Head Start Teacher Assistant

You Thrive Florida•Daytona Beach, FL

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Head Start Teacher Assistant supports the teacher in the day-to-day operation and management of the classroom and helps provide a developmentally appropriate learning environment that addresses each child’s individual needs. The position works with children, families, teachers, and program staff to support children’s development, safety, health, and learning in accordance with Head Start and applicable program requirements. The schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The primary work location is a Head Start facility in Hernando, Sumter, and/or Volusia County, with occasional travel to other counties. The role is full time and benefits eligible. Applicants must have a high school diploma or equivalent. No prior experience is required. The employee must enroll within 90 days of hire to complete a Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential within nine months, and, after completing the CDA program, enroll to complete an associate degree within two years. A valid Florida driver’s license and insurability through the company’s current insurance carrier are required. Employment is subject to applicable background checks and legal requirements. The position involves frequent physical activity, including talking, standing, sitting, squatting, kneeling, walking, reaching, handling, climbing, bending, balancing, pushing, pulling, carrying, lifting up to 65 pounds, and driving. Work is primarily at Head Start facilities, in office and classroom settings, and may involve working alone or with others; occasional outdoor work and vehicle operation are also required.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Enroll within 90 days of hire to complete a Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential within nine months.
After completing the CDA program, enroll to complete an associate degree within two years.
Valid Florida driver’s license and ability to be insured by the company’s current insurance carrier.
Subject to federal, state, and local legal requirements and background checks.
No prior experience required.
Ability to plan and carry out lesson plans and learn to coordinate activities.
Ability to work with children with special needs and establish effective working relationships, particularly with parents and children.
Ability to complete work accurately, arrive daily and on time, and work with limited direction.
Knowledge of organizational methods and ability to evaluate situations and make prompt decisions.
Effective oral and written communication skills and ability to analyze and interpret data.
Ability to use and operate a computer and maintain confidentiality.
Reliable, responsible, and accountable performance of job requirements.
Correctable eyesight and hearing.
Ability to perform frequent physical activities including standing, sitting, squatting, kneeling, walking, reaching, handling, grasping, climbing, bending, turning, balancing, pushing, pulling, carrying, and lifting up to 65 pounds, as well as driving.

Responsibilities

Assist the teacher with developmentally appropriate activities that support children’s physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development.
Implement lesson plans in collaboration with the teacher and established curricula, providing small-group, large-group, and individual learning experiences.
Guide children in developing basic concepts covered by education, nutrition, health, dental, and mental health plans.
Prepare children for vision, hearing, dental, speech, developmental, and other screening or examination procedures.
Assist with ongoing child observation and assessment, including anecdotal notes, health checks, and required tracking tools.
Help maintain each child’s education portfolio and required, current documentation.
Work with the teacher to identify children with suspected delays or other concerns and support implementation of local education agency (LEA) individualized education programs (IEPs).
Organize and document outdoor play, support gross motor development, and balance indoor and outdoor activities.
Maintain safe, clean, and orderly classroom and playground areas; report needed repairs and address unsafe conditions appropriately.
Help maintain classroom supplies and learning experiences that meet children’s physical and developmental needs.
Encourage children to solve problems, initiate activities, explore, ask questions, learn by doing, develop language, build positive self-concept and social skills, and experience cultural and ethnic acceptance.
Provide direct supervision of children at all times and maintain required child-to-staff ratios.
Help maintain accurate attendance and sign-in/sign-out records and provide the Family Advocate with known reasons for child absences.
Participate in breakfast and lunch with children and support family-style dining and healthy cooking experiences reflecting the population’s ethnic and cultural composition.
Plan and participate in safety, fire, and storm drills; work with health staff on first aid supplies, secure medication storage, and OSHA standards.
Maintain regular documented contact with parents; assist with two annual home visits and two parent-teacher conferences, document parent participation, and help complete two individualized home activities per child each month.
Acquaint volunteers with the classroom and help maintain the parent bulletin board.
Report child abuse and neglect in accordance with program policies and procedures.
Assist with recruiting children, participate in community activities that support Head Start, and act as an advocate and role model for Head Start families.
Assist with USDA/Child Care Food Program documentation and ensure data quality and timely completion.
Participate in center and classroom activities, parent meetings, annual parent activities, training, staff meetings, and other meetings as requested.
Assist with developing and implementing the annual training plan, including pre-service, in-service, T/TA, and ongoing training requirements.
Maintain confidentiality of client, staff, and agency information and effective working relationships with coworkers and outside contacts.
Organize and prioritize assignments, submit reports and records as directed, and follow You Thrive Florida, Head Start, and applicable federal, state, and local policies, standards, and regulations.
Demonstrate proficiency in applying the CLASS (Classroom Assessment Scoring System) in the learning environment.
Participate in ongoing monitoring, Community Assessment, and Self-Assessment, and perform related duties as assigned.
Perform additional duties as directed by a supervisor, management staff, program director, or You Thrive Florida management staff.