Northern Arizona Council of Governments

Job Description

Teacher Aide

Division:                Head Start

Reports To:           Head Teacher

FLSA Status:        Non-exempt

Salary:                    A-31

Summary

The Teacher Aide works 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.  Works under the supervision of the Teacher and is responsible for temporary assignments of teacher duties as assigned by his/her supervisor, the Center Director  or the Head Start Director.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

·         Directly supervise and assist children in performing daily activities in the Head Start Center

·         Actively Participated in planning and preparation of lesson plans and materials for instructional activities, implements creative curriculum in classroom, conducts ongoing assessment activities.  Assists with implementation of IEP goals for special needs children.

·         Communication with families on a daily basis; provides case management services to families relating to all Head Start components to help address family needs, including referrals and community resources.

·         Performs duties as assigned in the areas of instruction, story telling, health lessons, music, etc.

·         Uses positive guidance and behavior management when working with children.

·         Is directly involved in maintaining a clean and safe classroom and in arranging and stocking the classroom.

·         Completes paperwork, updates database, EOM, In-Kind Reports, filing, and other documentation as required.

·         Attends and actively participates in staff meetings, training sessions, C.D.A./ECE classes, and related career development classes.

·         Actively participates in the recruitment of eligible Head Start children and families and follow-up with parents on all documentation including income, shot record, etc.

·         Conducts home visits to Head Start families and advocates for their needs in coordination with the Teacher and/or Center Director.

·         Actively participates in parent meetings, assisting with the planning and implementation of the meetings and any related parent activities.

·         Is directly involved in parent/teacher conferences.

·         Assists special needs children in their daily routine which may include diapering, feeding, etc.

·         Assists children in serving food, practicing appropriate table behavior, and good nutritional habits.

·         Supervises children and maintains appropriate ratios in classrooms, playgrounds, and field trips.

·         Assists with supervision of children on bus as a bus monitor

·         Encourages parents to participate and volunteer in classroom and other Head Start activities.

·         Assists in transitioning activities.

·         Purchases food/supplies for the center as requested by the Teacher.

·         Maintains strict child confidentiality.

·         High tolerance for paperwork, documentation and meeting district and federal deadlines extremely desirable.

·         Performs related duties, as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

Qualifications  

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

Education and/or Experience

Experience and training equivalent to a high school diploma or GED and experience working with preschool children.  Must meet all health and licensing regulations as prescribed by the Arizona Health Services Department.  Must enroll in and actively pursue Child Development Associate credential (C.D.A.) training upon employment, if necessary.

Required Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

Must be self-motivated.  Preschool classroom experience or related experience necessary.  Must be able to communicate effectively in English in both verbal and written format.  Knowledge of Head Start program and philosophy required.  Ability to maintain effective working relationships with people of varied social, cultural, and educational backgrounds.  Must be bondable.

Bilingual proficiency and/or experience working in a multicultural recommended.

Other Skills and Abilities

Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos.  Ability to write simple correspondence.  Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to customers, clients, and other employees of the organization.  Ability to add and subtract two digit numbers and to multiply and divide with 10's and 100's.  Ability to perform these operations using units of American money and weight measurement, volume, and distance.  Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.  Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

Certificates and Licenses 

Current, valid Arizona Driver’s License, DPS Fingerprint Clearance Card, CPR and First Aide.

Physical Demands And Work Environment

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met, or are encountered, by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand;  walk;  use hands to finger, handle, or feel;  reach with hands and arms;  stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl;  and talk and hear.  The employee is occasionally required to sit and climb or balance.  The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions.  The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.