Assistant Teacher

MVCAA offers a generous benefit package for full-time employees.

About the role

The Assistant Teacher will work collaboratively with the classroom team, including parents/guardians, families, volunteers, and other classroom staff to ensure the successful operation of the classroom and implement the curriculum to achieve outcomes for children. Assumes the role of the Teacher in their absence.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct and competent supervision to ensure the safety and security of children at all times in accordance with Head Start, NY State Office of Children and Families regulations, and MVCAA Supervision of Children policy in the classroom, during outdoor experiences, and field trips.
• Establish positive, healthy, and professional relationships with families.
• Attend to the physical needs of the children (diapering, toileting, feeding, resting, rocking, and holding children).
• Implement a child-centered, developmentally appropriate curriculum and learning environment that encourages positive social interaction, active engagement in learning, and self-motivation to promote development in all domains for children and supports progression of School Readiness Goals and objectives.
• Provide children with a consistent classroom routine in accordance with the Creative Curriculum.
• Have effective interactions with children in accordance with the CLASS observation tool (Head Start classrooms only).
• Develop and implement at least 1 week of lesson plans per month in cooperation with the Teacher and parents/guardians/families.
• Assist the Teacher with completion of developmental and behavioral screenings on all children within 45 days of the child’s entrance into the program, utilizing results for individualized planning and referrals as needed.
• Assist the Teacher with developing an individual plan for each child, including goal setting based on identified needs and activities to meet established child outcomes.
• Distribute monthly homework to each child and family to support individual goals, collect homework monthly, encourage family engagement, and track/submit homework.
• Assist the Teacher with integrating Individual Education Plans (IEPs) for children with documented disabilities.
• Assist the Teacher with collecting and recording children’s progress to complete accurate assessments at 3 or 4 points in the year and individualize curriculum.
• Analyze classroom-level child outcome data reports and implement a plan to promote greater outcomes for children in partnership with parents/guardians.
• Address challenging behaviors by observing to determine possible causes, implementing preventive developmentally appropriate measures, teaching new social and communication skills, and partnering with families.
• Implement the Second Step Curriculum to promote children’s social and emotional skills.
• Participate in meals with children as a curriculum activity to model good nutrition and developmentally appropriate social skills for children aged birth to 5.
• Identify and encourage families wanting to volunteer in the classroom, work as substitutes, or in other volunteer activities.
• Secure substitutes for all absences.
• Complete custodial duties not provided by the lease agreement.
• Understand, generate, and document in-kind and other allowable costs toward the non-federal share requirement.
• Demonstrate commitment to mission, values, and policies in daily duties.
• Perform other duties as assigned to ensure the successful execution of the program.

Requirements

• HS Assistant Teacher: Associate, Bachelor, or Advanced degree in Early Childhood Education preferred OR related field with specific early childhood coursework and experience working in a classroom setting OR a current Preschool Child Development Associate (CDA) credential and two years of experience related to caring for children, one of which must be related to caring for infants/toddlers.
• EHS Assistant Teacher: Current Infant/Toddler CDA OR Associate, Bachelor’s, or Advanced degree in Early Childhood with infant/toddler-specific coursework.
• Ability to travel to all sites, trainings, and home visits as necessary.
• Able to communicate with children and families as well as maintain accurate records.
• Ability to exercise discretion and maintain confidentiality and privacy.
• Adhere to agency personnel policies and procedures.
• Attend trainings and meetings as required.
• Basic computer literacy in email, word processing, and internet navigation.
• Knowledge and experience working with families and children with low income and diverse cultures.
• Pass a background check, fingerprint screen, and annual physical exam including TB test.
• Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds.
• Must be able to move throughout the classroom, building, gross motor areas, and outside venues during field trips.
• Must be able to interact with children at the child’s level.

Pay

$18.88 per hour