Program Aide

About the role

The Program Aide role is a full-time position reporting to the Education and Inclusion Manager or Center Director. Responsibilities include assisting classroom staff, serving as a substitute teacher or cook, and performing janitorial and kitchen duties.

Responsibilities

• Apply clear practice and procedure in day-to-day execution of job.
• Organize self and manage time to get things done.
• Build effective relationships within workgroup and with children/families.
• Ability to understand and carry out oral and written instructions.
• Classroom Assistance:
• Aid classroom staff in all classroom activities.
• Assist the Teacher in any aspect of the program as needed.
• Serve as a temporary substitute in the absence of the Assistant Teacher or Teacher.
• Janitorial Assistance:
• Provide custodial support as needed.
• May serve as custodian in the absence of the regular custodian.
• May be asked to assist Cook and/or Assistant Cook to fulfill kitchen duties.
• Kitchen Assistance:
• Complete routine kitchen/dining room/food chores as assigned.
• Prepare food and serve items for service.
• Participate in food service clean up, inventory, and other food service tasks as requested.
• Other General Job Duties:
• May be required to serve as a Bus Monitor.
• Attend all workshops and meetings as necessary.
• Attend required staff and parent meetings and activities.
• Gain understanding of Head Start Program Performance Standards and local childcare licensing regulations.
• Promote Head Start in the community.
• Maintain strict confidentiality with respect to Head Start/Early Head Start children, families and staff.
• Become thoroughly familiar with Save the Children Head Start Employee Handbook, Save the Children Head Start Human Resources Policies and Procedures, manuals and resources.

Requirements

• Minimum high school diploma or GED.
• Certification as applicable by federal, state or local Head Start or childcare regulations.
• Within 90 days of employment, must obtain and continually maintain basic first aid and pediatric CPR certification.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the basics of working with infants, toddlers, and preschool-aged children.
• Professional proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Demonstrated ability to relate sensitively with children and to work well and communicate effectively with staff, parents and families.
• Proven ability to follow directions and take initiative.
• Demonstrated ability to keep all information on families strictly confidential.
• Demonstrated ability to work with children with disabilities.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to perform medium to heavy physical work exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, up to 20 pounds frequently and up to 5-10 pounds constantly, performing such activities as sitting, crawling, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting and grasping.
• Some duties that require repetitive action and motion skills, keyboarding, and computer use.

Additional Qualifications

• Clear pre-employment background check requirements, including local, state, and national criminal records check, sex offender registries, employment, and education verifications (including child abuse registry check if required by state regulations).
• Pass all state and local health requirements required post job offer and prior to employment.