Teacher Assistant

Job Summary

Responsible for working directly with all children in the classroom, assists the classroom teacher

in planning and implementing appropriate early childhood activities with the assistance of parent

volunteers, including working under the supervision of the Teacher and is responsible for

temporary assignments of teaching duties as assigned by his/her supervisor, the Site Manager,

within the Head Start Program.

Essential Functions

The Teacher Assistant will ultimately be evaluated on a combination of skills, dispositions, and

behaviors, some of which are related to the specific service area of this position and others that

represent general expectations of all our agency employees.

The Teacher Assistant responsibilities chiefly fall within the following essential functions,

although s/he may perform other tasks and/or duties as assigned. The Teacher Assistant

Will Demonstrate Competency To Perform Essential Functions That Include

• Directly supervises and assists children in performing daily activities in the Head Start
  
  

Center.

• Actively participates in classroom operations by creating developmentally appropriate
  
  

lesson plan support, including IEP goals, assessment goals, age-appropriate language

development, pre-math skills, staff-child interaction, appropriate room arrangement and

classroom environment, observations/assessments, family-style meals, and behavior

management.

• Encourages parents to participate and volunteer in classroom and other Head Start
  
  

activities.

• Communicates with families daily.
• Maintains a clean and safe classroom.
• Assists with two home visits per child per year.
• Assists with the planning and implementation of parent meetings and related parent
  
  

activities.

• Assists with parent/teacher conferences, ensuring parents are kept informed of their child's
  
  

progress.

• Assists children in serving food, practicing appropriate table behavior, and good nutritional
  
  

habits per CACFP guidelines.

• Assists with children's screenings (audio, vision, height/weight, anemia, IEP, mental health,
  
  

developmental); assists with documentation and follow-up on referrals.

• Assists children with differing abilities in their daily routine, including diapering and feeding.
• Assists staff to incorporate IEP/IFSP goals into classroom activities as directed.
• Completes reports assigned by supervisor with accuracy and timeliness.
• Actively participates in recruitment of eligible Head Start children and families.
• Maintains strict child confidentiality.
• Attends and actively participates in staff meetings, training sessions, CDA/ECE classes,
  
  

and related career development.

• Proficient in utilizing various virtual platforms to facilitate seamless communication and
  
  

collaboration.

Minimum Requirements

• Requires HSD/GED. All Head Start teacher assistants must be enrolled in a CDA credential
  
  

program that will be completed within 2 years from the date of hire. CDA/ECE Certificate or

AA/AAS degree preferred. All education must be from an accredited institute.

• Teacher Assistant must be at least 18 years old.
• Six months BCCL or Head Start parent, volunteer work in Head Start (HS) or Child Care
  
  

(CC).

• Advanced computer skills in word processing, Internet and e-mail.
• Arizona Driver's License, proof of insurance, fingerprint card, Social Security card, CPR and
  
  

First Aid, and provide a vehicle for program business.

• Health Questionnaire is required at hire and will be updated every 3 years.
• Meet all agency, state and federal required immunizations or have an approved exemption
  
  

on file.

• Employee must be able to speak, read, write, and understand English.
• Bilingual English/Spanish skills highly desirable.
• Food Handlers Card or Certificate within 30 calendar days of hire.
  
  

Knowledge

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of the application of the principles of early care and education, adult learning
  
  

styles, cultural and ethnic diversity, and family dynamics.

• Knowledge of Head Start Program Performance Standards and the Child and Adult Care
  
  

Food Program (CACFP) and how to implement it within the position.

Skills

• Excellent oral and written communication skills and team-membership skills; communicates
  
  

in a professional manner with internal and external customers.

Abilities

• Ability to supervise Birth-Preschool children as appropriate, ensuring a safe learning
  
  

environment, including monitoring and responding to events in the classroom, outdoor play

area, and on field trips.

• Ability to prioritize workload while being flexible; makes frequent decisions to assure
  
  

developmental progress of children and responds appropriately, both mentally and

physically, to an emergency or crisis situation.

• Ability to demonstrate/capable understanding of the DCS reporting system and the signs
  
  

and symptoms of child abuse and neglect.

Physical Requirements

Able to perform the following physical requirements of the position with or without reasonable

accommodation: critical sensory requirements include general vision, specific vision abilities

required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth

perception, and ability to adjust focus. Hear or listen in the normal range (corrected) and speak

and give directions clearly. Able to walk, sit, stand, kneel, crouch, crawl, reach, lift, carry, push,

pull or otherwise move objects up to 40 lbs., run 50 feet, and demonstrate exercises - jumping

jacks, leg lifts, etc.

Working Conditions

Work is performed in a classroom/office setting where minimal exposure to injury exists. The

hours of work will generally be during regular business hours and average at least 40 hrs. per

week. There will be work variations in work hours due to special employee projects, deadlines,

and other concerns. PGCCS employees have the possibility of exposure to blood or other

potentially infectious materials through collateral duty to their routine work assignments, such

as rendering first aid if need arises, and seldom exposure to vibration, toxic conditions, odors,

dust, mold, and poor ventilation.