Head Start Assistant Teacher

EASTER SEALS NORTH GEORGIA•Atlanta, GA

23h

About The Position

The Assistant Teacher supports the Teacher in providing quality, individualized early childhood education through developmentally appropriate practices in an inclusive environment. Working as part of the Early Childhood Specialists team, the Assistant Teacher helps plan and implement activities that support children’s growth and development, promote social competence, and encourage parental involvement. The role includes supporting classroom routines and safety, maintaining child supervision and attendance, assisting with records and program monitoring, communicating with families and colleagues, and following applicable licensing, accreditation, and Head Start requirements. The Assistant Teacher participates in required training and may lead the classroom when the Teacher is absent.

Requirements

Be at least 18 years of age.
Possess a minimum of a Childhood Development Associate Credential (CDA) with preschool endorsement, TCC, TCD, or an equivalent or higher credential in Early Childhood Education, Early Childhood Development, Special Education, or a related equivalent. Employees hired without the minimum credential must pursue and complete it within the agency-prescribed timeframe.
Pass a drug test.
Pass pre-employment tests, if applicable.
Have the knowledge, skills, and experience needed to perform assigned functions responsibly.
Be familiar with the ethnic backgrounds and cultures of families in the program and be able to serve and effectively communicate, to the extent feasible, with children and families with no or limited English proficiency.
Have training, experience, and knowledge of child growth and development, early childhood education, and family support theories and principles.
Have excellent communication skills and fluency to communicate with children and families.
Be able to move or lift children up to age five.
Meet the physical requirements of standing, sitting, and walking for sustained periods; responding quickly to safety concerns; using hands and fingers for computer and handling tasks; climbing stairs; stooping, kneeling, crouching, sitting on the floor, or crawling; reaching in any direction; pushing or pulling objects up to 25 pounds; lifting and carrying a child up to age five; speaking and hearing to exchange information; seeing clearly for supervision, computer use, and reading and writing; working indoors and outdoors; and assisting children while on a moving bus.

Responsibilities

Maintain a positive work atmosphere through professional conduct and communication with customers, clients, coworkers, and management.
Maintain excellent punctuality and attendance.
Assist in planning and implementing developmentally and linguistically appropriate activities that recognize and support each child’s rate of development.
Help assess the safety of classroom and outdoor play areas before activities.
Help organize the classroom for learning, eating, resting, and playing in accordance with the Creative Curriculum.
Accompany children to and from the bus, classroom, playground, and out-of-center activities while maintaining attendance checks and headcounts.
Serve as a bus monitor as needed.
Help develop a daily schedule of child-initiated and teacher-initiated activities.
Maintain staff and classroom ratios at all times.
Lead the classroom in the Teacher’s absence.
Maintain a communication plan among children, families, teaching staff, the Center Manager, and community organizations.
Support and participate in the values and missions of ESNG.
Help complete classroom Health and Safety Checklists weekly.
Help monitor and report accurate numbers for the program’s weekly report.
Help maintain accurate, up-to-date educational and nutritional records for children and maintain confidentiality.
Follow policies, procedures, and practices that support GA licensure, NAEYC accreditation, and Head Start performance standards.
Conduct and document at least two home visits for Head Start children and two parent conferences for all children during the program area.
Help with child transition plans, including supporting parents as advocates, cross-training and sharing transition needs, assisting with feeder-school field trips, and helping parents become familiar with community resources.
Participate in mandatory Easter Seals trainings and educational programs, including pre-service and in-service training.
Complete the minimum training hours required by DHR, OSR, Georgia Pre-K, and Head Start.
Perform other duties assigned by management.