Assistant Teacher

Easter Seals Serving DCIMDIVA•Washington, DC

17d•$21 - $23•Onsite

About The Position

Easterseals DC MD VA is hiring an Assistant Teacher for its Head Start department at the Bladensburg Road location. The role supports an inclusive, safe, and nurturing classroom for children, including children with disabilities. The Assistant Teacher works with the teaching team to plan engaging activities aligned with Easterseals and NAEYC guidelines, maintain children’s health and well-being, and assist with feeding, toileting, and cleanliness. The role may also involve additional duties that support center operations and children’s well-being. The position includes classroom supervision and safety, positive and respectful interactions with children, and collaboration with colleagues and families. Responsibilities also include supporting classroom management and lesson planning, tracking and assessing development using Teaching Strategies Gold, communicating children’s progress to parents, and coordinating parent-teacher conferences under center guidelines. Concerns about a child’s behavior or development should be discussed with a supervisor before communicating them to parents. The role requires at least one year of professional teaching experience and the ability to work with all age groups served by the center. Education must meet state and local licensing requirements; related college coursework, a CDA, or higher is preferred. The position is full-time, in person, with an 8-hour shift. The listed pay range is $21.00–$23.31 per hour.

Requirements

Meet state and local licensing requirements for education; requirements may vary by location.
At least one year of professional teaching experience.
Ability to work with all age groups served by the center.
Minimum age of 16 with a work permit.
Commitment to prioritizing the needs of children and families.
Effective communication with participants, families, and community sources.
Willingness to participate actively and problem-solve.
Satisfactory completion of a physical examination by a doctor, including submission of immunization/vaccination information.
Ability to frequently lift, hold, and carry children weighing 10–40 pounds; occasionally lift and move classroom furniture; and frequently bend, sit close to the ground, and stand for periods of time.
Ability to maintain the mental and physical alertness and energy needed to perform essential job requirements.
Ability to respond immediately and appropriately to multiple or unexpected situations or emergencies.

Nice To Haves

Related college-level coursework, a CDA, or higher.

Responsibilities

Work with the team to create inclusive activities for all children, including children with disabilities.
Help plan engaging classroom activities following Easterseals and NAEYC guidelines.
Create a motivating and nurturing classroom environment.
Prioritize children’s health, safety, and well-being, including assisting with feeding, toileting, and cleanliness.
Perform additional duties as needed to support center operations and children’s well-being.
Maintain a clean, safe, organized, and appealing classroom environment.
Follow applicable health and safety procedures and policies.
Encourage appropriate health, safety, and nutritional practices.
Maintain required sight-and-sound supervision and staff-to-child ratios.
Set developmentally appropriate limits using positive guidance standards.
Interact frequently with children respectfully, speak to them at their level, give them attention, and respond promptly to their needs.
Model and encourage developmentally appropriate social behavior and engage children in conversations that extend their learning.
Report to work on time, maintain consistent attendance, and attend required meetings, trainings, professional development days, and location events.
Share classroom responsibilities and take initiative to support children, the teaching team, and classroom needs.
Develop positive professional relationships with colleagues through respectful communication and collaboration.
Protect confidential staff and family information and communicate sensitively about it.
Follow conflict-resolution procedures and policies in the Employee Handbook.
Make routine classroom-management decisions and create and implement lesson plans in accordance with Creative Curriculum.
Track and assess children’s development using Teaching Strategies Gold.
Communicate children’s progress to parents using Teaching Strategies Gold and manage parent-teacher conferences according to center guidelines.
Consult a supervisor about concerns regarding a child’s behavior or development before communicating those concerns to parents.
Respond promptly and appropriately to multiple, unexpected situations or emergencies.