Teacher Assistant Head Start

About the job Teacher Assistant Head Start

General Summary: Under the general direction of the Teacher, the Teacher Assistant will promote activities in the classroom designed to stimulate learning in all developmental domains, and encourage Family Engagement in all aspects of the program. Teacher Assistant will develop individual goals for children, provide ongoing assessment on progress and facilitate transition into Kindergarten.

This position is full-time (40 hours per week) and will consist of working at a central location and may also require working nights and weekends.

Original Locations:

808 W. Newgrove St

Lancaster, CA 93534

HOWEVER, they have clinic locations in:

-San Fernando Valley

-Antelope Valley

-Palmdale

-Lancaster

-Northridge

-Burbank or Hollywood

^please have candidate choose their preferred location(s).

Within the team structure, the Teacher Assistant will provide quality preschool services for children enrolled in the Head Start 0-5 program, which include the following responsibilities:

Interactions with Children and Families (70%)
•Develop and utilize the Creative Curriculum to provide age-appropriate, indoor and outdoor activities in the classroom to enhance the growth of children in all developmental domains.
•Partner with families and teachers to encourage guided experimentation, exploration, problem-solving, cooperation, socialization, choices, and ways to ask open-ended questions with their child/ren.
•Assist with adapting the curriculum to meet the needs of all children including at-risk, special needs, gifted, and culturally diverse populations.
•Establish weekly goals that promote individual and group educational plans that support school readiness and facilitate transition into Kindergarten.
•Prepare classroom materials and Learning Kits to support developmentally appropriate activities in the classroom and at home, as well as creating and change learning centers in the classroom as needed.
•Maintain a clean and safe indoor and outdoor environment on a daily basis. Ensure that all toys and classroom equipment are sanitized including eating, diapering, and napping areas as needed.
•Follow the daily routine to provide an environment conducive to learning and appropriate to the development levels, interests, and special talents of children
•Develop knowledge for and support the implementation of developmentally appropriate and culturally sensitive practices, effective teaching strategies, Community Care Licensing, and DCFS regulations.
•Assist with food service, Learning Kit distribution, and other classroom needs as requested.
•Communicate regularly with parents regarding each child's progress and provide parents with resources.
•Conduct the required home visits and parent conferences to establish individual goals, communicate class progress, and provide educational strategies for parents to implement at school and in the home.

Staff Relationships (15%)
•Support the daily routine and functions of the classroom to make sure they are working and being implemented; rotate classroom responsibilities and support other staff to complete all classrooms on a daily basis.
•Support the Individual Education Plan processes by participating in meetings, making referrals, active in assessments, goals planning, and ensuring children are receiving services.
•Maintain communication and professional boundaries at all times with staff, caregivers and families.

Administrative Functions (15%)
•Maintain a system of confidentiality for all data, records, and information regarding Head Start families at all times.
•Support the completion and submission of weekly lesson plans and goals to the Teacher and/or Center Director for review and feedback prior to implementation in the classroom and virtual contacts.
•Ensure monthly reports are accurate and submitted to Teacher and Center Director.
•Collect observations for ongoing assessments to ensure child outcomes are meeting agency benchmarks.
•Read, analyze, and interpret data from the DRDP (2015) to support creating child and center-specific goals.

Assist with generating and tracking Non-Federal Match on a monthly basis.

Non-Essential Duties And Responsibilities

These duties include tasks that are required and comprise less than 5% of daily functions for this job:
•Serve as a Teacher as needed at your center and other centers as assigned
•Serve as a Teacher Assistant as needed in other classrooms
•Actively engage in parent meetings; provide child care as needed, participation, planning, and set up of materials and room.
•Other duties as assigned

Job Specifications

Minimum Required
•Education: Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education/Child Development or 24-semester units in Early Childhood Education or Child Development.
•Experience:

o 6 months of experience working with families and children in a preschool setting required.
•Professional/Technical Certifications:

o Hold and maintain a current California Commission on Teacher Credentialing Child Development Associate Teacher Permit or above based on the California Teacher Credential (CTC) Matrix upon hire or apply within 60 days of hire.
•Technical Requirements (the client will take part in the technical requirements):

o Must have intermediate Technology skills specifically using Zoom, Outlook, Microsoft Suites, PowerPoint, as well as the ability to learn additional platforms related to the program.

o Basic knowledge of developmentally appropriate practices, effective teaching strategies, Community Care Licensing, and DCFS regulations.
•Behavioral:

o Ability to maintain all assigned workflow and a high level of customer satisfaction in a fast-paced working environment.

o Ability to supervise pre-school children and ensure a safe environment including the ability to monitor and respond to events going on at all times in the classroom, outdoor play areas, and on field trips.

o Ability to maintain all assigned workflow and a high level of customer satisfaction in a fast-paced working environment.

o Ability to engage children and families from diverse backgrounds and experiences including disadvantaged, at-risk, and or low income.

o Show ability to have flexibility, maturity of judgment, and ability to work collegially.

o Uphold the values and principles of the organization.

o Ability to respond appropriately to an emergency or a crisis situation.

o Effective communication and customer service, working collaboratively with adults and children, able to demonstrate a supportive attitude to families.

o Effective Organization skills; accurate work product, strong problem-solving skills, effective critical thinking, ability to make independent decisions/judgment.
•Work Schedule:

o Teacher Assistants work full time 40 hours a week.

o Hours may vary according to the needs of the family in their caseload.

o The Teacher Assistant has the ability to work a non-traditional work schedule including early mornings, late evenings, and weekends.
•Work environment: This works in a Head Start (Pre-school) Center. The Head Start Center includes Early Learning classrooms for children ages birth to 5, outside playgrounds and play structures, and may include regular office space and/or storage areas at larger centers.
•Background & Health Clearance Requirements: Head Start / CCP Criminal Records (e.g. Live Scan Fingerprinting), Child Abuse Index Check, Sexual Offender Registry, Health, Tuberculosis (TB) test and Immunization clearances required.

Preferred

All minimum requirements above met, plus:
•Education: Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education/ Child Development.
•Experience:

o 2 plus years of experience in an early childhood education program.

o 1 year of experience working with developmentally disabled/delayed or behaviorally challenged children including supporting Individualized Education Plans (IEP) and/or Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSP) using social-emotional curriculum and inclusion methods and trauma-informed care.
•Professional/Technical Certifications:

o Hold and maintain a current California Commission on Teacher Credentialing Child Development Teacher Permit issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.

o Hold a valid First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Certificate upon hire or within 30 days of hire.
•Technical Requirements

o Advance technology skills specifically using Zoom, outlook, and Microsoft Suite, as well as the ability to learn additional platforms related to the program.

o Knowledge of developmentally appropriate and culturally sensitive practices, effective teaching strategies, Community Care Licensing, and DCFS regulations.
•Travel: May use CCRC company vehicles when available or personal vehicle and will be subject to Driver Management Policy requirements (i.e., valid California Driver's License, automobile insurance, and a clean driving record required).