Teacher Assistant

About the role

The Teacher Assistant position supports the Lead Teacher with classroom and individual children care and planning, implementing a developmentally and culturally appropriate early childhood experience.

Responsibilities

• Implement activities and experiences supporting children’s health, education, and social emotional development.
• Establish a learning environment according to the Creative Curriculum and Early Achiever quality standards, and ECEAP if applicable.
• Implement the Second Steps Personal Safety Curriculum in preschool classrooms.
• Provide activities and opportunities that encourage and individualized approach to the developmental level and learning style of each child.
• Foster a positive emotional climate in the classroom based on licensing standards.
• Provide guidance and support through positive interactions between children and adults.
• Maintain an atmosphere that encourages open communication with children and adults through back and forth conversations, warm, nurturing tones, and being down at the child’s level.
• Provide opportunities and support for children to understand, acquire and use verbal and non-verbal means of communicating thoughts and feelings.
• Create a partnership with families that encourages engagement according to ECEAP and/or Early Achiever quality standards.
• Communicate with parents on a daily basis by greeting them and discussing, as needed, events of the children's day.
• Communicate with parents regarding classroom to classroom transitions, as applicable.
• Maintain an accurate and up to date timesheet by clocking in and out on a consistent basis.
• Schedule a sub when planning for time off.
• Create and maintain a safe and healthy environment.
• Maintain inventory and upkeep of classroom supplies and materials.
• Report needed repairs and maintenance to the Early Learning Site Supervisor.
• Provide a safe, developmentally appropriate indoor and outdoor learning environment through use of the Safety and Sanitation Checklist.
• Apply health standards and care for the children and classroom according to licensing, Early Achiever, and ECEAP standards.
• Participate in required training according to ECEAP and/or licensing regulations.
• Participate in scheduled supervision meetings, lead teacher meetings, teacher learning groups and other assigned meetings as required.

Qualifications

• Initial ECE Certificate or Professional Development Plan.
• 2 or more years’ experience in an Early Childhood program.
• Demonstrate professional and effective verbal and written communication.
• Use of good judgment.
• Basic computer skills.
• Supervision of adults, classroom planning and management skills.
• Maintain confidentiality of children, families, and staff.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred, but not required.

Special Skills

• Supervision of adults, classroom planning and management skills.
• Maintain confidentiality of children, families, and staff.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred, but not required.

Professional Development

• Participate in required training according to ECEAP and/or licensing regulations.
• Participate in scheduled supervision meetings, lead teacher meetings, teacher learning groups and other assigned meetings as required.

Requirements

• Physical Requirements: Standing, walking, bending, lifting up to 50lbs or performing other work requiring medium physical exertion, talking and hearing and adequate vision on a regular basis to perform the job requirements.
• Non-Physical Requirements: Education Initial ECE Certificate or Professional Development Plan; Experience 2 or more years’ experience in an Early Childhood program; Special Skills Demonstrate professional and effective verbal and written communication; Use of good judgment; Basic computer skills; Supervision of adults, classroom planning and management skills; Maintain confidentiality of children, families, and staff; Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred, but not required.

Benefits

• 7 paid holidays.
• 1 paid Personal Day.
• 15 days of Paid Time Off (PTO) per year.
• Health insurance including medical & prescription coverage, with optional dental and vision insurance plans. Majority of premiums paid by Catholic Charities.
• Retail 403(b) Plan: employee contributions commence upon employment; Catholic Charities contributes 2% of monthly income and matches up to 4% of employee contributions following 6 months of employment.
• Retirement.
• Flexible Spending Account eligibility following 6 months of employment.
• Education Assistance Program reimbursing up to $5,250 per year for approved continuing education after 6 months of employment.
• Additional voluntary insurances including supplemental life, accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D), critical illness, long term disability, accident, and ID theft.
• Employee Assistance Program includes 3 counseling sessions per year, legal consultations, financial coaching, and other wellbeing tools.
• Annual longevity awards begin at 5 years of employment.