Teacher Aide

General Summary

To assist the teacher in carrying out developmentally appropriate activities in the preschool classroom and in promoting the health, nutrition and education of children while attending to their safety and welfare. The Teacher Aide must comply with the Head Start Program Performance Standards, THHS Child Care Regulation, School Readiness Goals and other Federal, State and any local regulations, policies and procedures. The Teacher Aide serves in the role of teacher when the assigned teacher is absent.

Primary Responsibilities

Responsible for assisting teachers with the care, supervision and education of a group of children as part of a teaching team.

Provide preschool aged children with a nurturing, safe and healthy environment and individualized learning experience to help them develop socially, intellectually, physically, and emotionally in achieving social competency.

Assists in implementing screening procedures that identify concerns in the developmental, behavioral, motor, language, social, cognitive, and emotional skills of each child in the classroom within 45 calendar days of the child’s entry into the Program.

Assists in implementing with fidelity a research-based curriculum with effective teaching practices that promote positive outcomes by promoting growth in the developmental progression described in the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework: Ages Birth to Five. Integrate child assessment data and developmentally appropriate learning experiences in planning and implementing a collaboratively designed lesson plan.

Assists in conducting Parent-Teacher conferences, at least two center visits and two home visits, with more frequent conferences conducted as appropriate.

Assists in implementing the classroom’s emergency procedures, including the posting of procedures, locations and telephone numbers of emergency response systems, emergency evacuation routes, notifying families of emergencies, and other procedures and the maintenance of up-to-date family contact information and authorization for emergency care.

Assures that the child’s outdoor and indoor environments are safe and clean at all times, including storing outdoor equipment such as wagons and tricycles and storing dangerous materials and potential poisons under lock and key. Sanitize classroom equipment and supplies and maintain a clean classroom including restrooms and kitchen area.

Assists with the supervision, safety and well-being of all children in the classroom at all times, including active supervision, maintaining child/staff ratio, and that no child is left alone or unsupervised. Assures the classroom’s environment is developmentally appropriate for each child, including children with disabilities.

Assists in conducting activities in the classroom to conform to the Program’s written program plans, Performance Standards, Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework: Ages Birth to Five, Minimum Standards for Licensing, CACOST’s Head Start Birth to Five Program policies and procedures, School Readiness Goals and the Parent, Family and Community Engagement Framework. May also be required to conduct activities and temporarily serve as the Teacher in the event that the lead Teacher is absent.

Assists in the implementation of children’s IEPs or Plans of Care for children with Disabilities.

Maintains a cooperative attitude of working with the teacher, volunteers, parents and program staff and assists the Teacher in obtaining monthly In-kind for the classroom.

Assists with sanitizing, cleaning, dishwashing and meal service as needed.

Assists with child drop-off and pick-up procedures.

Assists the Teacher with documentation of attendance, education, health, nutrition, mental health, transition, disabilities and parent/family engagement requirements in the appropriate program software, portfolio or child’s file.

Assists the Family Advocate in promoting parent engagement activities and in obtaining required documents from parents such as physicals, dentals, immunizations, in-kind, etc.

Complies with the Program’s confidentiality policies.

Any other duty as assigned by the Teacher and/or Operations Manager.

Work Experience

Prior supervisory experience is preferred.

Valid Texas Driver's License.

Must pass DFPS background check.

Must pass an annual physical.

Must attend 24 clock hours of professional development and staff training per year to include: active supervision, safety practices, training that improves child and family outcomes, training on methods to handle suspected or known child abuse and neglect cases that comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws, and any other trainings as outlined by the Head Start Performance Standards and Child Care Regulation from the State of Texas.

Education/Certifications/Licensure

As prescribed in section 648A(a)(2)(B)(ii) of the Head Start Act, minimum, CDA credential or a state-awarded certificate that meets or exceeds the requirements for a CDA credential, are enrolled in a program that will lead to an associate or bachelor's degree or, are enrolled in a CDA credential program to be completed within two years of the time of hire.

Preferred: A CDA credential or an associate degree in child development, early childhood education or equivalent to a major relating to early childhood education, with experience teaching preschool-age children.

Skills

Ability to work as a team member collaborating with staff, parents and community resources.

Assist Teacher in maintaining accurate written records, including assessments, IEP documentation, screening instruments, anecdotal observations, and other required forms.

Assure/assist in general maintenance and security of facility.

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 classroom and outdoor play areas. This includes the physical ability to move quickly in order to respond to children who are very active and may need restraint or redirection in order to ensure their safety or the safety of others in the environment.

Physical Requirements

If a preliminary offer of employment is extended, a physical will be required before the offer can be accepted.

Able to perform the following physical requirements of the position with or without reasonable accommodation: critical sensory requirements include general vision; specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Hear or listen in the normal range (corrected) and speak and give directions clearly. Able to walk, sit, stand, kneel, crouch, crawl, reach, lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects up to 10 lbs., and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.