PT. SPECIAL ED. TEACHER AIDE

Up to 19.5 hours per week, voucher position, no benefits. Applicants must be 18 years of age or older.

About the Role

At Central Cove, we value play as the work of children and believe that children learn to interact with the world and others most effectively through purposeful play. We provide a positive, caring, safe, engaging, inclusive environment in which all children can learn and grow while playing and interacting with others.

Working under the lead teacher's supervision, preschool teaching assistants carry out various activities designed to help children understand numbers, letters, colors, and shapes. They also play an instrumental role in supervising children on the playground and in other activities, getting them ready for toileting/diapering, and serving snacks. These are all important components of the preschool routine, which, if carried out appropriately, help young children gain confidence in themselves and in their environment.

This position provides young kids with a strong role model and a valuable source of emotional support. A preschool teaching assistant must have tremendous love and patience for children.

Responsibilities

• Maintaining a safe and supportive environment for young children
• Assisting teachers with carrying out lesson plans
• Helping children use the bathroom or, when necessary, changing diapers
• Handling basic hygiene needs such as handwashing
• Preparing children for and supervising them during gym time, outside play, and other activities
• Preparing and serving healthy snacks
• Observing children for developmental problems and other concerns—and passing this information on to the preschool teacher
• Supporting preschool teachers with preferred classroom management and discipline strategies
• Participating and helping with parent-teacher conferences as needed
• Encouraging children to interact with each other and resolve occasional arguments
• Collaborating with other educators
• Maintaining a clean and tidy classroom consistent with health and safety standards
• Maintaining student data and logs as directed by the teacher
• Maintaining confidentiality when dealing with students, parents, and staff
• Other duties as assigned

Requirements

• Must be 18 years of age or older
• Ability to lift at least 45 pounds
• Ability to engage with small children both on and off the floor
• High School Diploma or equivalent required
• Associate's degree or 48 semester hours of college credit earned or must have passed the Para-Pro Test (or be willing to take and pass the Para-Pro Test immediately upon hire)
• Certification in child CPR preferred
• Successful experience working with children at risk

Skills

• Effective collaboration and interpersonal skills
• Self-motivation and initiative in completing assigned tasks
• Attention to detail, flexibility, and problem-solving
• Time management and organization
• Patience and compassion with students, families, and colleagues
• Optimism and positivity
• Commitment to learning
• Excellent understanding of the principles of child development and preschool educational methods
• Familiarity with safety and sanitation guidelines for classrooms
• Excellent communication (written and oral) and instructional skills
• Ability to act as mediator between children
• Cool-tempered, friendly, and reliable
• Balance between a creative and practical mind