with an active Florida Child Care Professional Credential (FCCPC); or have an associate or baccalaureate degree (in any area) or be enrolled in a program leading to such a degree.
• 45 hours of training from the Department of Children and Families or completion within one year of hire.

• Supervised teaching experience preferred.

In addition, for Early Head Start Teacher Assistant;

• CDA credential for Infant and Toddler Caregiver; and
• Teaching experience in a classroom with a focus on infant and toddler development.

Other:

• Work a flexible schedule as required.
• Other related duties as necessary to ensure the smooth running and efficiency of Easter Seals South Florida as a whole.
• Successful completion of background process which includes: Local background check, Level 2 clearance (FBI, FDLE), clear TB test, medical clearance, drug test and reference checks.
• Adhere to the use of Universal Health & Safety Precautions as applicable