Associate Teacher (Eureka)

About the role

MAAC is seeking a Head Start/Early Head Start Assistant to support the education program within the classroom. This role supports the Lead Teacher in planning, supervising, and implementing the education program.

Responsibilities

• Provides input and assistance into daily classroom activities and lesson plans
• Aids in designing and implementing classroom activities to meet the needs of the individual child
• Aids in implementing the approved curriculum and multi-cultural education
• Aids in classroom arrangement and related physical requirements to provide a safe, healthy, interesting, and enjoyable learning environment
• Develops and maintains an open, friendly, and informative relationship with parents and volunteers
• Aids in interpreting and explaining Head Start policies, programs, and principles
• Records individual children’s behavior and observations on appropriate record keeping forms
• Provides experiences for growing and learning for the individual child in relationship to his/her cultural and socioeconomic background
• Performs accurate numerical counts, such as attendance and meal counts
• Maintains classroom cleanliness; assists in set-up and maintenance of the classroom lunch area; assists in laundry and other maintenance; supervises children on bus as needed
• Aids in home visits at times convenient to the parent(s); assists in developing an Individual Family Plan for each child and family beginning at time of enrollment (phase-in) and updating it at least three times in the school year
• Attends mandated training programs, conferences, meetings
• Aids in the development of individual education plans and teaching
• Provides an environment that facilitates growth and positive self-image for children
• Performs other related duties as assigned

Qualifications and Skills

• Knowledge of: Development and developmental patterns of children ages 3-5 years
• Oral and written English and grammar
• Developmental needs and requirements of preschool age children
• Methods and techniques of early childhood development
• Health, safety and nutritional requirements of preschool age children
• Methods for effective cooperation with teachers, children, and parents
• General goals and purposes of early childhood education and family development
• Head Start philosophy, principles, and comprehensive services preferred
• Ability to learn and apply curriculum methods and procedures at MAAC Head Start
• Project a mature, constructive, stable, and healthy team attitude in a learning environment
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred

Education/Experience/Certification

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Twelve (12) units (including core units) from an accredited college/university in Early Childhood Education OR Child Development
• California Child Development Associate Teacher Permit or California Child Development Associate (CDA) credential
• Bilingual (Spanish/English) preferred
• One (1) year Head Start experience with children in a classroom setting
• One (1) year preschool experience with children in a classroom setting
• Valid CPR, First Aid and Food Handlers Cards must be obtained within first two months (2) of employment and maintained throughout employment (paid, designated training available through MAAC)

Value-based Behaviors

• Listens attentively to others
• Works effectively in a team environment and actively participates in joint problem solving
• Identifies and takes advantage of opportunities for personal and professional development
• Attends work consistently and punctually
• Arrives to meetings prepared and on time; honors work commitments; follows through on what was agreed upon; meets deadlines
• Honors the private and confidential matters of co-workers
• Protects the proprietary information of MAAC systems
• Fulfills all rules, regulations, and policies
• Positively contributes to implementing changes

Physical and Mental Demands

• Regularly required to stand, walk and sit, talk or hear both in person and by telephone, uses hands to finger, handle or feel objects or controls, reach with hands and arms
• Regularly required to stoop, kneel, bend, crouch or crawl, climb or balance and lift up to 50 pounds
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, color vision and the ability to adjust focus
• Regularly required to use written and oral communication skills; read and interpret information; analyze and solve problems; observe and interpret people and situations; use basic math; learn and apply new information or skills; work under intensive deadlines and interact with MAAC management, administrators, staff, teachers, parents, family members, children and others encountered in the course of work

Background Clearance

All positions are subject to a background/education check, DMV check, NSOR, exclusion and debarment checks prior to hire and periodically throughout employment as required by various funding sources.

Transportation

Must have and maintain a valid California Driver’s License, daily use of a personal, insured vehicle, and have and maintain a motor vehicle driving record acceptable to MAAC’s insurance carrier. Incumbents will be enrolled in the California DMV Pull Program.