Teacher Assistant - Paid Work Experience Opportunity

About the role

The PACE Employment Social Enterprise (ESE) Program offers a paid, hands-on work experience opportunity for WIOA-eligible individuals seeking to enter the early childhood education field. Participants are placed in Head Start and other licensed early childhood centers serving children ages 18 months to 5 years.

What will you gain?

• Paid, supervised work experience in a real Head Start classroom
• Exposure to Head Start curriculum, child development best practices, and family engagement
• Mentorship from experienced Lead Teachers and Site Supervisors
• Up to 150 hours of structured Paid Work Experience (PWE)
• A foundation for pursuing ECE credentials, permits, and career advancement
• Potential employment opportunities for participants who demonstrate strong performance and commitment

What will you do?

Under the direct supervision of classroom teaching staff, the Teacher Assistant (ESE Program) will:

• Assist teachers in the instruction and care of preschool children (ages 18 months – 5 years)
• Support children’s social, physical, cognitive, and emotional development
• Help maintain a healthy, safe, and nurturing classroom environment
• Aid in lesson plan implementation aligned with Head Start Performance Standards
• Assist with setup and takedown of indoor and outdoor learning environments
• Provide culturally and linguistically appropriate support to children and families
• Adhere to all host agency policies, procedures, and Head Start compliance requirements
• Participate in scheduled PWE check-ins, progress reviews, and required training sessions

Program Requirements

• All participants must meet and satisfactorily pass the following prior to placement:
• Background Clearances
• Sex Offender Registry Check
• Child Abuse and Neglect State Registry Check
• State/Tribal Criminal History Check (fingerprints required)
• FBI Criminal History Check (fingerprints required)
• Health & Medical TB Test within the past 6 months prior to placement start
• LIC 503 Health Screening (within one year prior to start)
• Proof of immunizations: Measles, Pertussis (Whooping Cough), and Influenza
• Congressional Medical Exam (Adult & Pediatric CPR/First Aid Certification – strongly desired)

Who should apply?

• This Program Is Open To Individuals Who Are participants and currently enrolled in the PACE ESE Program (required)
• Have been unemployed for more than 6 months
• Are an English Learner or multilingual speaker – all language backgrounds are welcome
• Seeking to enter the early childhood education field for the first time
• Have completed at least 6 ECE units or currently enrolled to obtain ECE units
• Currently pursuing or planning to pursue an ECE credential or permit
• Passionate about working with young children ages 18 months to 5 years
• Have strong interpersonal skills, a nurturing approach, and a team-player attitude

How to apply

To be a participant in the PACE ESE Program, interested individuals MUST click on the link to complete the ESE program questionnaire. You will be contacted by the program coordinator for further details. This is a requirement. LINK