Early Head Start Classroom Assistant

Part-Time and Full-time Positions Available:  29 Hours per week / 52 Weeks per year and 40 Hours per week / 52 Weeks per year

In partnership with teaching staff, Early Head Start Classroom Assistants provide education services to children 2-3 years of age and their families enrolled in assigned Early Head Start classrooms.   

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE POSITION:

The essential functions of this position require prioritizing and completing all assigned tasks in a timely and efficient manner, adjusting for changing priorities and availability of resources, and demonstrating initiative in identifying additional job-related tasks to be completed when time permits.  These duties are a representative example of position expectations.  Actual duties assigned may vary and change depending on the business needs of the department and the agency.

• Share responsibility of maintaining a safe and healthy classroom environment. Under guidance of the teacher take observations on children and enter into the web based data system. Maintain a receptive atmosphere in the classroom through open communication.
• Nurture children and respond to their individual needs using developmentally appropriate practices while following a consistent schedule, which includes small and large group experiences, choice time, music and movement, large and small motor activities, skill development, meals, and transitions between activities.
• Encourage parent participation in the classroom and other family activities.
• Within a team of co-teacher, teacher and classroom assistant, assist in classroom; maintain awareness of classroom plans through daily review of lesson plans, and support team with implementation of all activities.  Maintain open communication with all team members.  Participate in providing a safe and healthy environment on a daily basis.  Attend family fun night.
• Provide food service in compliance with sanitation and USDA regulations.  Assist with food transportation to classroom.
• Observe children weekly as directed by teacher.
• Report and document incidents of suspected child abuse and neglect to DHS and child development services supervisor within 24 hours of incident.
• Respect the confidentiality of information about Head Start children and families, staff and personnel issues, and agency operations.
• Provide exceptional and measurable customer service to internal and external customers with timely and accurate responses to their inquiries and concerns. Exercise tact, courtesy, and diplomacy when interacting with clients, contractors, vendors and others with whom we may work while enhancing the Company’s public image at all times. Respond to all inquiries for information respectfully without regard to the inquirer’s position, status, or demographic and in a manner that conveys understanding, acceptance and support for UCAN’s programs and objectives.
• Communicate in a professional, respectful and courteous manner with all employees, clients, the Board of Directors, and others with whom we may work. Contribute to a successful work group and foster a team-oriented culture through positive interactions, active listening, meaningful collaborations, and the constructive exchange of ideas.
• Complete designated job tasks, special projects and all other duties as assigned to meet team, department and agency goals while actively demonstrating accountability, high levels of employee engagement, and responsibility for achieving desired outcomes and measurable results.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

Qualified candidates for this position will have relevant education and experience necessary to perform the essential functions and meet the minimum performance expectations for this position with or without an accommodation.

• Reasonable knowledge of child development and behaviors and abilities of children aged 2 - 3 years.
• Skill in observing, identifying, and recording children’s levels of development; basic use of computers.
• Interpersonal skills necessary to develop, establish and maintain effective, professional, collaborative, and collegial working relationships with customers, other employees, contractors, vendors, and others with whom we may work.
• Demonstrated ability and competency to work with a diverse population of clients, contractors, vendors and co-workers of all ages, including people who may be aggressive, belligerent and/or hostile, confused and/or disoriented, or who may be suffering from a medical or physical impairment.
• Ability to communicate effectively in oral and written forms with internal and external customers, vendors, contractors, and other diverse audiences while providing outstanding customer service. Demonstrated ability competency to communicate clearly and concisely in both individual and group presentation settings.
• Ability to make decisions independently in accordance with established policies.
• Well-reasoned decision making with a high attention to detail in actual work product, organization, planning, workflow, and project prioritization to ensure tasks are completed efficiently and accurately.
• Naturally self-motivated, confident individual with ability to work independently and/or with limited direction, as well as cooperatively in a team environment, while consistently demonstrating collaborative, respectful and productive work habits. Actively pursue professional development opportunities to add value to the agency and to help the agency meet its strategic goals and objectives.
• Highly ethical individual who applies ethical standards of behavior to daily work activities. Takes responsibility for actions and decisions and fosters a work environment where integrity is rewarded. Exercises discretion when involved in highly confidential and sensitive matters.
•  Demonstrated experience and competency operating and working effectively and efficiently with computers and other forms of office technology, electronic data, computer programs and software applications, especially Microsoft 365, Word, Excel, Outlook and Teams. Ability to use electronic timekeeping system is required.