Preschool Teaching Assistant

Description

About Us:

Northeast Michigan Community Service Agency, Inc. (NEMCSA) is a private, nonprofit Community Action Agency, whose Mission is to provide quality programs and services to strengthen and enhance the self-sufficiency of individuals, families and communities through the best use of human and financial resources, focusing on those who are experiencing an economic hardship.

What You'll Do:

This position provides assistance to the Area Manager, Teacher, students and parents within the Head Start/GSRP Program and provides for the creation and delivery of developmentally appropriate educational activities to child and parent. Duties include assistance in creating and implementing educational, developmentally appropriate curriculum; achieving progress toward school readiness goals; classroom management; parent interaction; maintenance of records and self-development through an individualized professional development plan.

• Promote the child's development in the cognitive, social-emotional, and physical domains with an emphasis in language, social competence, ethnic and disability awareness, as well as health, safety, and nutrition.
• Utilize and model positive behavior management techniques, support a consistent routine, and implement activities that support social emotional development; with particular focus on socio-emotional skills at program start-up.
• Support and enhance children's growth and development through continuous improvement based on information derived from CLASS in the areas of emotional support, classroom organization, and instructional support emphasizing teacher-child interactions.
• Support programs to ensure children are making progress toward achieving School Readiness Goals;
• Help develop, maintain, and enhance a positive, healthy, and low stress environment in the classrooms.
• Assist in building children's pride in their cultures, families, and communities by ensuring that classroom learning centers and materials reflect children's cultures and communities.
• Assist teachers in ensuring the curriculum is implemented to fidelity.
• Assist in the initial and daily management and maintenance of the physical classroom, building and grounds to ensure a safe, orderly, and clean environment.
• Share in the overall management and programming of sites which may include mentor a new teacher as necessary. In the absence of the teacher, assume all management responsibilities in accordance with licensing requirement
• Assist in proper use and ongoing maintenance of the equipment and program site.
• Build children's awareness of and ability to follow basic health and safety rules by providing opportunities for learning about health and safety, positively redirecting them from potentially harmful activities. SUPERVISE CHILDREN AT ALL TIMES ensuring no child is left unattended.
• Promote an awareness and development of healthy lifestyles in children and families through physical activity, healthy food choices and positive eating habits.
• Assist in completing home visits and parent teacher conferences as assigned.
• Act as a program/child advocate by maintaining a positive image of Head Start/GSRP at all times and places;
• Seek out and use all opportunities to promote Head Start/GSRP in the local community.
• Promote Head Start/GSRP by participating with other team members in program and community activities.
• When requested actively participate in Resource Staffing, reflective/case consultations; complete necessary referrals and team assignments to ensure services to all families.
• Attend all local and area staff meetings/trainings, orientation, pre-service, in-service, and other required trainings.
• Maintain confidentiality and Code of Conduct at all times.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Requirements

What we will love about you:

• Associate degree (AA) in early childhood education or child development or equivalent; or a valid classroom CDA credential.
• Employees in this position must possess reliable transportation and a valid Michigan driver license.
• Complete TS GOLD Inter-rater Reliability within one year of hire and renew every three years thereafter.