Excellent Beginnings PreK Instr. Asst. - 188 Days

Excellent Beginnings - PreK Instructional Assistant

Reports to: Program Administrator

Contract: Classified - 188

FSLA Exemption: Non-exempt

Position Purpose

The instructional assistant provides instructional assistance and works directly with children in the classroom.

Essential Functions

• Plans for and implements pleasant arrivals and departures.
• Uses routines to build relationships and learning opportunities.
• Shows respect for children and encourages respectful interactions.
• Uses language to build relationships and strengthen the child's social and emotional competencies.
• Uses indirect and direct behavior guidance techniques.
• Supports children as they learn to resolve their own conflicts.
• Strives to meet each child's individual needs.
• Accompanies assigned children and knows counts at all times.
• Maintains a clean, organized, inviting classroom environment that is safe and developmentally appropriate.
• Uses the outdoors as part of the learning environment, takes the children outside daily and complies with playground supervision procedures.
• Teaches and guides the development of good eating and health habits.
• Continually rotates and sanitizes materials and disposes of broken or recalled items.
• Assists in maintaining children's portfolios and promotes positive outcomes and progress in all areas of child development and early learning.
• Completes developmental assessments within the given time frame as well as completes observations for ongoing assessments and utilizes technology to enter data
• Utilizes technology to complete family/child data entry into computer systems and ensures all record keeping/reports that are required.
  
  

Additional Duties

Performs other related tasks as assigned by the Assistant Director of Early Childhood Education or Superintendent of Schools/Superintendent's Designee.

Note: The above description is illustrative of tasks and responsibilities. It is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task or responsibility.

Equipment

Uses standard office equipment such as personal computers, printers, copy and fax machines, and telephone.

Travel Requirements

Travels to school district buildings and professional meetings as required.

Knowledge, Skills, And Mental Ability

• Ability to maintain emotional control and make decisions in stressful situations
• Ability to efficiently gather information used to make sound decisions
• Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of privileged and sensitive information
• Knowledge of best practices in Early Childhood Education.
• Knowledge of data information systems
• Ability to effectively communicate in both written and oral formats with staff and community.
• Ability to work with people of various personality types.
• Ability to write clearly and concisely.
• Possess sound emotional judgment.
• Ability to use computer network systems and software applications as needed.
• Ability to implement, and maintain the vision and mission of programs.
• Ability to organize multiple tasks and conflicting time constraints.
• Ability to engage in self-evaluation concerning performance, and professional growth.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with others contacted in the course of work.
• Attends all staff meetings and meets program requirements of professional development
• Ensures staff-childcare ratios are maintained at all times
• Mandated reporter under the Arkansas Child Maltreatment Reporting Act
  
  

Working Conditions

• Maintain emotional control under stress.
• Maintains a professional appearance
• Frequent interruptions.
• Some travel within and outside the district boundaries when required.
• Accepts responsibility for job-related tasks
• Knows and follows emergency procedures and risk management protocol
• Works in standard office and school building environments.
• Frequent contact with staff, community, and/or other district/campus employees.
• Daily attendance and punctuality are essential functions of the job.
• Lifts 10-30 pounds regularly; up to 50 pounds on occasion
  
  

Job Qualifications

• Meet training requirements of DHS Minimum Licensing
• Associate's Degree Preferred
• Five (5) years of Early Childhood Experience Preferred