Head Start Teacher Assistant

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Head Start Teacher Assistant (TA) Department: Early Childhood Education Reports To: Lead Teacher Job Status: Hourly- Non-Exempt Type: Regular Full Time Grade:A – Starting Rate - DOE

JOB SUMMARY: Under the direct supervision of the Lead Teacher and in collaboration with the Education Coordinator, the Teacher Assistant (TA) assists in providing a safe, nurturing, and developmentally appropriate learning environment for children enrolled in the Nooksack Indian Tribe (NIT) Head Start program. The TA supports the supervision, education, and engagement of children in the classroom, on the bus, on the playground, during field trips, and at all other Head Start activities. Responsibilities include assisting with daily health and safety practices, preparing instructional materials, setting up and maintaining the classroom environment, cleaning and organizing the classroom at the end of each day, serving as a bus monitor when assigned, and assisting the Lead Teacher with planning and implementing classroom activities as requested. The normal work schedule is an eight-hour shift from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Occasional evening meetings, trainings, or special events may be required based on program needs. The TA must be willing and able to work at either the Everson or Deming Head Start Center based on program needs. This position is contingent upon the continued availability of grant funding. MAJOR TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Classroom Responsibilities: Assistsin supervising up to 20 children with at least one otherclassroomstaffmember,maintaininga staff-to-child ratio of no more than one adult to 10 children at all times. Assistswith supervising, teaching, guiding, and engaging children throughout all daily classroom activities, including learning centers, group activities, mealtimes, outdoor play, and field trips. Maintains the safety and orderly supervision of children at all timesandremainsactively engaged and positioned toobservethe assigned group. Serves as a positive role model bydemonstratingappropriate behavior, helping children resolve conflicts, and providing guidance in developmentallyappropriate behaviorconsistent with NIT Head Start curricula, policies, and procedures. Interacts with children in ways that encourage language development, including asking open-ended questions, reading aloud, labeling children’s artwork, engaging in conversations, andparticipatingin dramatic play. Assistschildren whoexperience difficultyparticipatingin group activities and, under the guidance of the Lead Teacher, provides individualized support as needed. Supervises children during bathroom use whilemaintainingrequired staff-to-child ratios andassistschildren in developing age-appropriate self-help skills. Remains in the assigned classroom or supervision areaat all timesand clearly communicates with the Lead Teacherregardingbreaks, assignments, or any need to leave the classroom. Assists the Lead Teacher in planning, preparing, and implementing developmentallyappropriate lessonsand classroom activities. Assists the Lead Teacher with required classroom documentation, including attendance, health checks, screenings, assessments, lesson planning, and ongoing child progress monitoring. Observes and documents significant behaviors, injuries, accidents, or incidents involving children and completes theappropriate Incidentor Accident Report formsin accordance withprogram procedures. Follows all NIT Head Start health and safety policies, emergency procedures, individual child health plans, and accommodations for allergies, medical conditions, dietary restrictions, and other health needs. Assistschildren with daily health and hygiene routines, including toothbrushing, handwashing, toileting, and other personal-care needs. Changes diapersin accordance withapproved diapering procedures, cleans and disinfects the diapering area using the required cleaning process, and documents each diaper change on the Diaper Log. Ensures the first-aid backpack is properly stocked, accessible, and available during outdoor play, field trips, emergency drills, and other activities away from the classroom. Maintains a clean, sanitary, and safe learning environment by cleaning and disinfecting toys, equipment, tables, sinks, bathrooms, floors, play surfaces, and classroom materials daily and completing weekly deep cleaning and sanitization of classroom equipment. Completes required cleaning and sanitation logs as directed by the Lead Teacher. Opens and prepares the classroom each day by organizing learning materials, preparing educational activities, checking classroom supplies, and ensuring the learning environment is clean, safe, and ready for children. Serves as a bus monitor when assigned by assisting the bus driver with supervising children during transportation to and from the center and on field trips, ensuring children safely board and exit the bus, and verifying that all required child safety restraints and seat belts are properly secured at all times. Ensures all children are signed in and out by authorized individuals and releases children only to persons listed on the Emergency Consent Form, verifying photo identification when necessary. Performsother related duties as assigned by the Lead Teacher, Education Coordinator, or authorized supervisor. Meal Time Responsibilities: Promotes healthy habits and good personal hygiene by ensuring children wash their hands before and after meals and snacksin accordance withprogram health and safety procedures. Supervises and actively engages with children during meals and snacks by modelingappropriate tablemanners, encouraging positive social interactions, andfacilitatingage-appropriate conversations. Assistschildren in setting tables andpromotes age-appropriate self-help skills, including setting the table, serving themselves using child-sized utensils, pouring milk, water, or other beverages, and cleaning up after meals. Encourages children to selectappropriate portionsizes, try new foods, and develop healthy eating habits while using mealtimes as opportunities to promote nutrition education and independence. Monitors children during meals to ensure food is served safely and appropriately while following individual dietary restrictions, food allergies, physician orders, and health plans. Communicates with kitchen staffregardingmeal service needs, including replenishing food, beverages, and supplies to ensure meals are served efficiently. Assistschildren with cleaning up after meals and snacks by teaching and supporting age-appropriate responsibilities, including scraping plates, emptying cups, stacking dishes, and pushing in chairs. Cleans and sanitizes tables before and after meals using the required three-step cleaning and sanitizing procedure and follows kitchen staff procedures for meal service cleanup and dish collection. Maintains a safe dining environment by promptlyidentifyingand cleaning spills, removing potential safety hazards, and ensuring the meal arearemainsclean, sanitary, and organized throughout meal service. Outdoor Learning Environment Responsibilities: Conducts daily playground safety inspections before children enter the outdoor play area, checking for hazards including damaged equipment, broken fencing, open gates, animal waste, garbage, unsafe vegetation, holes, large sticks, and any other conditions that may pose a safety risk. Immediately reports playground hazards, damaged equipment, or maintenance concerns to the Lead Teacher or Program Management and follows established procedures for requesting maintenance repairs. Ensures all children wear properly fitted helmets while riding tricycles or bicycles and routinely inspects helmets, straps, and riding equipment for signs of damage. Removes damaged equipment from service until it has been repaired or replaced. Ensures tricycles and other outdoor equipment areproperly storedat the end of each day and reports damaged equipment to the Lead Teacher. Actively supervises and engages with children during outdoor play bymaintainingconstant visual and auditory supervision, encouraging safe play, andparticipatingin planned activities that promote gross and fine motor development. Ensures the classroom First Aid Kit backpack is taken to the playground for all outdoor activities andremainsreadily accessiblein the event ofan emergency. Other Responsibilities: Attends and activelyparticipatesin required trainings, workshops, conferences, classes, staff meetings, and teaching team meetings to support professional growth and program operations. Some training opportunities may occur outside of regular work hours, require overnight travel, or extend beyond the normal workday.