Preschool Teaching Assistant

Job Description

Job Description

JOB SUMMARY

Position Title: Teaching Assistant

Program: Thrive to Five

Classification: Non-Exempt/Permanent

Location: CAP ELC (601 S. Queen St. Lancaster, PA 17603)

Travel: minimal

A Teaching Assistant position is part of the teaching team that has a primary classroom placement. Their role is to

support the Lead Teacher and the children in the classroom.

Duties & Responsibilities:

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

• Assists with implementing Creative Curriculum, Thrive to Five Daily Structures, and instructional strategies in accordance with program guidelines to fidelity.

• Follows schedules, daily routines and lesson plans of each classroom.

• Plans lessons when needed.

• Prepares classrooms.

• Uses responsive language with children.

• Assesses children’s developmental levels using a variety of assessment tools and plans lessons with Lead teacher.

• Collaborates with Lead Teacher in the observation of children in the classroom and collecting data for

GOLD assessment to inform differentiated & individual instruction, scaffolding children’s learning, & meeting

program readiness goals

• Enters GOLD observations and assigns levels on continuum that accurately reflect authentic descriptions of

children’s behaviors

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.

• Uses meals & snacks 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.

• Teaches children proper safety skills such as but 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.

• Implements PBIS universal practices established by Thrive to Five.

• Teaches and models social-emotional skills and practices.

• Implements 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.

• Implements behavior support plans as needed.

• Follows the responsive scale of discipline.

• Collaborates with Lead Teacher using & following screening and referral system for children suspected of having a disability

• Works with Lead Teacher, Early Learning Coordinator, Education, Behavior & Disabilities (EBD) Specialist & Health Manager and itinerant early intervention teachers in ongoing assessment and instructional planning for children with disabilities, health needs, and challenging behavior.

• Implements individualized instruction for children (with teacher guidance) with disabilities and individual needs.

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

• Assists in providing a welcoming culturally inclusive environment for families. Models enthusiasm and promotes parent/child activities.

• Maintains parent/staff rapport and mutual confidence and trust with classroom team.

• Uses assessment to develop long- and short-range plans for parent’s participation in their child’s learning experiences.

• Collaborates with Lead Teacher in delivering evidence-based family engagement practices that reflect the Thrive to Five’s PFCE Framework.

• Provides updates on classroom closures.

Professionalism: promotes and maintains professional relationships.

• Provides support and supervision to Floating Teaching Assistant(s), Bus Monitor(s), outside agency or community and/or parent volunteers in the absence of the teacher

• 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.

• Attends and participates in mandatory trainings, workshops, and meetings related to professional development and job requirements and such optional trainings as necessary to maintain optimal performance.

• Maintains all required certifications and licenses.

• Supports their peers to understand program routines and expectations. Support and peer to peer coaching occurs to support collaboration and growth across the program.

• Timely review and response to internal and external communications.

• Actively participates in committee work as needed.

• Performs other job related duties as assigned.

*Performs other related duties as assigned.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

Minimum Qualifications:

• 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

**Please see attached for full job description**

We value our team by uniting our employees with our mission. We offer a strong purpose with compassion for work-life balance. Below is a glimpse of our robust benefits offered:

• Sign-on Bonus, only available for external candidates
• Benefits: Medical, Dental & Vision Coverage / 403(b) Plan / Life Insurance / EAP Program
• Generous number of PTO Days banked annually
• Paid Parental Leave
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Employer- Assisted First Time Homebuyer Program

Equal Employment Opportunity

CAP provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals without regard to race, gender, disability, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, veterans status or genetic information.

Americans with Disabilities Act

Applicants as well as employees who are or become disabled must be able to perform the essential duties and responsibilities either unaided or with reasonable accommodation. The agency will determine reasonable accommodation on a case-by-case basis in accordance with applicable law.