Floater Assistant Teacher - (Villarreal HS- ISD) Zapata

AVANCE Inc•Rio Grande City, TX

About The Position

The Floater Assistant Teacher works collaboratively with the Teacher and other classroom Assistant Teachers to support the successful operation of a classroom. The role also works with family members to implement the curriculum and achieve outcomes for children of all abilities. Performance is evaluated based on role-specific skills, dispositions, and behaviors as well as general expectations for AVANCE employees. The position supports children’s growth and development through a child-centered learning environment, individualized curriculum, observation and documentation, and responsive support for challenging behaviors. It coordinates with families and service partners, contributes to recordkeeping and classroom outcome reviews, and helps plan learning experiences that support children’s intellectual, physical, social, and emotional development and school readiness. The role requires local or long-distance travel for work-related visits, meetings, and functions, up to 10% of the time. Work is generally performed in an office environment, though the position may involve operating a motor vehicle and working outdoors at neighborhoods or events. The role includes interaction with moderate to occasionally loud noise and occasional exposure to biological hazards and weather-related conditions.

Requirements

CDA, enrollment to complete a CDA within two years, a degree in any field, or enrollment in a program leading to such a degree.
Prior experience with children ages 0–5 years.
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and handle multiple priorities flexibly.
Ability to interact effectively with people from diverse backgrounds.
Honesty, dependability, and ability to meet deadlines.
Self-motivation and ability to work independently.
Valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, clean driving record subject to annual MVR check and policy, current auto liability insurance, and ability to be bonded by AVANCE, Inc.
Ability to travel to various sites; travel for work-related visits, meetings, and functions is required up to 10% of the time.
Physical exam and background checks are required.
Ability to maintain emotional control under stress and work with interruptions and deadlines.
Ability to walk, stand, stoop, bend, pull, push, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, and reach with hands and arms; occasional lifting/carrying and pulling/pushing up to 40 pounds, up to 20 times a day if needed.
Vision abilities required include close, distance, color, peripheral, and depth vision, and ability to adjust focus.

Responsibilities

Use knowledge of child growth and development when working with children and communicating with internal and external stakeholders.
Maintain a child-centered curriculum and learning environment that encourages positive social interaction, active engagement, self-motivation, and development across domains for children of all abilities.
Address challenging behaviors by observing possible causes, implementing preventive measures, teaching new social and communication skills, and partnering with families to support the child at home.
Observe children and use anecdotal notes to document progress and individualize curriculum.
Share pertinent information with the Family Advocate to coordinate services for children and families, and participate in case conferences as appropriate.
Maintain regular contact with parents and complete appropriate documentation, such as daily reports on infants’ sleep, eating, and elimination.
Share records and notes on children and families with the Early Learning Lead or Assistant Education Lead.
Work with the teaching team to analyze classroom child outcomes twice yearly, consult with education leadership, and adjust curriculum planning and implementation as needed.
Support learning experiences that promote children’s intellectual and physical development and school readiness, including literacy, phonemic and print awareness, numeracy, language, vocabulary, appreciation of books, and problem-solving abilities.
Establish and maintain a safe, healthy, and positive learning environment.
Model appropriate classroom practices.
Work with the Early Learning Lead or Assistant Education Lead and partner Teacher to develop and support individual development plans for assigned volunteers.
Support children’s social and emotional development.
Encourage family involvement in the Early/Head Start program and support relationships between children and their families.
Participate in assigned meetings, events, and training as required.
Perform other duties as assigned.