Assistant Teacher

BASIC PURPOSE:  

To provide a high quality of education and care for young children.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1.  Support Head Teacher in providing guidance to Aides, Substitutes, volunteers and authorized visitors in the classroom as needed.

2.  Ensure active supervision at all times.

3.  Use and model positive discipline techniques to ensure a safe, healthy, and nurturing environment.

4.  Support the implementation of curriculum and follow daily schedule.

5.  Assist in providing individualization for students.

6.  Assist with recording student observations on a weekly basis and input into database.

7.  Engage in internal referral process to help support children’s individual developmental needs.

8.  Adhere to all state and federal requirements/standards (i.e. OEC, NAEYC, Head Start, etc.).

9. Aide in planning, coordinating and encouraging family engagement opportunities.

10.  Complete required forms/documentation in accordance with state and federal guidelines.  Assist with maintaining students’ education files.

11.  Maintain open lines of communication with families and collaborate with other staff to ensure the needs of families are being met.

12.  Support the Head Teacher in conducting home visits and parent-teacher conferences with families.

13.  Attend and activitely participate in staff trainings, meetings and Agency events.

14.  Use appropriate food handling, sanitation and OSHA procedures at all times.

15.  Conduct safety drills as required.

16.  Maintain a clean, safe, well-organized, clutter-free classroom environment.

17.  Maintain a positive and nurturing demeanor to ensure a productive work environment.

18.  Maintain required certification and trainings (i.e. CPR, First Aid, Inter-Rater Reliability, etc.)

NON-ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1.  Perform other related duties as required.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Pre-school classroom, possibly on 2nd floor without handicapped access. works with children with communicable diseases.   Outdoor playground (possibly without handicapped access).

QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION:  CDA or an Associates or Bachelor's degree in a related field (must obtain CDA within 1 year from date of hire) , AA in Early Childhood Education preferred

EXPERIENCE:  6+ months working with pre-schoolers, 6+ month working with infants and toddlers for Early Head Start classrooms.

SPECIAL SKILLS:  Knowledge of early childhood education.  Knowledge of Head Start Performance Standards, School Readiness goals and Connecticut Early Learning and Development standards. Warm and nurturing personality.  Bilingual (Spanish/English) a plus. 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:   Ability to hear the conversational voice, with or without a hearing aid, the ability to see and read newsprint with or without corrective lenses, to speak and be understood under normal circumstances, to occasionally lift and carry children and other items weighing up to 50 pounds, the use of arms, hands, legs, and feet with or without corrective devices to accomplish the job, including evacuation of the building during emergencies. Ability to kneel, bend and sit while interacting with children at floor level.

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS:  Ability to function within guidelines of Agency’s core values and identification with Agency mission.