Preschool Floating Teaching Assistant/Aide

Floating Teacher Assistant/Aide

Position Title: Floating Teacher Assistant/Aide

Program: Thrive to Five

Classification: Non-Exempt/Permanent

Location/Travel: As a Floater you will be required to travel between East High Elementary (Elizabethtown), Mount Joy CTC, Denver Elementary, or Reamsotown Elementary. This role will support to cover PTO, Employee leaves, and/or understaffing.

A Floating Teacher Assistant/Aide position is a part of the Thrive to Five teaching support team that may or may not have permanent classroom placement and schedule given; assignments vary based on the unique needs of the position and program.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Educational Services: promote cognitive development and + learning dispositions in ALL children.

• Assists with implementing Creative Curriculum, Thrive to Five's daily structures, and instructional strategies in accordance with program guidelines to fidelity.
• Follows schedules, daily routines and lesson plans of each classroom.
• Uses responsive language with children.
• Participates in individualized instruction for children with disabilities and individual needs.

Health and Safety: promote healthy growth & habits in children and provide a safe environment.

• Follows all safety and health procedures and expectations as outlined by regulatory standards (DHS, STARS, EHS, or Head Start Performance standards).
• Provides adequate supervision of children at all times as defined in Thrive to Five policies and procedures.
• Follow all meal service standards as outlined by CACFP.
• Follows all guidance to prevent the spread of illness as defined by Thrive to Five's policies and procedures such as but not limited to: daily health checks, use of gloves and masks, etc.
• Use meals & snack times to teach about health, sanitation and proper nutrition
• Assists with ensuring all children receive the required dental, vision, hearing, and BMI screenings under the guidance of the lead teacher and the Health and Safety manager.
• Teaching children proper safety skills such as but are not limited to tooth brushing, hand washing, walking to/from spaces, using tissues, etc.
• Follows all procedures when assisting children with the toilet or changing a diaper.
• Follows all procedures when supervising and assisting children with rest time. IE, following safe sleep procedures for infants. Supervising rest time appropriately with older children.

Social Emotional: promotes healthy social and emotional growth in children.

• Implement PBIS universal practices established by Thrive to Five.
• Teaches and models social-emotional skills and practices.
• Implement interventions, such as Teacher Support Plans and Safety Plans with support from intra/inter agency teams (Program Coordinators, Early Childhood Behavior Specialists (ECBS) or Mental Health Consultants).
• Maintains current knowledge about challenging behavior and mental health concerns.
• Implement behavior support plans as needed.

Family Engagement: facilitate respectful, mutually supportive relationships with families.

• Assists in providing a welcoming environment for families. Models' enthusiasm and promote parent/child activities.
• Maintains parent/staff rapport and mutual confidence and trust with classroom team.

Professionalism: promotes and maintains professional relationships.

• Follows all Community Action Partnership (CAP) and Thrive to Five policies, procedures and systems.
• Demonstrates the CAP Values.
• Works with Early Learning Coordinator ensure compliance with all applicable regulations and quality standards.
• Works with Early Learning Coordinator to reflect on coaching feedback and set professional development goals.
• Work with all staff to develop strategies to resolve interpersonal problems that affect program operation.
• Participate in program training, workshops and meetings related to professional development and job requirements.

*Performs other related duties as assigned.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

Minimum Qualifications for an Aide:

• A high school diploma or GED

Minimum Qualifications for an Assistant:

• A high school diploma or GED with documented 2500 hours of experience with children
• 30 college credit hours in education or related human services field
• OR a combination of experience and education equivalent as outlined to PA's Department of Human Services Assistant Group Supervisor qualifications.

Must meet the preferred qualifications within 18 months of employment in this position.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Age-appropriate Child Development Associate Credential (CDA) with 1250 hours of documented experience with children
• Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Education

This position is scheduled to work 7.5 hours per day between 7:30am and 4:00pm. This position will be scheduled to work 37.5 hours per week, 44 weeks per year. Summers off with work available to pick up at out Lancaster locations.