Teacher Assistant (Child Development Center)

About the role

At Indian River State College, you’ll do more than just build a career—you’ll have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact by supporting our students, staff, and faculty. We are looking for a dedicated and enthusiastic Child Development Center Teacher Assistant to join our team and help make a positive impact on young lives.

Responsibilities

• Daily assistance in classroom and playground activities with infants, toddlers, and preschool children.
• Ensure children are properly checked out of the CDC daily and properly close the facility.
• Consider and provide for the needs of each child in relationship to their cultural and socioeconomic background, emotional or physical challenges, and individual style and pace of learning.
• Respect the dignity and basic rights of each child.
• Follow all industry-practiced safety policies and procedures with infants and toddlers.
• Maintain a physical environment conducive to children’s growth and promote optimal program functioning.
• Work as a team with the lead-teacher or classroom specialist to implement assigned portions of the daily program of appropriate developmental experiences for the assigned classroom of young children.
• Help children learn to adapt to and cope with real-life situations to develop appropriate habits in activities such as eating, dressing, napping, and personal hygiene, including assisting parents with toilet training as needed.
• Assist with daily observations of the health of children, reporting conditions that require attention.
• Participate in staff meetings, training sessions, conferences, workshops, and other career development and professional activities.
• Complete continuing education hours per State requirements each year.
• Assist in ensuring that equipment and materials are accessible, appropriate, and in good condition.
• Assist with routine classroom-related and other maintenance duties as required.
• Assist with the composition of the monthly classroom article for the center newsletter.
• Assist with public relations and other duties as assigned.
• Maintain a pleasant, comfortable atmosphere for children and parents.
• Ensure children are properly checked out to the correct family.
• Implement the emergency plan if a family fails to pick up a child by 5:30 pm.

Requirements

• Child Development Associate (CDA) or the equivalent with two (2) years of proven work experience in the child care industry.
• Proven work experience documenting an in-depth knowledge of Early Childhood Teacher Techniques and Positive Classroom Management Techniques.
• Sound judgment and excellent problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to handle individual members of the public well in difficult situations.
• Excellent decision-making skills.
• Applies “safety first” principle to work with children.
• Dynamic self-starter capable of communicating professionally in listening, verbal, writing, and metacommunication.
• Ability to work well as a team member with students, faculty, parents, and the Child Development Center Director.
• Ability to implement developmentally-appropriate curriculum in a classroom setting.
• Knowledge and experience working with young children.
• Knowledge of safety issues with children between the ages of three (3) months through four (4) years.
• Knowledge of child illnesses.
• Skills in patience, time management, remaining calm under pressure, and ability to be flexible within classroom routines.

Preferred Qualifications

• One (1) year certificate in Child Development and Early Intervention.
• A.S. Degree in a related field.

Physical Requirements

• Physical abilities and dexterity sufficient to stand for up to one hour, walk, sit, stoop, climb, crouch, kneel, crawl, and balance.
• High degree of flexibility and dexterity to include the ability to reach/stretch hands and arms.
• Ability to react and move quickly when toddlers are involved.
• Regularly lift and/or move up to 40 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 60 pounds.
• Auditory abilities sufficient to monitor, assess, and ensure toddler safety and care at all times.
• Visual abilities sufficient for observation of toddlers to include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust vision focus.
• Ability to tolerate diaper smells as well as complete the diapering process.
• Tolerance to heat and cold, as this position requires working a portion of the day outside in temperatures ranging from 35°F to 95°F.

Pay

Pay range starts at $16.70/hour. All salary calculations start at the minimum salary and will be based on the candidate's education and experience.