Head Start Preschool Teacher Assistant

Head Start Teacher Assistant

All Kids Academy Head Start is currently accepting applicants for Head Start Teacher Assistant. Join our team in the mission to close the achievement gap by providing quality school readiness programs and comprehensive services to children, families, and communities in East County San Diego.

Under the direction of the Center Director and classroom Teacher, assist in the teaching and learning activities of the classroom. Assist the teacher in a Head Start preschool setting providing a comprehensive program to meet educational, emotional, social, health, nutritional, and psychological needs of children.

Hours per week: 40

Weeks per year: 45

Competitive benefits include:

• Group medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 403(b) retirement plan with up to 6% employer match
• Annual 5% pay rate increases, up to the maximum step
• 16 Paid holidays
• Two paid personal days
• Paid vacation and sick leave
• $1500 Tuition Reimbursement each year
• $1000 Service Awards every 5 years
• Employer-paid Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Free Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Voluntary benefits: Life and AD&D, Accident Insurance, Short-term Disability, Critical Illness Insurance, and Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
• Paid professional development days

Minimum employment qualifications include:

Education and Experience:

• 12 semester units of Early Childhood Education or Child Development courses; AND
• 6 months of work experience in a licensed Early Childhood Education setting; AND
• Associate Teacher Permit or higher OR are enrolled in courses in order to obtain the Associate Teacher Permit or higher within 2 years

Note: Please upload transcript when applying.

Knowledge of:

1. Early childhood education, child development, and anti-bias education;
2. Local educational and community resources and their ability to be used in the classroom;
3. Second language acquisition; and
4. Head Start Policies and Procedures preferred.

Ability to:

1. Follow directions given by the classroom Teacher;
2. To work well with young children;
3. Be proficient in oral and written communication in English language and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals;
4. Write routine reports and correspondence;
5. Speak effectively with children, parents, and other staff;
6. Apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions;
7. Deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations;
8. Communicate with people of various educational, socioeconomic, and cultural backgrounds;
9. Assist the teacher in planning and implementing activities with children between the ages of three and five years, consistent with the curriculum guide, resources and training provided;
10. Follow basic principles of early childhood development;
11. Establish and maintain effective, working relationships with children, parents, staff, and program specialists.

Essential functions include, but are not limited to:

1. Assist the teacher in planning and maintaining a safe, clean, learning environment and in assuring the well-being and safety of the children in his/her care;
2. Maintain a cooperative attitude of working together with the teacher, volunteers, parents, and program specialists in planning and implementing activities;
3. Assist teacher to implement the developmental assessment for each child to determine the child's strengths and areas in which each child may need help;
4. Plan with and assist the teacher in preparing materials and supplies in advance for activities;
5. Assist the teacher in maintaining confidential assessment information, consisting of developmental assessments, individual goals, and observations of progress toward meeting goals;
6. Assist the teacher as needed in coordinating and implementing classroom activities including large and small groups.
7. Assist teacher in implementing behavior plans designed by resource/mentor teachers and/or mental health specialist;
8. Maintain discipline and supervision of children during all activities;
9. Supervise children at all times (both indoors and outdoors);
10. Develop a positive relationship with each child and promote the development of self-esteem and self-discipline;
11. Assist teacher in the full implementation of IEP's and inclusion of children with disabilities and special needs;
12. Assist in developing activities based on Individual Education Plan (IEP) for children with special needs;
13. Provide input on weekly planning forms;
14. Accompany the teacher on home visits;
15. Assist with direct observations on children and record data;
16. Collect data and file in children's portfolios and files;
17. Assist with kitchen duties and mealtime preparation;
18. Assist teacher to promote parent involvement; and
19. Assist in ensuring that children's daily hygiene needs are met.

Physical requirements include:

1. Good manual dexterity;
2. Must have the ability to sit and stand for extended periods;
3. Must have excellent speaking and hearing ability;
4. Must be able to input data using a computer terminal keyboard;
5. Observe and hear sounds of the environment for health and safety;
6. Be able to walk, squat/kneel, crawl, sit on floor, balance, see, hear, and speak with children to ensure children's health and safety; and
7. Move/lift up to 40 pounds while moving and holding children.

Additional information: Prior to employment, in compliance with Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 as amended, employment candidate will be required to provide either proof of U.S. citizenship or other documents that establish the candidate's eligibility to be employed in the U.S. Head Start regulations require that no person shall work in any Head Start program until they have been fingerprinted and cleared through the Department of Justice.

AKA Head Start is an Equal Opportunity Employer. No person will be denied employment, discriminated against, or prohibited from participating fully in employment opportunities for reasons of race, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, religion (including religious dress and grooming practices), creed, ethnicity, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical condition), age, gender, gender identity, political affiliation, sexual orientation, genetic characteristic, marital status, military or veteran status, medical or physical disability, medical condition, or any other characteristic protected by federal state, or local law.

Applicants will be required to obtain a Health Screening, TB clearance, proof of immunization against measles and pertussis (MMR and Tdap vaccines), and background clearance prior to starting employment.