Head Start Program Aide

You must apply on the Richmond Community Schools Website at this link: https://ats4.atenterprise.powerschool.com/ats/app_login?COMPANY_ID=00007816 to be considered for employment. Thank you for your interest in working at Richmond Community Schools.

POSITION: Program Aide - Head Start/Early Head Start

REPORTS TO: Center Supervisor

SUMMARY:

The program aide assists the teaching team to provide comprehensive Head Start and/or Early Head Start services to children/families. Provide a successful, safe, and supervised educational setting for children (ages birth-5) while they are in the Head Start/Early Head Start environment (classroom, outdoor play area, and field trips). The position may be reassigned to various classrooms/centers as deemed necessary for program operations.

This is a grant-funded position.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Supervise and monitor children at all times.
• Assist in setting up the environment (indoor/outdoor) for the activities of the day.
• Maintain a well-organized, safe, and attractive classroom environment conducive to the optimal growth and development of children.
• Use developmentally appropriate practices to facilitate activities with groups and individuals.
• Integrate all Head Start components into classroom time. Encourage experimentation, exploration, problem-solving, cooperation, socialization, and choice-making; ask open-ended questions and listen respectfully to the answers.
• Observe and record the behaviors of children to assist the Head Teacher in the identification of each child’s strengths and areas for growth.
• Provide an atmosphere that promotes and reinforces parental involvement in the classroom.
• Ability to supervise and monitor children at all times to ensure a safe environment. This includes the physical ability to monitor and move quickly in order to respond to children who are very active and may need restraint or redirection in order to ensure their safety or the safety of others.
• Ability to handle sensitive family situations in a non-threatening and professional manner
• Ability to set and maintain professional boundaries with families.
• Must be able to work independently without intensive supervision.
• Ability to respond appropriately to an emergency or a crisis situation.

Additional Job Responsibilities

• Sanitize classroom equipment and laundry.
• Assure/assist in general maintenance and security of the facility.
• Assist with the inventory of equipment and supplies.
• Assist with breaks and other classroom needs as requested.
• Assist with diapering/toileting.
• Attend meetings, trainings, and appropriate professional development activities.
• Monitor and report child abuse.
• Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Required:

• High school diploma or GED.
• Experience and knowledge should include the ability to adapt curriculum to meet the needs of all children, including at-risk, special needs, gifted, and culturally diverse populations, as well as family dynamics and adult learning principles.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills. Bilingual English/Spanish skills are highly desirable.
• Intermediate to advanced computer skills, internet, and e-mail.
• Must demonstrate experience and interest in working with young children, parents, and volunteers.
• Must demonstrate a strong knowledge of appropriate practices in early childhood development, including working with parents.
• Must demonstrate success in working as a member of a team.
• Must demonstrate the ability to work well with young children.

Preferred:

• Bilingual English/Spanish skills are highly desirable.
• Pre-school (ages 3-5) classroom assistant/ teaching experience, two years, is preferred.
• CDA or 15 credit hours in Early Childhood Education preferred.

Language Skills:

Good oral and written Communication skills

Reasoning Ability:

Must be able to problem-solve

Mathematical Skills:

Basic math, pre-algebra, and algebra are needed

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described 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 functions.

While performing this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, stand, lift, carry, push, pull, reach overhead, above the shoulders, and horizontally, bend at the waist, kneel, and crouch. Have good hearing and speaking skills to exchange information. Have good vision to be able to read a variety of materials. Good dexterity in fingers for keyboarding.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• School building environment; may involve occasional travel for home visits or community outreach
• May require flexible hours, including some evenings
• Requires the ability to handle sensitive situations and maintain professional boundaries

The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position. The individuals currently holding this position perform additional duties, and additional duties may be assigned.

The employee shall remain free of any alcohol or nonprescribed controlled substance in the workplace throughout his//her employment in the Corporation.

Richmond Community Schools is an

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin or disability.