Head Start Teaching Assistant

About the Role

Join a mission-driven team dedicated to making a positive impact on children and families around the world. This position supports early childhood education in a preschool setting, ensuring the safety, development, and well-being of children while fostering family engagement and collaboration with educators.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED.
• Completion of Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential or state-awarded certificate that meets or exceeds CDA requirements, or enrollment in a program leading to an Associate or Bachelor’s degree, or enrollment in a CDA credential program to be completed within two years of hire.
• Preferred: Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education or related field.
• Preferred: Two years of experience in a preschool classroom setting.
• Preferred: Bilingual (Spanish).

Responsibilities

• Protect the physical and mental health and safety of children, ensuring no child is left alone or unsupervised.
• Assist in providing responsive care, effective teaching, and an organized learning environment aligned with the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework for children ages birth to five, including those with disabilities.
• Support the implementation of developmentally appropriate curricula in language, literacy, social-emotional development, math, science, social studies, creative arts, and physical development, integrating child assessment data into planning.
• Assist with screenings, assessments, and ongoing evaluation of children’s developmental progress.
• Facilitate parent and family engagement through conferences, home visits, and group activities.
• Adhere to safety practices, including reporting suspected child abuse or neglect, maintaining supervision of children, and following all standards of conduct.
• Comply with positive adult-child interactions as measured by the CLASS Pre-K instrument.
• Complete minimum training requirements as specified in state and federal standards.
• Maintain regular communication with teachers regarding student behavior and progress.
• Manage child files, classroom documentation, and ensure compliance with program policies.
• Monitor classrooms for physical and environmental hazards and report incidents per program policy.
• Use age-appropriate equipment, materials, and space for indoor and outdoor learning, updating materials to support children’s evolving interests.
• Support teachers in modifying teaching strategies and lesson plans based on classroom observations.
• Communicate child observations to teachers, including potential developmental or school readiness concerns.
• Coordinate with education, family, mental health, and child development professionals to address identified needs.
• Participate in school functions, meetings, and team decision-making processes.
• Collaborate with staff, service providers, and professionals while maintaining confidentiality.
• Perform other job duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Ability to respond sensitively and competently to diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds.
• Effective written and verbal communication in English (Spanish preferred).
• Ability to maintain emotional control and professional composure at all times.
• Working knowledge of INK policies and procedures.
• Ability to organize and prioritize duties in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work independently.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Pass health examination and confirm work eligibility status.
• Clear criminal background check and passing driving history check.
• Physical ability to lift up to 60 pounds, stand, sit on the floor, bend, squat, kneel, lift children, and engage in active play.
• Exposure to communicable diseases, environmental hazards (e.g., cigarette smoke, pets), and at-risk neighborhoods.
• Travel up to 50% by car, bus, airplane, or train for conferences, meetings, or other duties, including occasional overnight travel.
• Occasional evening or weekend work for events such as home visits, parent-teacher conferences, meetings, or field trips.

INK requires all employees to receive an annual Influenza vaccination or obtain an approved medical or religious exemption as a condition of employment.