Educational Assistant - PreK

Growing Up New Mexico•Santa Fe, NM

2d•$19 - $24

About The Position

At Growing Up New Mexico, we recognize that our educators here at the Early Learning Center at Kaune are essential to the success of our school. The Kaune leadership team works hard to support them through on-site professional development, training, and personal wellbeing. We believe it is very important to create a warm and welcome place to work, where team members can feel supported and appreciated for all they do. Growing Up New Mexico is growing and hiring Educational Assistants for our Infant, Toddler, and 2-, 3-, and 4-year-old classrooms. The Growing Up New Mexico Early Learning Center at Kaune is a state funded PreK Program that seeks to strengthen families and the community through an interconnected network of early intervention, education, economic development, and family support programs. Growing Up New Mexico is comprised of programs and services including Home Visiting; Great Start Family Support; Early Learning Programs; Bridges to Opportunity; Family, Friends, and Neighbors; and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library programs. The Educational Assistant, alongside the Lead Teacher and other teaching staff, is responsible for creating a joyous environment that gives children a respected space to develop their own inquiries and negotiate the social emotional terrain. The Educational Assistant is also expected to participate in a reflective and analytical process with colleagues to support and develop the understanding of, and work with, children and their families. The PreK Program at the Early Learning Center follows the standards set forth by ECECD regulations, New Mexico PreK standards, and NAEYC standards. The Early Learning Center at Kaune is a Reggio Emilia-inspired program and draws much of its philosophical roots from that approach.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED; prefer higher education, specifically in Early Childhood Education or closely related coursework.
Experience working with young children zero to five; prefer one year of work experience in early childhood education.
Early Care, Education, and Family Support Entry Level Course (45-hour certificate) required.
Bilingual (English/Spanish) is preferred. English writing proficiency required. Ability to read and write in Spanish is preferred, but not required.
Practical knowledge of child development and developmentally appropriate practices.
Sensitivity with children and families who represent a wide range of socio-economic and risk factors.
Ability to work well in a culturally diverse setting and knowledge of local population served.
Ability to maintain accurate and up-to-date records using both paper files and computer software such as MS Word.
Effective and accurate interpersonal communication skills, both oral and written.
Professionalism, tact, and patience when communicating with children, families, employees, and staff at all levels of the organization.
Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw conclusions.
Ability to maintain strict confidentiality at all times.
Function effectively with teaching staff as a team member and work independently when required.
Ability to pass a mandatory background clearance required of all childcare workers in the State of New Mexico.
CPR certified within first 90 days of employment.

Nice To Haves

Associate degree in Early Childhood Education preferred.
Bilingual (English/Spanish) is preferred.
Ability to read and write in Spanish is preferred, but not required.
prefer one year of work experience in early childhood education.

Responsibilities

Support learning through a Reggio Emilia approach; support children’s research through an analytical and inquiry-based process; engage in dialogue around the Reggio Emilia principles and work toward implementing them in the classroom.
Support Lead Teacher in creating a learning environment that supports learning in all areas: self, family, and community; social and emotional; literacy and language; physical; scientific inquiry; mathematical; and approaches to learning and creativity.
Maintain a safe, clean, and organized environment in the classroom and, alongside the rest of the Kaune team, throughout the school.
Manage the classroom through a democratic and respectful process.
Ensure that all ECECD regulations for childcare, including those pertaining to health and safety, are met for each child at all times, including knowledge of and participation in emergency evacuation procedures.
Assist Lead Teacher to create and maintain a classroom environment that supports all children, including but not limited to, children from diverse cultures and languages and children needing special developmental support.
Assist Lead Teacher to prepare and share weekly lesson plans based on research questions grounded in the Reggio Emilia approach, ongoing assessment and observation of children’s learning and development.
Assist Lead Teacher to assess children’s development and learning through recorded classroom observations, based on Early Learning Guideline’s essential indicators with adherence to New Mexico PreK standards.
Participate in weekly staff Collaborative Curriculum Meetings, All-Team Meetings, Monthly Team Meetings and Individual Meetings with supervisor and co-workers.
Be prepared to share and present documentation, alongside the Lead Teacher, as required by the Director of Early Learning at Kaune, for staff Collaborative Curriculum Meetings and Team Meetings
Prepare panels and documentation, alongside the Lead Teacher, reflecting children’s project work and studies in the classroom.
Ensure ongoing supportive communication with families: share community resources, communicate about delicate and challenging situations, and ensure completion of all family paperwork (children’s files, incident reports, child abuse reports, etc.).
Complete home visits and conferences in a timely manner.
Exhibit professionalism, tact and patience when communicating with children, families, employees, and staff at all levels of the organization.
Respond positively to Lead Teacher, Director of Early Learning, and other supervisors regarding observations, direction, and interventions regarding behavior in the classroom, Growing Up NM policies and procedures, protocols and ECECD licensing/program standards as guidelines; proactively take steps to meet any agreed upon goals.
Establish a Professional Development Plan (PDP) by actively completing all degree requirements for Educational Assistant, as required by New Mexico licensing, PreK and NAEYC. Attend all required trainings.
Comply with all Growing Up NM policies/procedures, Early Learning Center at Kaune protocols and ECECD licensing/program standards.
Always represent Growing Up New Mexico in a professional manner at special events or programs connected with the Early Learning Center. Please note you must be flexible as events may be held outside regular work hours (evenings/weekends).
Perform within the prescribed limits of Growing Up NM ethics and compliance policies and in adherence to the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct.
Follow program, discipline, and confidentiality policies and procedures for the Early Learning Center at Kaune.
Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor and/or Director of Early Learning at Kaune.