Teacher Assistant

Full-time - 30 Hours Per Week / 42 Weeks Per Year

Grade 13

Monday through Friday: 8:00am - 2:30pm

About Oswego County Opportunities

Oswego Head Start is looking for an energetic person who would like to work with 3-4 year old children!

Ranking among Oswego County's top ten largest private employers, OCO carries out its mission to inspire partnerships and provide services that empower people, support communities, and change lives through more than 50 programs serving 15,000 people each year. OCO's Employee benefits include:

• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance (available to Full-Time staff)
• Paid leave (sick leave, PTO, holidays, etc.)
• 403B Deferred Annuity Retirement Plan
• Term Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program

JOB SUMMARY:

Works with the teacher in a team approach method of Early Childhood Education, sharing in responsibility for planning and implementing classroom activities.  Assumes the lead for classroom operation during the absence of the teacher.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Works as a team to implement the classroom curriculum according to appropriate Early Childhood principles.
• Supervises the children and takes an active role in all areas of the curriculum.
• Shares responsibility for weekly lesson planning and paper work including MBO's and newsletters.
• Conducts home visits, parent/staff conferences, and assists in effective use of classroom volunteers.
• Leads small group activities, circle time activities, work time activities, serves and eats lunch with children.
• Assumes the lead role and supervision of staff/volunteers in the classroom during the teacher's absence.
• Completes all routine daily paper work such as attendance, volunteer sheets, lunch count, and incident reports.
• Gathers and prepares materials to be used in the classroom.
• Records children's observations using the High/Scope Curriculum technique.
• Completes MAT training and administers medication according to policy as needed.
• Participates in all Head Start and/or Day Care meetings and trainings for skill maintenance and enhancement including total staff, mandatory trainings and required annual updates.
• Implements recommendations from direct supervisor and program coordinators
• Completes and reports child assessments through the Work Sampling Online System.
• Assists in implementing related curriculums. (Second Step, Zoophonics etc.)
• Assists with general center maintenance.
• Conducts daily health checks of children including weekly head checks.
• Conducts developmental screenings. (ESI and ASQ).
• Attends and participates in evening parent training/orientation session as required.
• Performs other reasonably related activities as assigned.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be familiar with Head Start Performance Standards and Child Outcome Framework.
• Must have the ability and desire to work with low income children and families, have an understanding of Early Childhood philosophy, and the principles of inclusion for children with special needs.
• Must be able to work well with pre-school children and families.
• Must be able to work well in a team-teaching atmosphere.
• Must exhibit good judgment and be organized, flexible and professional.
• Must be able to work with others in a warm, non-judgmental manner, and be a positive role model to staff, children and parents.
• Must have good communication skills and be able to follow oral and written directions.
• Must have a valid NYS Driver's License with driving record within agency policy and have access to reliable transportation.
• Must have acceptable physical and mental health to carry out the responsibilities of the position including lifting and participating in activities with the children at their level.
• Must maintain current CDA Credential.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Current Preschool Child Development Associate Credential (CDA); or
• Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education; and
• 1- 3 years related experience teaching children 3-5 years of age.

Oswego County Opportunities, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, creed, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.