The Program Aide is responsible for providing a range of support functions within a Head Start and/or Early Head Start center that addresses the educational and social experiences and nutritional needs of preschool children and/or infants and toddlers to foster healthy growth and development in all domains. The position will report to the Program/Center Director or Education Manager / Specialist. The Program Aide may be required to work in multiple program sites or classrooms on a rotating basis, as necessary, to preserve the continuity of early education services for children. This position may also assist meal preparation and meal service following USDA/CACFP guidelines and Head Start standards, and in adherence to health and food safety codes. The Program Aide may be required to accompany program staff on home visits.
As a front line representative of Save the Children, the Program Aide is required to ensure the safety and security of children and families that he/she comes in contact with adhering to the agency’s values of Accountability, Ambition, Collaboration, Creativity, and Integrity.
As a Save the Children employee who will come into contact with children on a routine basis, the position is expected to prevent child abuse in every situation by striving, through mental awareness, good practice and training to minimize risk to children. The position must take positive steps to protect children who may be a subject of concern and report, respond to any instance of child abuse, and promote training and awareness around all child-safeguarding obligations.
- To provide daily technical support to the program as needed
Responsibilities and Impact
- Application of clear practice and procedure in day-to-day execution of job.
- Organizes self and manages time to get things done.
- Keeps manager informed of important issues.
- Builds effective relationships within their workgroup and with children/families.
- Ability to understand and carry out oral and written instructions.
Classroom Assistant
- Assists classroom staff in all classroom activities.
- Assists the teacher in any aspect of the program as the need arises (e.g. at Family Nights, copying newsletters, cutting out classroom materials, making phone calls, etc.).
- Serves as a temporary substitute in the periodic absence of the assistant teacher or teacher.
Kitchen Assistant
- Completes routine kitchen/dining room/food chores as assigned (e.g., dishwashing, portioning foods, taking and logging temperature of foods received from vendors, etc.)
- Prepares necessary food and serving items for service prior to or after use. These duties may include the preparation of food to meet the needs of children with special needs or disabilities
- Participates in food service clean up, inventory and other food service tasks as requested
- Substitutes for regular Cook or Assistant Cook as needed
- May be asked to assist Cook and or Assistant Cook to fulfil kitchen duties, in any capacity.
- Responsible for complying with all local, State, and federal standards regarding hygiene and sanitation
Other General Job Duties
- May be required to serve as a Bus Monitor (as applicable)
- Attends all workshops and meetings as deemed necessary
- Attends required staff and parent meetings and activities
- Responsible for gaining understanding of Head Start Performance Standards and local child care licensing regulations
- Expected to be knowledgeable of the regulations associated with prevention of occupational disease and injury, including the exercise of universal precautions and the prevention of contamination
- Positively promotes Head Start in the community
- Maintains strict confidentiality with respect to Head Start/Early Head Start children, families and staff in accordance with established policies and procedures
- Becomes thoroughly familiar with Save the Children Head Start Employee Handbook, Save the Children Head Start Human Resources Policies and Procedures, manuals and resources and adheres to them
- Must be at minimum 18 years of age
- Must have a valid driver’s license
- Certification as applicable by federal, state or local Head Start or child care regulations, now or as amended in the future
- Bilingual preferred (English/Spanish or English and other languages present in the local area)
- Within 90 days of employment, must obtain and continually maintain basic first aid and pediatric CPR certification (or sooner if required by local/state regulations)
- Knowledge of the basics of working with preschool children or infants/toddlers
- Knowledge of basic food preparation, serving and sanitation practices, preferred
- Ability to relate sensitively with children and to work well with staff and parents and families
- Ability to follow directions and take initiative
- Ability to keep all information on families strictly confidential
- Ability to communicate effectively with children and staff.
- Ability to work with children with disabilities.
- 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, grasping. This also includes some duties that require repetitive action and motion skills, keyboarding and computer use.