Childcare/Daycare Paraprofessional

Characteristic Duties and Responsibilities

• Creates daily care routines of infants and toddlers, including feeding, diapering, and napping.
• Attends meetings (e.g., in-service presentations and staff meetings) for the purpose of acquiring and/or conveying information relative to job functions.
• Implements educational activities and play that promote physical, emotional, and cognitive development.
• Maintains a clean, safe, and organized environment for children, adhering to health and safety regulations.
• Maintains a variety of materials (e.g. instructional materials, files, records, charts, etc.) for the purpose of ensuring availability of items, providing written reference, and meeting mandated requirements.
• Monitors and documents each child's progress and reports any concerns to the building principal or supervisor.
• Fosters positive relationships with children, parents, and staff, ensuring open communication and collaboration.
• Manages a variety of assigned activities for the purpose of providing a safe and optimal learning environment.
• Monitors students during assigned periods within a variety of school environments for the purpose of maintaining a safe and positive school environment.
• Assists in the preparation and cleanup of activities, snacks, and meals.
• Participates in regular staff meetings, training sessions, and professional development opportunities.
• Responds to inquiries from a variety of sources for the purpose of solving problems, providing information, and directing to other sources.
• Responds to emergency situations (e.g. injured children, school drills, etc.) for the purpose of resolving immediate safety concerns and directing to appropriate personnel for resolution.
• Follows the policies and procedures of the school and the District.
• Demonstrates a sense of professional responsibility, such as demonstrating ethical behavior; providing accurate data and reports when needed; meeting deadlines; maintaining confidentiality; caring for the equipment and materials; and dressing appropriately and presenting a good role model.

Skills, Knowledge, And Abilities Required

• Ability to use effective communication skills;
• Ability to use time effectively;
• Good organizational skills;
• Ability to maintain a positive relationship with other staff by collaborating and working cooperatively with them (including supervisors);
• Ability to operate standard office equipment and software applications;
• Ability to prepare and maintain accurate records;
• Knowledge of instructional techniques;
• Knowledge of safety practices and procedures;
• Knowledge of conflict resolution;
• Knowledge of child development/behavior;
• Able to maintain a calm demeanor;
• Able to maintain confidentiality;
• Able to meet deadlines and schedules.

Entry Qualifications

• Minimum of high school education or GED.
• Experience working with young children, especially infants and toddlers.
• Strong understanding of child development and age-appropriate practices.

Physical Abilities And Working Conditions

• Vision: (which may be corrected) to read small print; view a computer screen for prolonged periods.
• Hearing: (which may be corrected) to answer telephones and tolerate exposure to noisy conditions.
• Speech: to be understood in face-to-face communications; to speak with a level of proficiency and volume to be understood over a telephone.
• Mobility: use hands and fingers to feel, grasp, and manipulate small objects; manipulate fingers, twist and bend at the wrist and elbow; extend arms to reach outward and upward; use hands and arms to lift objects; turn, raise, and lower the head; sit on floor, bend, stoop, and stand for extended periods; ability to perform repetitive tasks and multi-task in lively environment.
• Strength: to lift, push, pull and/or carry objects which weigh as much as 40 or more pounds on a frequent basis.
• Environmental Requirements: encounter constant work interruptions; work cooperatively with others; work independently; work outdoors and indoors.
• Mental Requirements: read, write, understand, interpret and apply information at a moderately complex level essential for successful job performance; math skills at a high school proficiency level; judgement and the ability to process information quickly; learn quickly and follow verbal procedures and standards; give verbal instruction; rank tasks in order of importance; copy, compare, compile, and coordinate information and records.