Preschool Teacher Assistant

Description Family Star is currently seeking to fill the position of Infant Teacher Assistant for our Northwest Denver location. If you want to make a difference in the lives of some of Denver's most vulnerable population, Family Star is the place for you! Major Responsibilities I. INTERACTIONS WITH CHILDREN Interact with infant children in an open, honest, and loving manner, always with dignity and respect. Be consistent: do what you say and say what you do. Trust that children are able to do things by themselves. Be aware of the child's concentration and avoid disturbing it at all costs. Consider children's individual learning in relationship to their temperament, development, cultural and socio-economic background. II. INTERACTIONS WITH FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES Respectfully, courteously, and professionally include families in our Montessori environment and actively encourage and support family participation in program activities. Communicate daily with parents regarding progress, interactions, and incidents. Understand when to answer inquiries and when to refer them to another team member. Work collaboratively with families to meet children's needs. Participate in family nights, conferences, and home visits as needed. Participate in community and public relation events as needed. III. LEARNING ENVIRONMENT Calmly and efficiently assist in maintaining a safe and prepared environment for the children. Keep the environment in order: clean, supplied and in good repair. Follow all health and safety procedures. Ensure children are supervised at all times. Assist in preparing and maintaining classroom Montessori materials. Follow CACFP guidelines while sharing the responsibility of food preparation. Effectively communicate and collaborate with classroom teammates. Work closely with sister classroom to share responsibilities. Be flexible to assist in other classrooms as needed. Sustain the team, the environment, and the classroom paperwork in the absence of the Lead Teacher. Consistently complete and maintain pertinent child-related paperwork in a timely manner. Complete opening or closing responsibilities based on the schedule of the position. Follow all Family Star policies and procedures. Other Duties as assigned. IV. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Participate in the continuous and creative process to meet individual and program goals through training and professional development. Participate in recommended training programs, educational conferences, professional days, staff meetings, and other courses pertinent to professional growth. Collaborate with Supervisor to develop and implement professional development plan and goals. Requirements Must have a minimum of a high school diploma or a GED. Must meet state licensing qualifications at time of hire. Must have a current CDA or the equivalent or obtain a CDA within one (1) year of date of hire. 2-4 years of teaching experience with children ages 0-6 (may be combined with other qualifications.) Must be motivated and able to work independently as well as part of a team. Must demonstrate a positive attitude with a commitment to customer service. Must have oral and written proficiency in the English language. Must be able to work the hours of the position based on the organization’s needs. Must have current Infant/Child CPR, First Aid, Universal Precautions or they must be obtained within the first 90 days. Must complete clearance of a background check, post-offer, pre-employment physical, and TB test. Desired Qualifications/Skills/Licenses/Certifications: Experience working with children in a Montessori setting. Advanced degree in Early Childhood Education, Center Director qualifications or equivalent. Experience working in an Early Head Start or Head Start setting. AMI or AMS Montessori training Experience working with children and families of diverse populations. Bilingual (English/Spanish) About Family Star: For over 35 years, Family Star Montessori's two Denver locations have been transforming early childhood education by uniquely combining Montessori philosophy with Early Head Start/Head Start programing. We believe in creating inclusive and nurturing spaces to every child, which is essential in preparation for a successful future and of a lifetime of learning. Family Star supports the individual needs of each child and empowers them to achieve their human potential, resulting in students who grow up to be more confident, enthusiastic, and self-directed learners and citizen - accountable to both themselves and their community who think critically, work collaboratively, and act boldly and with integrity. Family Star provides to eligible employees Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability & Life insurance as well as 401(k) Retirement plan with company match, and generous paid holidays and PTO. Benefits include: 401(k) with Company Match Dental insurance Employee assistance program Flexible spending account Health insurance Health savings account Life insurance Long-term disability insurance Paid time off Professional developmentassistance Vision insurance Schedule: in person 8 hour shift Monday - Friday $19.29 hourly #J-18808-Ljbffr