POSITION SUMMARY:

The Teacher Assistant will support lead teachers in delivering educational programs, managing classroom activities, and promoting a positive learning environment. This role involves assisting with instructional tasks, supervising students, and providing clerical support to ensure the smooth operation of the classroom. The Teacher Assistant will ultimately be evaluated on a combination of skills, dispositions and behaviors, some of which are related to the specific position and others that represent general expectations of all United Community Center employees.

UCC School staff are responsible for providing an educational atmosphere where students have the opportunity to fulfill their potential for intellectual, emotional, social, physical and psychological growth. Teacher assistants support teachers with organizing and implementing an instructional curriculum/program that will result in students achieving academic success in accordance with United Community Center’s policies, procedures and curriculum guidelines. UCC School staff are dedicated, compassionate, highly effective, reflective, collaborative, culturally responsive, and committed to the academic and social-emotional development of all students.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Child Growth & Development:

• Uses knowledge of the principles of child growth and development to work with children
• Facilitates a learning environment that encourages positive social interaction, active engagement in learning, and self-motivation to promote development in all domains for children of all abilities.
• Addresses challenging behaviors by observing to determine possible causes of the behavior, implementing preventive measures, teaching the child new social and communication skills and partnering with families to support the child at home.
• Use observations of children and anecdotal notes to document children’s progress and individualize curriculum.
• Creates partnerships with families to establish positive interaction patterns in program, school, and home.

Instruction & Planning:

• Assist the lead teacher in preparing lesson materials and classroom activities.
• Will assist in ensuring that the written curriculum includes:
  • goals for children’s development and learning;
  • the experiences through which children will achieve these goals;
  • what staff and parents can do to help children achieve these goals;
  • the materials needed to support the implementation of the curriculum towards achieving the stated goals
• Responsible for collaborating with the teacher in the preparation of daily lesson plans.
• Will assist in the development of individual plans for each child including goal-setting based on identified needs and prescriptions for objectives and activities to meet established child outcomes.

Program Implementation:

• Support small group and individual instruction under the teacher’s direction.
• Help maintain a conducive learning environment by managing student behavior and ensuring classroom rules are followed.
• Assist with implementing assessments, grading assignments, and recording academic progress.
• Follow program curriculum providing developmentally and linguistically appropriate experiences appropriate to age, language and culture of children served.
• Provide positive guidance and discipline supporting children as they acquire readiness skills for kindergarten and beyond.
• Implement daily lesson plans in response to children’s needs and interests incorporating observations, anecdotal record keeping, knowledge of early childhood development and the key experiences.
• Implement strategies outlined in Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) 504 Plans, behavior plans, and any other action plans for children.
• Provide children with a consistent classroom routine.
• Provide supervision and ensure the safety and security of children at all times in accordance with day care licensing and program requirements.
• Supervise and eat nutritionally prepared meals and/or snacks with the children as a curriculum activity, to model good nutrition and proper social.
• Supervise all classroom field trips and outdoor activities.
• Understand regulations associated with prevention of disease and injury, including the exercise of universal precautions and the prevention of contamination.
• Attend training sessions, workshops, and professional development opportunities to enhance skills and knowledge.
• Stay updated with educational best practices and school policies.
• If a lead teacher is absent, teacher assistants may support with coverage and implementation of curriculum and instruction to ensure the continuity of learning continues.

Family Partnerships:

• Foster positive relationships with students, parents, and colleagues.
• Participate in parent-teacher conferences and school meetings.
• Establish positive and productive relationships with families focusing on building trust and rapport.
• Work with the teacher to schedule at least two parent-teacher conferences per year and participate as needed.
• Participate in parent orientation and ongoing parent trainings as required.
• Identify and refer parents wanting to volunteer in the classroom, work as substitutes or in other volunteer activities. Support parent volunteers in the classroom as needed.
• Share pertinent information with school administrators and pupil services staff ensuring coordinated services to meet the needs of individual children and families.
• Directs developmental, behavioral, and/or social emotional concerns to the appropriate school staff.

Administrative Tasks & Record Management:

• Prepare and organize instructional materials, including copying, laminating, and distributing handouts.
• Maintain classroom supplies and ensure resources are readily available.
• Assist in maintaining student records and updating attendance logs.
• Request supplies as needed and participate in classroom/program inventory and stocking as requested.
• Gather and maintain individual, family and classroom data for documentation, on-going assessment, evaluation and recording keeping for successful individual and program planning.
• Support teacher in maintaining accurate and up-to-date records of students' attendance, academic performance, and behavior incidents.
• Assist teacher in preparing student and school documentation in a timely manner, following school policies and procedures.

• Helps to arrange classroom events and activities, and collects and log the appropriate documentation in advance of field trips and other school functions.
• Uphold school, district, and state policies regarding child safety, mandated reporting, and confidentiality.

Classroom Management:

• Support teachers in creating a safe, inclusive, and respectful classroom climate in which students are encouraged to be actively engaged in the learning process.
• Establish and maintain a positive and inclusive classroom environment conducive to learning.
• Foster a classroom culture of mutual respect and high expectations, that is inclusive, equitable, and respectful of all students.
• Implement consistent classroom rules and behavior expectations, promoting respectful and responsible behavior.
• Foster a safe and supportive atmosphere where students feel valued and encouraged to participate, and are effectively supervised at all times.
• Maintains order of students and class in classroom, cafeteria, hallways, playground, and across the school environment.
• Manage student behavior proactively and respectfully using positive behavior supports across the school environment.
• Maintain a well-organized, inviting, and culturally responsive physical space.
• Encourage student collaboration and responsibility for classroom norms.

Social-Emotional Learning & Student Relationships

• Foster a safe, supportive classroom environment where students feel valued, understood, and emotionally secure.
• Model and reinforce emotional regulation, empathy, problem-solving, and responsible decision-making when working with students.

Communication & Family Engagement:

• Communicates effectively both orally and in writing, with students, parents and other professionals on a regular basis regarding students’ progress, behavior, areas for growth, and upcoming events.
• Builds trust and rapport with students, families, and colleagues to effectively support student achievement and growth.
• Models professional and ethical standards when dealing with students, parents, peers and community.
• Establishes and maintains cooperative working relationships with students, parents and other professionals.
• Share academic and behavioral updates in a clear, empathetic, and strengths-based manner.
• Collaborate with students, families, counselors, support staff, and school administrators when addressing student needs or concerns.
• Participate in family-teacher conferences and contribute to school events or family engagement opportunities.

Professional Development:

• Participate in professional development, staff meetings, workshops, and training sessions to enhance teaching skills and contribute to the school community.
• Participates in all required training and meetings, as well as school and UCC training, and meetings.
• Engage in professional learning communities and schoolwide initiatives.
• Uphold ethical practices and professional conduct.
• Collaborate with colleagues, support staff, and administration to support student success.
• Contribute to a positive school culture and shared leadership.

Collaboration and Teamwork:

• Collaborate with colleagues, administrators, and support staff to create and enhance a cohesive

and supportive educational environment and to promote a positive school culture, cross-grade alignment, and shared best practices.

• Meets professional obligations through efficient work habits such as meeting deadlines, honoring schedules, collaborating with other staff, etc.
• Support classroom behavior through proactive management strategies and, when appropriate, restorative practices.
• Proactively communicates with school staff, teachers, and administrators to pass along accurate information and communications in a timely manner.

Bilingual Staff:

• Translate school communications, including letters, newsletters, and notices, from English to Spanish and vice versa.
• Assist in translating during parent-teacher conferences, parent meetings, IEP and 504 meetings, and school events to ensure clear communication between the school and non-English-speaking families.
• Foster positive relationships with students, parents, and colleagues by bridging language barriers.

Non-Essential Duties:

• Performs any and all other duties and responsibilities as assigned by their supervisor.

INTENDED OUTCOMES AND SUCCESS MEASURES:

• Small group and 1:1 instructional support is effectively implemented as outlined by the classroom teacher.
• Students make observable academic or behavioral progress as a result of support of teacher assistants.
• A safe, supportive, respectful, and structured classroom environment is sustained in the absence of the classroom teacher.
• Collaboration and communication with teachers is timely, proactive, and professional.
• Improvement in student academic performance as a result of support of teacher assistants.
• Positive behavioral data (reduced referrals and discipline) as a result of support of teacher assistants.
• Teacher observations demonstrate student growth under the support of the teacher assistant.
• Positive evaluations during formal or informal classroom observations.
• Evidence of initiative, reliability, and communication skills.
• Demonstrated understanding of classroom expectations and school policies.
• Demonstrates effective use of time by balancing instructional support, preparation tasks, and supervision responsibilities
• Minimizes idle time and maximizes engagement with students and classroom needs.
• Feedback is received and applied constructively.
• Instructional continuity provided in the absence of classroom teachers.
• Students stay on track with planned lessons, instructional practices, and implementation of curriculum in the teachers absence.
• Classroom routines, rules, and expectations are upheld in the absence of the classroom teacher.
• Students remain on-task, engaged, safe, and respectful throughout the school day.
• Communicates promptly with school administration or support staff as needed.
• Is flexible and responsive to the needs of the school and district, and provides support where needed across the school community.

Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned by their supervisor to support students, colleagues, or the school community.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Demonstrates Basic computer knowledge, basic knowledge of email, excel, word, Google forms and other Google applications.
• Demonstrates leadership in the classroom.
• Demonstrates attention to detail and problem-solving skills

• Must have a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent qualification
• With the support of UCC, will complete training to ensure safe care for students during school hours and afterschool hours (CPR training, head trauma training, child abuse and neglect training, etc)
• May be asked to pursue additional coursework or training in childcare and daycare procedures with the support of UCC.
• Physical exam and background checks are required for this position.
• Bilingual (Spanish) preferred.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.
• The candidate should be able to work independently with little direct supervision, work as part of a team, accept responsibilities, and be self-motivated.
• Must display effective multi-tasking and time management skills.
• Patience, flexibility, and a strong commitment to supporting young learners.
• Ability to follow directions, take initiative, and work collaboratively with staff.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to sit most of the time with some bending and reaching.
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, go up and down stairs most of the time.
• Ability to engage in repetitive movement of wrists, hands, and fingers – typing and/or writing.
• Ability to work frequently at close visual range (i.e. preparing and analyzing data and figures, accounting, transcription, computer terminal, extensive reading).
• Ability to receive and respond to oral communication.
• Ability to exert up to 10 pounds of force to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects.