Head Start Teacher Assistant (All Locations)

YMCA of Metro Atlanta•Madison, GA

About The Position

The Head Start Teacher Assistant works under the supervision of the Center Manager/Director and cooperates with the Head Start Teacher to plan and conduct learning experiences and activities. The role also assists with day-to-day management of an assigned classroom. The position supports children’s learning, development, health, safety, and well-being through classroom activities, observation, family engagement, meal service, recordkeeping, and adherence to program procedures.

Requirements

Child Development Associate (CDA).
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to kneel, bend, squat, lift, push, pull, and carry objects or children weighing up to 50 pounds.
Ability to pass pre-employment screening, including criminal record check, drug screening, motor vehicle record check, and reference check, in accordance with company policy.
Must be legally eligible to work in the United States without current or future sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

Child Development Associate Credential (CDA).
Associate degree in early childhood education, or a combination of education and experience teaching preschool-aged children.

Responsibilities

Organize classroom space into functional areas in collaboration with the teacher and keep the classroom orderly, clean, healthy, safe, and accessible to children.
Provide constant supervision of children during indoor and outdoor activities.
Observe children’s physical conditions and developmental progress; conduct screenings and ongoing assessments, refer suspected concerns to the teacher, and contribute to evaluations of children’s progress.
Prepare lesson plans, materials, and classroom environments with the teacher, ensuring they are organized, interactive, developmentally appropriate, clean, safe, and hands-on.
Follow the daily schedule and conduct activities suited to children’s developmental levels, including individual, small-group, and large-group activities.
Assume primary responsibility for classroom management in the teacher’s absence.
Provide varied art materials and opportunities for creative expression, and display children’s work at their eye level.
Present activities and concepts in sequence, and participate in a balanced program of open learning and structured activities.
Communicate the need for additional supplies to the teacher and use community resources and field trips to enrich classroom learning.
Conduct home visits and parent-teacher conferences during the school year.
Establish age-appropriate classroom rules with teachers, use positive behavior-management approaches, and support smooth transitions between activities.
Record and total daily attendance accurately, submit attendance and other applicable reports, and provide monthly tabulated attendance by the third day of the following month.
Count, record, and submit daily meal counts to food service staff after each meal.
Attend and participate in required team, site, and agency meetings, trainings, professional development, and continuing education.
Participate in family-style meal service while modeling good nutrition and appropriate social skills.
Follow site-appropriate health, safety, classroom organization, classroom aesthetic, and sanitation guidelines.
Follow mandatory reporting procedures for suspected abuse, unsafe conditions, repair needs, complaints, accidents, and injuries.