Head Start Special Needs Asst @ Davenport HS, Lincoln County

Crossroads Youth & Family Services, Inc. is seeking a Special Needs Assistant for its Davenport Head Start located in Lincoln County. The Special Needs Assistant assists in creating and managing an attractive, warm, and challenging learning environment for children with disabilities, incorporating developmentally appropriate early intervention, learning, and care activities that meet the needs of the group as well as those of individual children and families.

Under the direction of the Lead Teacher, the Special Needs Assistant supports the development of a safe, welcoming, and inclusive classroom environment for children with disabilities. The position assists with implementing developmentally appropriate curriculum and activities that support the individual needs of each child while following Head Start Performance Standards and program policies. Responsibilities include assisting with lesson planning, organizing and maintaining classroom learning centers, preparing educational materials and displays, and supporting classroom, playground, meal, and individualized activities. The Special Needs Assistant also helps maintain a clean and safe classroom, prepares the room before and after daily activities, and assists with recruiting and coordinating classroom volunteers and incorporating family input into classroom activities.

Here is your chance to make a difference in a child’s life, to help families, and to build relationships while working in a fun, challenging environment that fosters teamwork encourages leadership, and inspires professional excellence.

We offer:

• Competitive compensation

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefit plans with some employer paid benefits

• Life insurance & long term disability insurance

• 401(k) savings plan

• Tuition assistance

• Paid holidays, sick, and vacation/school breaks

Education/Experience:

• Two (2) years of credits from an accredited college or university with a minimum of six (6) semester or equivalent quarter hours in early child development or related courses; OR
• Minimum one (1) year of full-time early childhood experience in a licensed early childhood program and one (1) year of credits from an accredited college or university with six (6) semester or equivalent quarter hours in early child development or related courses, OR
• Current Child Development Associate (CDA) credential.

License:

• Must possess a valid Driver’s License and maintain acceptable liability insurance

Knowledge:

• Excellent written and verbal communication, organizational, problem-solving, interpersonal and analytical skills required;
• Must be knowledgeable in computers and other basic office equipment;
• Knowledge of community resources, methods and practices of health and safety precautions, providing age-appropriate education services and facilitating family involvement in program services.

Physical, Mental and Environmental Requirements:

It is the policy of Crossroads Youth & Family Services, Inc. to provide equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or handicap. Persons of diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

The conditions here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Must be able to pass a pre-employment physical, drug screen and tuberculosis test. An Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation background check is required. Must be found to be free from any physical, mental or emotional conditions, determined by a qualified physician and/or psychologist, which with or without accommodation might affect the ability of the employee to perform essential job functions. The position may require prolonged sitting, standing, walking, reaching, twisting, turning, kneeling, bending, squatting and stooping in the performance of daily activities. Additionally, the position requires lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling up to 50lbs.

This classification is not intended to be all-inclusive. An employee may be required to perform other reasonable duties as assigned by management. Crossroads Youth & Family Services, Inc. reserves the right to revise or change classification duties and responsibilities as the need arises and consistent with the Head Start / Early Head Start Policies and Procedures Policy manual.