Teacher Aide

Job Description

Job Description

About This Role

POSITION OVERVIEW: The Teacher Aide assists the Teacher in providing a safe, nurturing learning environment, conducive to the development of all facets of the children’s growth (academic, emotional, physical, social, and spiritual). The Teacher Aide assists in preparing the classroom materials and helps to plan quality learning experiences for young children. Along with the teacher, she implements techniques that promote independence, curiosity, decision making, cooperation, persistence, creativity, and problem solving in young children. The Teacher Aide works under the direct supervision of the Teacher. The Teacher is under the direct supervision of the Director, Assistant Director and the Preschool Oversight Committee (POC).

Position can be either full time or part time.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: Duties are as stated below but not limited to:

• Assist in ensuring the classroom is ready and safe to receive the children at the start of the day.
• Assist in ensuring that at the end of each day your classroom is ready and safe for the next day.
• Greet parents and children by name.
• Make each child and parent feel welcome and appreciated.
• Share information or concerns regarding children with your head teacher and Administration.
• Allow your head teacher to provide daily communication with family members.
• Assist in keeping accurate, organized records on each student regarding health, behavior, and development.
• Inform your head teacher and Administration immediately of any concerns, especially report all signs of illness, injury, possible abuse, and unusual behavior as soon as possible.
• Work collaboratively with your head teacher, Administration, family members, and other staff to achieve positive outcomes for children of all abilities.
• Assist in ensuring a safe and secure environment in which children can be curious, active and encouraged toward self-discipline and self-motivation.
• Guide children’s behavior in positive ways that support total growth and development and promote self-esteem.
• Interact, initiate and encourage the children in the activities for the day. Never force a child to do any activity.
• Be familiar with each child’s level of development and personal interest.
• Use positive and appropriate discipline that is fair and consistent.
• Document injuries as soon as possible using “Ouch Reports”. Follow the procedures stated in the employee handbook.
• Ensure that confidentiality is respected and maintained at all times.
• Maintain ratio as required by Department of Human Services (DHS) for the specific age group.
• Ensure supervision by sight and sound of all children at all times, no child is to be left alone.
• Assist with planning and preparing materials and supplies in advance for activities. 
• Ensure compliance with all pertinent State, Federal, USDA and school regulations.
• Ensure that accurate meal counts and food portions are completed for all meals and snacks.
• Learn and adhere to the requirements for NAEYC accreditation.
• Ensure that accreditation standards are kept up to date.
• Ensure surfaces are sanitized daily to minimize spread of germs following NAEYC recommended schedule for disinfecting and sanitizing.
• Assist your head teacher in assessments twice a year prior to parent-teacher conferences.
• Read and follow the guidelines in the Employee handbook. 

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES :

• Assume responsibility for own personal professional development including attending meetings and trainings, and maintaining the appropriate competencies and abilities as required by the position
• Maintain reliable work attendance and punctuality
• Meet regularly with the Teacher to develop and implement daily and weekly lesson plans
• Develop a warm, caring relationship with each child and parent that is based on mutual respect
• Serve as a model to the child of appropriate relationships with others
• Attend and positively participate in all staff meetings and professional development trainings
• Assure organization of materials and supplies within the classroom
• Assist the Teacher with implementation of lesson plans and everyday tasks
• Assist other staff as needed or required
• Assist with toileting duties as required
• Assist with custodial duties including sweeping, mopping, dusting, emptying trash, and cleaning bathrooms, as assigned by the Teacher and/or Administrator
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Teacher and/or Administrator

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS : As required by the Hawaii State Department of Human Services (DHS),in addition to possessing a high school diploma or equivalent, the Teacher Aide shall meet one of the following qualifications:

1. High school vocational childcare training course; or
2. Orientation training course in the center.

REQUIREMENTS:

Must be able to do work that involves walking, standing, sitting, bending, kneeling, and squatting

Must be able to bend or kneel to child’s eye level

Must be able to lift, carry and move twenty-five to thirty (25-30) pounds

Must be able to do work that involves handling a variety of liquids including paints, cleaning solutions, and bodily fluids

Manual dexterity and visual skills required

Auditory and verbal skills required for communication

Ability to give and follow oral and written instructions

Basic writing skills

The above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by an employee in this classification. It is not to be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications of employees assigned to this job. Management has the right to add to, revise, or delete information in this description. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

• Depending on hours worked, benefits may include:Prepaid Medical insurance (employee pays 1.5%)Paid sick leave after 90 day probationPaid holidaysPaid personal leave after one year of employmentPaid 3 weeks of vacation after one year of employment (during school breaks only)Retirement Plan (employee match up to 3%)