Martin County Schools is currently accepting applications for Pre-K Teacher Assistants for the upcoming school year. (Start Date: August 2024.) The specific worksite is to be determined. The employee will work seven and a half (7.5) hours per day for a total of 37.5 hours per week. See the job description below for more information.

The employee will be required to obtain and maintain a license to drive a school bus and to drive when needed to "efficiently and effectively operate the school transportation system." (Board Policy 4701) 

GRADE: Based on Grade 56 State Salary Scale for Classified Employees

FLSA: Non-Exempt

REPORTS TO: Principal and/or Lead Teacher

SUPERVISES: None

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT: 10 months

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Associate’s Degree, or completion of 48 semester hours of college credits AND
• Six documented semester hours of coursework in early childhood education, or two years of work experience in an early childhood setting. AND
• Hold certifications CPR, First Aid, and Playground Safety.

• Teacher Assistants with an effective date of hire 2/1/11 and beyond must hold a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) with Passenger (P) and School Bus (S) endorsements or be willing and eligible to obtain such a license at the next training opportunity. If a candidate does not pursue a CDL with P/S endorsements at the next training opportunity or if he/she is ineligible to obtain a CDL with P/S endorsements for any reason, this could result in recommendation for dismissal.

NATURE OF WORK: Under general supervision, performs a variety of technical and clerical tasks in assisting a teacher. Employee may perform a wide range of tasks in order to support the efforts of the teacher, meet the needs of all students, and ensure the provision of quality instruction for all students. Employee provides one-on-one assistance with academics and behavioral problems and may lead small group activities. Employee assists lead teacher with general housekeeping and clerical duties.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. This list is meant to be representative, not exhaustive. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The employee is required to follow all board policies and procedures and to comply with the instructions and/or directives from his/her supervisor(s).

1. Assists teacher with executing instruction and evaluating its effectiveness.
2. Participates in daily and long-range lesson and activity planning.
3. Constantly monitors the safety and well-being of students; monitors student attitudes and encourages self-esteem; assists students with becoming increasingly independent.
4. Monitors student behavior and helps maintain discipline in the classroom; records time out and in class suspension; assists with crisis prevention; restrains students as needed.
5. Conducts learning exercises with small groups of children.
6. Guides children in working and playing harmoniously with other children.
7. Alerts the teacher to special needs of individual children.
8. Provides escort and assistance to children as necessary.
9. Helps maintain individual records for each child.
10. Fosters good eating habits and table manners in children.
11. Assists teacher in maintaining neat work and study areas.
12. Assists with the supervision of children during regular play periods.
13. Collects and displays suitable material for educational displays.
14. Remains knowledgeable of current Pre-K issues by attending staff development and reading current literature/publications.
15. Assists with screening process of students for possible Pre-K participation/enrollment.
16. Accompanies and assists teacher on home visits.
17. Performs other related work as required.
18. Teacher Assistants with an effective date of hire 2/1/11 and beyond will be required to drive/monitor a school bus as needed.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

1. General knowledge of activities performed by teacher and the daily routines of the classroom.
2. Must have a desire to nurture and work with young children.
3. Must have an understanding of the confidential nature of working in an educational setting.
4. General knowledge of student handbook.
5. General knowledge of procedures to follow in the event of an emergency.
6. General knowledge of the principles of organization and administration.
7. Ability to constantly monitor the safety and well-being of students, particularly when student is participating in an inclusive activity.
8. Ability to motivate students.
9. Ability to maintain a clean and orderly environment and to maintain order and discipline in a classroom.
10. Ability to perform general clerical duties, including the operation of common office machines and the maintenance of basic files and records.
11. Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
12. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments.

PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE REQUIREMENTS: The major physical and cognitive requirements listed below are applicable to the Pre-Kindergarten Teacher Assistant job classification within Martin County Schools.

Work in this classification is considered light physical work requiring the exertion of a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects.

• Must be able to use a variety of equipment and classroom tools such as computers, copiers, typewriters, calculators, pencils, scissors, equipment for children with special needs, etc.
• Requires the ability to speak and/or signal people to convey or exchange information, including receiving instructions, assignments, and/or directions from superiors.
• Requires the ability to read a variety of correspondence, reports, handbooks, forms, lists, etc.
• Requires the ability to prepare correspondence, simple reports, forms, instructional materials, etc., using prescribed format.
• Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, and to follow oral and written instructions.
• Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in standard English.
• Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions.
• Must be adaptable to performing under stress and when confronted with persons acting under stress.
• Requires the ability to talk and hear. Must be able to communicate via telephone.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works indoors. The noise level in the work environment is usually minimal. The work is performed in the school.