Teacher's Aide

Description

Now Hiring: Teacher's Aide

Location: Midtown, Minneapolis, MN

Pay range $18

Responsible for assisting teaching team in implementing a high quality, nurturing, anti-bias, developmentally appropriate environment, utilizing the YWCA's Anti-Bias Curriculum for a diverse classroom. Maintain a safe and high-quality environment for children by assisting classroom staff. Responsible for assisting with the daily care, education, and nurturing of children enrolled in the classroom.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Assist in the smooth operation of the classroom
• Assist teaching team in implementing age-appropriate curriculum based on the YWCA's anti-bias and We Care curriculum using themes and classroom observations.
• Supervise children at all times ensuring attendance tracking is completed throughout the day at consistent intervals.
• Foster and maintain a safe and healthy learning environment.
• Provide nurturing, culturally sensitive care for each child.
• Assist teaching team in preparing the classroom and materials needed to support the planned curriculum activities.
• Assist children with educational activities and personal hygiene tasks.
• Assist with the implementation of behavioral management strategies as needed.
• Foster and model cultural sensitivity to the families we serve.
• Assist in ensuring all DHS Rule standards are maintained in classroom at all times.
• Assist in maintaining governing agencies compliance at all times (DHS Rule 3, NAEYC, Parent Aware, and CACFP.)
• Assist in maintaining a safe and healthy learning environment by assisting with emergency procedures.
• Respond to and/or refer families' questions, suggestions and concerns to the Lead Teacher, Teacher, or Assistant Teacher(s)
• Provide backup and support to all classrooms as needed.
• Attend all staff training days and complete required number of DHS in-service hours yearly.

RELATIONSHIPS:

This position reports directly to the ECE Director and indirectly to the Teacher/Lead Teacher. The incumbent will interact with the Teacher/Lead Teacher, Teacher, Assistant Teacher, Teacher's Aides, volunteers, substitutes, children, and parents.

COMPETENCIES:

Skills, knowledge and attributes necessary to perform the job

Organization:

The role of a Teacher's Aide calls for strong attention to detail, and a consistent and reliable positive attitude.

Communication:

• Ability to build an effective relationship with teachers and other staff members.
• Ability to collaborate with teaching team to create a safe and healthy environment for every child to thrive.
• Clear and concise communicator. Proven ability to clearly explain expectations and rules to young children
• Active listener who understands what children are saying and is able to effectively identify any problems they may be having.
• Manages professional communication through center approved methods: ProCare, daily in person communication, YWCA email, YWCA phones, conferences, parent meetings, YWCA forms
• Manages conflict and deals with issues respectfully and directly.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.

Flexibility and Creativity:

• Ability to be flexible and adapt to find resolutions that lead to a cohesive and cooperative classroom.
• Ability to work in various classrooms based on center needs.

Behavioral Management:

• Respond to challenging behaviors effectively including using positive reinforcement and establishing rules and boundaries in their classroom.
• Look for the need children are expressing through their behaviors and work for solutions to those needs.

Recordkeeping:

• Assist in electronic tracking of daily activities
• Prepares activities and classroom to assist implementation of classroom curriculum
• Accurate attendance tracking

Health and Safety:

• First aid and CPR certified.
• Additional health and safety training on emergency procedures
• Maintain a high level of health and safety to ensure child well-being.
• Assure emergency procedures are known and practiced.

Technology and Training:

• Basic understanding of how to use ECE Software
• Complete and maintain required DHS and YWCA required training and inservice.

Emotional Intelligence:

• Ability to be emotionally mature when handling the behavioral and personality difference children, staff, and families exhibit.
• Exhibits compassion showing care, patience, kindness and support to each child and family seeking to understand their situation.
• Actively seeks and accepts feedback; looks at mistakes as learning opportunities.
• Uses good judgement in solving problems, building solutions, and in recommending or making decisions.

Collaboration and Teamwork:

• Ability to work cooperatively and effectively with other ECE staff.
• Exhibits a clear understanding of their role in the team and provide ready support to other to achieve a common goal.
• Demonstrates respectful and trusting working relationships

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS:

Required:

Education and Experience

• Must be 18 years of age or older.
• High School Diploma/ General Education Degree (GED).
• Ability and willingness to work with all children including those with special needs and/or at risk families.
• Ability to read and comprehend written materials such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to complete routine reports and correspondence.
• Ability to communicate effectively with parents and co-workers.
• Ability to build constructive and effective relationships with parents, children, and co-workers; exhibits a high level of professionalism in all interactions; uses diplomacy and tact.
• Follows through on assigned duties and responsibilities in a timely fashion.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear, stand, walk, sit, use hands to fingers, handle or feel, reach with hands and arms, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee frequently is required to climb or balance and taste or smell. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision and depth perception. Individual must have the ability to get to and from various sites/events/meetings in the metro area on an occasional basis.

ADDITIONAL NOTES: This job description represents the major functions but is not intended to be all-inclusive.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY (EEO) STATEMENT: YWCA Minneapolis is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.