Job Overview

Assist the Head Start Teacher and cooperate in a supportive role carrying out developmentally appropriate activities. To promote the health, nutrition and education of the children and to attend to their safety and welfare. Must meet requirements per Federal Head Start Performance Standards and any local, state and or agency policies and procedures.

Ideal Candidate

Are you a graduating senior passionate about early childhood education and making a positive impact in the lives of young learners? Join us as a Head Start/EHS Teacher Assistant at Hillsborough County and kickstart your career in a rewarding field. As an ideal candidate, you will have a strong desire to support the growth and development of children, assisting experienced teachers in creating engaging and nurturing learning environments. This role offers you the opportunity to gain hands-on experience, mentorship, and valuable skills while contributing to the educational journey of our community's youngest members. If you are enthusiastic, compassionate, and eager to make a difference, we invite you to be part of our team and help shape the future of early childhood education in Hillsborough County.

Salary

Minimum: $15.45

Midpoint: $20.72

Maximum: $25.99

Core Competencies

• Customer Commitment - Proactively seeks to understand the needs of the customers and provide the highest standards of service.
• Dedication to Professionalism and Integrity - Demonstrates and promotes fair, honest, professional and ethical behaviors that establishes trust throughout the organization and with the public we serve.
• Organizational Excellence - Takes ownership for excellence through one's personal effectiveness and dedication to the continuous improvement of our operations.
• Success through Teamwork - Collaborates and builds partnerships through trust and the open exchange of diverse ideas and perspectives to achieve organizational goals.

Duties and Responsibilities

Note: The following duties are illustrative and not exhaustive. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. Depending on assigned area of responsibility, incumbents in the position may perform one or more of the activities described below.

• Assists teachers with developing and implementing lesson plans, and literacy and daily enrichment activities to promote individual child development.
• Assists in ordering and preparing materials and supplies for planned activities.
• Arranges classrooms for program activities to provide a proper learning environment.
• Assists in the monitoring of children during all activities where adult help is needed.
• Assists in serving meals and general clean-up of classrooms and bathrooms.
• Assists in maintaining and updating children’s records to insure children’s progress or lack thereof is properly documented.
• Provides information to parents through parent meetings, written correspondence, telephone, and home visits, as required.
• Assists in conducting health checks on children for ringworm, head lice or other health conditions and reports to appropriate nurse.
• Assists in reporting suspected child abuse and neglect to state agency.
• Assists as a bus monitor in the transportation of children and engages children in song and other developmentally appropriate activities during ride.
• Assists in the transportation of special needs children by lifting child into seat and fastening safety belt.
• Assists in inspecting classrooms and grounds to ensure the safety, orderliness, sanitation and cleanliness of facilities.
• Administers First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), as required.
• Operates motorized vehicle in the transportation of children, as required.
• Takes charge of a group of children and acts as a substitute Head Start Teacher, as required.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Job Specifications

• Knowledge of developmentally appropriate practices for early childhood.
• Knowledge of behavior modification theories and practices.
• Knowledge of current educational techniques and practices.
• Skill in making presentations to groups.
• Skill in verbal communication with children and conflict resolution.
• Ability to assist in the planning, organizing and implementing of childhood education curriculums.
• Ability to assume a seated position on the floor for extended periods of time.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to prepare and maintain work related reports and files.
• Ability to handle confidential information.
• Ability to use a computer and related software.
• Ability to follow established procedures.
• Ability to administer CPR and First Aid.
• Ability to implement safety procedures. 
• Ability to work effectively with others.

Physical Requirements

• Regular kneeling, stooping, bending, and sitting on the floor to attend to children's needs.
• Ability to provide physical assistance in the transportation of special needs children.

Work Category

• Medium work - Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

Minimum Qualifications Required

• Associate or higher degree from an accredited college or university in Early Childhood Education or degree in any field with 18 credit hours in Early Childhood Education; OR
• Graduation from high school or possession of a GED certificate; AND
• Child Development Associate (CDA) credential or enrolled in a child development associate credential program to be completed within 2 years of hire; AND
• Obtain within 90 days of employment 40 clock hours from the Florida Department of Children and Families; AND
• Child Development Associate (CDA) credential; AND
• Developmentally Appropriate Practices for Preschoolers Course (10-hours); AND
• Introductory Child Care Training (30-hours); AND
• Child Growth and Development (6-hours); AND
• Behavioral Observation & Screening (6-hours); AND
• Health, Safety & Nutrition (8-hours), Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect (4-hours); AND
• Child Care Facility Rules and Regulations (6-hours).

Emergency Management Responsibilities

In the event of an emergency or disaster, an employee may be required to respond promptly to duties and responsibilities as assigned by the employee’s department, the County’s Office of Emergency Management, or County Administration. Such assignments may be for before, during or after the emergency/disaster.

Additional Job Requirements

A department, depending on the nature of its mission and operations, may require that employees in all or certain positions in this job classification:

1. Maintain the ability to pass the background checks required for the position. These background checks may include but are not limited to:

• Criminal History Background Check using Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS)
• Level 1 and Level 2 Background screening (Ch. 435 Florida Statutes)
• Child Abuse, Abandonment and Neglect Record Check using the State Automated Child Welfare Information System (SACWIS)
• Sex Offender and Sexual Predator record check using the list maintained by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE)

1. Possess the necessary job-related license(s) or certification(s) that may include possession of a Florida Driver License (Class E) or an applicable Commercial Driver License (CDL).