Teacher Aide

Job Description

Job Description

About This Role

The Teacher's Assistant is responsible for assisting the teacher with program planning and daily supervision of an assigned group of children ages 5 to 11 in the afterschool program. Duties involve performing developmentally appropriate activities related to the social, physical, intellectual, and emotional development of children. Work is performed under the guidance of the Lead Teacher and is reviewed through monitoring, conferences, and evaluation.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

• Work is performed primarily indoors in a classroom setting and outdoors on a playground or recreational area.
• Noise level in the work environment is typically moderate to high due to the presence of children ages 5-11 engaged in various activities.
• Work involves regular exposure to typical childhood illnesses and requires adherence to health and safety protocols.
• May be exposed to varied weather conditions during outdoor supervision (heat, cold, rain).
• Fast-paced environment with frequent interruptions and the need to respond to multiple demands simultaneously.
• Work schedule is during afterschool hours, Monday through Friday during the school year, with longer shifts on early release days.

Schedule:

• After school and early release Monday to Friday each school year, approximately October through May.
• 3-4 hour shifts after school Monday–Friday, with longer shifts on district early release days during the school year.
• For the 2024-25 school year, there are 6/7 early release days.

ADA Reasonable Accommodation Statement

Youth Empowered to Prosper is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities to enable them to perform the essential functions of this position. Applicants and employees who require accommodation should contact Lisa Cobbs, Executive Director to request an accommodation. The organization will engage in an interactive process to determine effective accommodations, absent undue hardship.

Disclaimer

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the position. Duties and responsibilities may change at any time with or without notice. Employment with Youth Empowered to Prosper is at-will, and either the employee or the organization may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause or notice.

Youth Empowered to Prosper is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

The following duties are essential to this position. Employees must be able to perform these functions with or without reasonable accommodation.

• Assist the lead teacher in interacting with children in the classroom to aid in the educational, social, and emotional development of children by helping the lead teacher prepare lesson plans and design learning activities.
• Assist the lead teacher in the implementation of the curriculum.
• Maintain accurate attendance records using written and/or electronic documentation systems.
• Facilitate and support various activities, including arts

• High school degree or equivalent.
• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with children in a group setting.
• Satisfactory Level 2 background screening as required by Florida law.
• Valid CPR certification and valid first aid certification prior to start date or within 30 days of hire.
• Access to reliable transportation to report to work location as scheduled.
• Ability to meet the physical and mental demands of the position as outlined below

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Frequent (more than 50% of work time):

• Stand and move throughout the classroom and outdoor play areas for extended periods (up to 3-4 hours per shift).
• Use hands and fingers to handle and manipulate teaching materials, art supplies, and classroom equipment.
• Bend, stoop, kneel, and crouch to interact with children at eye level, retrieve materials from low shelves, and assist children with activities.
• Communicate verbally and in writing with children, parents, and staff; must be able to give clear instructions and respond to questions.
• Observe and monitor children's behavior and safety; requires adequate vision to see activities throughout the classroom and outdoor areas.

Occasional (up to 50% of work time):

• Lift and carry materials, supplies, or equipment weighing up to 25 pounds (e.g., boxes of art supplies, small furniture, sports equipment).
• Assist children with mobility needs, which may require supporting or guiding a child weighing up to 75 pounds.
• Sit on floor or child-sized furniture during activities.
• Walk outdoors on uneven surfaces during outdoor recreation time.

Rarely (less than 10% of work time):

• Move or rearrange classroom furniture or equipment weighing up to 40 pounds.
• Respond quickly to emergency situations, including evacuations or medical emergencies.

Mental Demands

The mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• Exercise sound judgment in managing student behavior and responding to safety concerns.
• Multi-task and maintain focus while supervising multiple children engaged in different activities simultaneously.
• Demonstrate patience, emotional regulation, and positive interactions when working with children who may exhibit challenging behaviors.
• Follow written and verbal instructions from the Lead Teacher and program administrators.
• Maintain confidentiality regarding student and family information.
• Adapt quickly to changing situations and needs of individual children.

• Experience working with children.
• Bilingual skills (English/Spanish or English/Haitian Creole).
• Completion of coursework in early childhood education, child development, or related field.