Substitute

Regina Coeli Child Development Center•Robert, LA

About The Position

The Substitute assists classroom staff in carrying out developmentally appropriate activities and supports the health, nutrition, education, safety, and welfare of Head Start children. Duties may vary depending on site needs and location. Substitutes remain on substitute lists for the program year, August 1 through July 31.

Requirements

GED or high school diploma.
Demonstrated classroom ability, typically through one year of preschool classroom experience or equivalent.
Strong communication skills, especially listening and writing skills.
Knowledge of typical behaviors and expectations of three- and four-year-old children, typically gained through at least one year of relevant experience.
Current enrollment in the Child Care Division-Central Background Registry.
Ability to visually assess children's health and behavior and make frequent significant decisions to ensure their health and safety.
Ability to apply developmentally appropriate practices in classroom, playground, and bus settings.
Ability to kneel, bend at the waist and neck, sit on the floor, and frequently get up and down to assist children.
Ability to occasionally lift up to 50 pounds, assist children into bus seats, and carry or drag a child to safety in an emergency.
Ability to occasionally climb to enter and exit a bus and sit throughout bus routes.

Nice To Haves

Post-high-school coursework in Early Childhood Education or Development is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

Help set up indoor and outdoor environments for daily activities.
Use developmentally appropriate practices to facilitate activities with groups and individual children.
Observe children and help teachers identify each child's strengths and areas for growth.
Use classroom lesson plans under the direction of classroom staff, incorporating mandated elements and parental and cultural influences while supporting children's social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development.
Follow a consistent schedule of group experiences, choice time, music and movement, motor activities, skill development, meals, and transitions.
Encourage experimentation, exploration, problem solving, cooperation, socialization, and choice making; ask open-ended questions and listen respectfully.
Promote and reinforce parental involvement in the classroom.
Sanitize classroom equipment and handle laundry.
Assist with meal service as needed.
As a bus monitor, monitor and manage children's behavior and secure children in age- and weight-appropriate restraints.
Communicate with families, including through mail, sign-off to authorized adults, and cell phones.
Assist with emergency evacuation.
Attend meetings, training, and appropriate professional development activities when required.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Maintain confidentiality in accordance with Head Start policy.