PURPOSE OF POSITION:

The Assistant Teacher assists the Teacher in facilitating quality, individualized, early childhood education by implementing developmentally appropriate practices in an inclusive environment.

SUMMARY:

Works as a team member with the Education/Disabilities Specialists to assist in the planning and implementing of a variety of developmentally appropriate activities for children, that will enhance their growth and development, promote social competence and ensure parental involvement in all aspects of the program.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (include but are not limited to):

• Maintains a positive work atmosphere by acting and communicating in a manner so that you get along with customers, clients, co-workers, and management

• Maintains excellent punctuality and attendance

• Assists in planning and implementing developmentally and linguistically appropriate activities, that recognizes and supports each child’s rate of development
• Assists in assessing the safety of classroom and outdoor play areas before engaging children in activities
• Assists in organizing classroom environment into areas to be used for learning, eating, resting and playing in accordance with the Creative Curriculum,
• Accompanies children to and from the bus, classroom, playground, and out of center activities maintaining attendance check and head count
• Serves as Bus Monitor as needed
• Assists in the development of a daily schedule of child initiated and teacher initiated activities that is well defined to help children in the order of events accruing each day
• Maintains staff and classroom ratios at all times
• Leads the classroom in the absence of the Teacher

• Maintains a communication system plan which ensures appropriate communication among the children, their families, teaching staff, the Center Manager and other community organizations
• Supports and participate in the values and missions of ESNG

• Assist in the completion of the Health and Safety Checklist for classrooms weekly
• Assists in the monitoring and reports accurate numbers for the program weekly report

• Assist in the maintenance of updated and accurate records for children (educational and nutritional)
• Maintains confidentiality

• Adheres to policies, procedures and practices which ensure the achievements and maintenance of GA licensure, NAEYC accreditation and Head Start performance standards
• Conducts and documents a minimum of 2 home visits for head start children and 2 parent conferences for all children during the program area
• Assist with the child transition plan as it relates to assisting parents to be advocates for their children, cross training and sharing needs related to transition, assisting with field trips for children and their parents to feeder schools and assisting parents to become familiar with community resources.

• Participates in all mandatory Easter Seals trainings to include pre-service, in-service and other educational programs and trainings
• Completes the minimum number of training hours required by DHR, OSR, Georgia Pre-K and Head Start

OTHER DUTIES:

Performs other duties as assigned by management.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Must possess a minimum of a Childhood Development Associate Credential (CDA) with the preschool endorsement or equivalent. If an employee is hired without this minimum credential, the employee must pursue and complete credential within timeframe prescribed by the agency.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Must have the knowledge, skills and experiences needed to perform the assigned functions responsibly.
• Must be familiar with ethnic background and culture of families in the program and be able to serve and effectively communicate, to the extent feasible, with children and families with no or limited English proficiency.
• Must possess training, experiences, and knowledge that includes theories, and principles of child growth and development, early childhood education, and family support.
• Must possess excellent communications skills and fluency to communicate with children and families
• Must possess ability to move/lift children up to age (5).

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Must be eighteen years of age or older.

Must pass the Drug Test.

Must pass pre-employment tests if applicable.

EDUCATION REQUIRED
The knowledge, skills and abilities typically acquired through the completion of a bachelor's degree program or equivalent degree in a field of study related to the job.

PHYSICAL JOB REQUIREMENTS

On occasion, there may be a need to move or lift light articles.