Preschool Assistant Jobs

About The Position

Requirements

• A high school diploma or GED
• Age-appropriate Child Development Associate Credential (CDA) with 1250 hours of documented experience with children

Nice To Haves

• Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education

Responsibilities

• Promote cognitive development and learning dispositions in ALL children.
• Assist with implementing Creative Curriculum, Thrive to Five Daily Structures, and instructional strategies in accordance with program guidelines to fidelity.
• Follow schedules, daily routines and lesson plans of each classroom.
• Plan lessons when needed.
• Prepare classrooms.
• Use responsive language with children.
• Assess children’s developmental levels using a variety of assessment tools and plan lessons with Lead teacher.
• Collaborate with Lead Teacher in the observation of children in the classroom and collecting data for GOLD assessment to inform differentiated & individual instruction, scaffolding children’s learning, & meeting program readiness goals.
• Enter GOLD observations and assign levels on continuum that accurately reflect authentic descriptions of children’s behaviors.
• Follow all safety and health procedures and expectations as outlined by regulatory standards (DHS, STARS, EHS, or Head Start Performance standards).
• Provide adequate supervision of children at all times as defined in Thrive to Five policies and procedures.
• Follow all meal service standards as outlined by CACFP.
• Follow all guidance to prevent the spread of illness as defined by Thrive to Five’s policies and procedures such as but not limited to: daily health checks, use of gloves and masks, etc.
• Use meals & snacks times to teach about health, sanitation and proper nutrition.
• Assist with ensuring all children receive the required dental, vision, hearing, and BMI screenings under the guidance of the lead teacher and the Health and Safety manager.
• Teach children proper safety skills such as but not limited to: tooth brushing, hand washing, walking to/from spaces, using tissues, etc.
• Follow all procedures when assisting children with the toilet or changing a diaper.
• Follow all procedures when supervising and assisting children with rest time. IE, following safe sleep procedures for infants. Supervising rest time appropriately with older children.
• Implement PBIS universal practices established by Thrive to Five.
• Teach and model social-emotional skills and practices.
• Implement interventions, such as, Teacher Support Plans and Safety Plans with support from intra/inter agency teams (Program Coordinators, Early Childhood Behavior Specialists (ECBS) or Mental Health Consultants).
• Maintain current knowledge about challenging behavior and mental health concerns.
• Implement behavior support plans as needed.
• Follow the responsive scale of discipline.
• Collaborate with Lead Teacher using & following screening and referral system for children suspected of having a disability.
• Work with Lead Teacher, Early Learning Coordinator, Education, Behavior & Disabilities (EBD) Specialist & Health Manager and itinerant early intervention teachers in ongoing assessment and instructional planning for children with disabilities, health needs, and challenging behavior.
• Implement individualized instruction for children (with teacher guidance) with disabilities and individual needs.
• Assist in providing a welcoming culturally inclusive environment for families.
• Model enthusiasm and promote parent/child activities.
• Maintain parent/staff rapport and mutual confidence and trust with classroom team.
• Use assessment to develop long- and short-range plans for parent’s participation in their child’s learning experiences.
• Collaborate with Lead Teacher in delivering evidence-based family engagement practices that reflect the Thrive to Five’s PFCE Framework.
• Provide updates on classroom closures.
• Provide support and supervision to Floating Teaching Assistant(s), Bus Monitor(s), outside agency or community and/or parent volunteers in the absence of the teacher.
• Follow all Community Action Partnership (CAP) and Thrive to Five policies, procedures and systems.
• Demonstrate the CAP Values.
• Work with Early Learning Coordinator ensure compliance with all applicable regulations and quality standards.
• Work with Early Learning Coordinator to reflect on coaching feedback and set professional development goals.
• Work with all staff to develop strategies to resolve interpersonal problems that affect program operation.
• Attend and participate in mandatory trainings, workshops, and meetings related to professional development and job requirements and such optional trainings as necessary to maintain optimal performance.
• Maintain all required certifications and licenses.
• Support their peers to understand program routines and expectations. Support and peer to peer coaching occurs to support collaboration and growth across the program.
• Timely review and response to internal and external communications.
• Actively participate in committee work as needed.
• Perform other job related duties as assigned.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Sign-on Bonus, only available for external candidates
• Medical, Dental & Vision Coverage
• 403(b) Plan
• Life Insurance
• EAP Program
• Generous number of PTO Days banked annually
• Paid Parental Leave
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Employer-Assisted First Time Homebuyer Program