Position Purpose:  In the absence of staff, this position will assist classroom staff in providing quality learning experiences for children.  

Essential Job Responsibilities: Performance Indicators

• Endure safety is a priority in performing all job responsibilities and ensure safety policies are adhered to.

• Assist teacher or classroom staff with individualized activities to meet the needs of each child.

• Assist in setting up creative learning environment (indoor/outdoor) for the activities of the day. 

• Aid in the use of developmentally appropriate practices to facilitate activities with groups and individuals. 

• Observe and record behaviors of children to assist the teacher in the identification of each child's strengths and areas to grow.  

• Assist with the utilization of lesson plans which reflect mandated elements, parental and cultural 

nfluences, and promote the social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development of Head Start children. 

• Follow a consistent schedule, which includes small and large group experiences, choice time, 

music and movement, large and small motor activities, skill development, three meals, and effective transitions between activities. 

• Encourage experimentation, exploration, problem solving, cooperation, socialization, and choice making; 

ask open-ended questions and listen respectfully to the answers. 

• Provide an atmosphere that promotes and reinforces parental involvement in the classroom. 

• Sanitize classroom equipment and laundry. 

• Assist with meal service as needed.  

• Assure/assist in general maintenance and security of facility.  Report concerns to supervisor.

• Assist in providing constant and continuous active supervision of children daily during all activities, both indoor and outdoor and. Children should not be left unattended for any reason.

• Other duties as assigned. 

 

• Understands and implements all required policies and procedures related to the active supervision of children at all times, including:

Observation of the environment evaluation that children have a place to play, and they can be observed and listened at all times.

Continuously scan & count for children under care and report accurate numbers when asked.

Listen to children at all times to identify potential danger, like specific sounds or the lack of any sound that may trigger an action.

Develop knowledge of the children under care to anticipate their behavior, perform wellness checks, and be proactive and avoid putting children in danger.

• Assists in collaborating with the Bus Driver in teaching children the correct safety procedures for boarding and exiting a bus as well as the danger zones around the vehicle.

• Assists in ensuring that indoor and outdoor equipment and facilities are lean and do not present any hazards.

• Assists in ensuring that classrooms and centers are equipped with safety supplies that are readily accessible to staff.

• GED/High School Diploma minimum with post high school educational coursework in Early Childhood Education/Development highly desirable. 

• Demonstrated classroom ability, typically one year pre-school classroom experience or equivalent. 

• Strong communications skills, especially good listening & writing skills. 

• Knowledge of typical behaviors/expectations of three- and four-year-old children typically gained through a minimum of one year of relevant experience.
 

• Ability to visually assess children's health and behaviors and make frequent significant decisions to assure their health and safety 

• Ability to apply developmentally appropriate practices for young children in a classroom, playground and bus settings. 

• Frequent kneeling, bending at waist and neck, and sitting on floor also frequent getting up and down from seat to assist children on bus and in classroom. 

• Occasional lifting (up to 50 lbs.) in classroom setting and assisting children into seats on the bus and the ability to carry or drag a child in an emergency situation out of a bus to a safe area. 

• Occasional climbing to enter and exit a bus and sitting throughout bus routes.

Position Information

• Percentages of job responsibilities may vary depending upon site needs and locations. 

• Substitutes will remain on sub lists for entire program year (Aug thru May) 

• Supervised by Center Administrator

• This position is not eligible for any Agency benefits to include, but not limited to: insurance, paid holidays, or FMLA, etc.