Early Learning Teacher Assistant

The Centers•Cleveland, OH

About The Position

The Teacher Assistant - Early Learning designs, develops, and implements developmentally appropriate programs and lesson plans for children in their care. The role uses High Scope approaches and multiple teaching strategies to accommodate different learning needs, including children with Individual Education Plans (IEPs) or Individual Family Service Plans (IFSPs). The assistant supports children’s social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development, helps maintain engaging learning environments, and works collaboratively with teachers, families, and supervisors. The Centers for Families and Children is a nonprofit human services organization committed to efficient and effective community services, culturally competent and mission-driven care, equity, belonging, and continuous growth. Its Early Learning Centers serve children from birth through age five at seven centers in Cleveland and inner-ring suburbs. The programs have earned 5-Star Step-Up-To-Quality ratings and are recognized as participants in Universal Prekindergarten (UPK) and PRE4CLE.

Requirements

CDA or associate degree in Early Childhood Education or a related field.
Some entry-level experience in a classroom setting is required.
CPR/First Aid, Communicable Disease, and Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention training must be completed within 90 days of hire; training is provided by The Centers.
Must have no record of child abuse or moral turpitude, as determined by a fingerprint-based background check.

Nice To Haves

Early childhood classroom experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

Assume responsibility for assigned children in the Teacher’s classroom and meet their social, emotional, physical, and cognitive developmental needs during routine care and planned activities.
Complete individual assessments and screenings and formulate plans to support children with special needs.
Help children recognize and use acceptable behavior by demonstrating empathy, setting reasonable limits, responding professionally, and using misbehavior as an opportunity to teach positive behavior and social, interaction, and verbal skills.
Supervise children at all times while they are in the center’s care, custody, and control.
Help maintain exciting, well-equipped learning environments that foster exploration.
Participate as part of a cooperative team of teachers.
Cultivate children’s growth and development through High Scope Curriculum activities in indoor and outdoor environments.
Promote personalized planning and strong teacher-child interactions under a supervisor’s direction.
Work with the teaching team to design, develop, and implement developmentally appropriate activity plans based on assessment and screening data.
Build caring, meaningful, and professional relationships with parents to support children’s development.
Maintain cleanliness and sanitation of the assigned classroom, other center areas, toys, and equipment throughout the day.
Wash, dry, and fold laundry for the assigned classroom as needed.
Clean and sanitize high-touch areas of the playground after each classroom’s outdoor play.
Assist with child enrollment by communicating with community members and distributing flyers.
Perform other duties as assigned.