Early Learning Assistant Teacher

General Summary

Under the direction of the lead teacher and director, the assistant teacher is responsible for providing a warm, nurturing, stimulating, safe, and loving environment, where each child has the opportunity to develop cognitive, verbal, social, emotional, and physical skills appropriately.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Assists with planning and implementing a culturally sensitive educational program that is developmentally appropriate for each child’s age and language.
• Assists in planning and implementing daily lesson plans based on the approved curriculum to promote cognitive, verbal, social, emotional and physical development of children.
• Assists in conducting ongoing assessment and individualization documentation in a timely manner.
• Assists in planning a balanced daily routine that encourages play, exploration and learning, and which includes teacher-directed and child-directed activities, both inside and outside.
• Provides a developmentally appropriate, stimulating learning environment that includes adding new and interesting materials each week, meeting the developmental levels of all children in the group, including children with special needs, over the course of their enrollment.
• Children’s Health and Developmental Services Responsibilities:
  • Conducts daily health checks on each child.
  • Plans weekly activities that promote a healthy lifestyle.
  • Follows policies and procedures regarding medical and dental emergencies, short-term exclusion of children, and the administration, handling and storing of medication.
  • Maintains sanitation and hygienic procedures and participates in the maintenance of the center.
• Nutrition Responsibilities:
  • Eats with children, encouraging proper eating habits and conversation.
  • Serves food in a way that encourages the development and socialization of the children.
  • Affords assistance in kitchen duties, as assigned.
  • Holds infants who cannot sit independently while feeding.
• Family Partnerships Responsibilities:
  • Attends parent meetings as assigned.
  • Assists in informing parents concerning their children’s progress formally and informally, including parent notes, portfolios, and parent conferences.
  • Affords assistance in planning and implementing family involvement activities.
• Training and Communication Responsibilities:
  • Participates in on-site and off-site professional development trainings and workshops; completes a minimum of 35 annual in-service training hours.
  • Maintains confidentiality at all times.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required

• A minimum of a high school diploma or GED.
• DCF 45-hour training preferred, or must be started within 30 days of hire and completed within 6 months.
• Prior experience in a child care setting preferred.
• Knowledge of child growth and development as well as developmentally appropriate practices for children ages birth to 5 years.
• Must successfully pass the required criminal background check prior to employment and every five years; must complete Protecting God’s Children (PGC) workshop prior to employment.
• For the Background Screening Clearinghouse Education and Awareness website, visit https://info.flclearinghouse.com.
• Completes TB screening and physical within ten (10) days of hire and every two (2) years thereafter.
• Registers and completes Infant & Child First Aid and CPR certification within 6 months of hire and renew prior to expiration.
• Completes a minimum of 35 hours of in-service training each fiscal year.

Physical Demands

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and talk or hear.
• The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 30 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and ability to adjust focus.

Working Conditions

• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• Position may require some evening and weekend hours.

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