The Program Aide is responsible for ensuring the safety of children during transportation activities and responsible for assisting to provide educational, relational and social experiences for preschool children to foster growth and development in all developmental domains. Other duties in the areas of cafeteria management and custodial services may also be assigned. Program Aide directly reports to the Head Start Program Director with guidance from the Health & Nutrition/Facilities/Transportation Coordinator for Bus Monitor responsibilities and the Early Childhood Education Manager for Program Assistant responsibilities. The position may be reassigned to various classrooms/centers/bus routes as deemed necessary for program operations.
This position may also receive content area technical support and training from the staff person responsible for center supervision, teacher, bus driver, and kitchen aide, staff person responsible for transportation & facilities, and/or program managers/specialist/coordinators.
As a front line representative of Save the Children the position holder is required to ensure the safety and security of children and families that he/she come in contact with and represent the agency values of Accountability, Ambition, Collaboration, Creativity and Integrity.
Application of clear practice and procedure in day to day execution of job. Organizes self and manages time to get things done. Requires supervision on operational matters related to specific tasks, and to review work progress/results. 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.
Bus Monitor
- Responsible for boarding children on and exiting children off the bus
- Responsible for learning bus route and which children should board or exit at each stop location.
- Seats children on bus and ensures that they are securely fastened in child restraints
- Remains observant of all children during bus operations and ensures that all children remain seated and securely fastened in child restraints at all times
- Maintains accurate record keeping for program requirements
- Notifies driver and/or supervisor of any damage, malfunctions or safety concerns
- Interacts with children during bus route for socializing and educational experiences
- Ensures that the bus is empty and no child is left unattended at the end of each bus route
- Communicates with parents/families as needed
- Successfully completes and stays up-to-date on Pediatric First Aid and CPR certification
Classroom Assistant
- Assists classroom staff in all classroom activities, field trips and outdoor activities included in lesson plans.
- Assists in developing materials and providing activities related to the cultural background of the children and families served.
- Helps supervise at nap time as well as mealtime, eating with the children to encourage family style meals with good nutrition and social skills.
- Helps keep the classroom and its contents clean and orderly.
- 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.
- Assists with inventory maintenance of all necessary supplies, food and equipment used for food services operations.
- Assists with the processing and storage of food and food related items as they are delivered.
- Assists in carrying out a financially successful food service operation by helping to control food and labor costs.
- Assists with logging meals/snacks in the menu book following USDA/CACFP required documentation for food purchased, prepared and served.
- Supports staff/parents in preparing and cleaning up after meals/snacks for meetings, planning sessions and other special events as requested.
- Ensures that dishes are returned to the kitchen or food service vendor transport boxes for cleaning and preparation for the next meal.
- Notifies supervisor of any safety, health issues or concerns.
- Participates in ongoing training in food preparation and nutrition as requested.
- Follows the established system for cleaning to ensure that the kitchen and storage rooms are kept in a clean and sanitary manner.
- Reports any kitchen equipment not in good working order to supervisor to ensure the kitchen remains safe and hazard free.
- Prepares food in a safe and sanitary manner.
Janitorial Assistant
- Empties trash or garbage containers if needed before the custodian or janitor services.
- Sanitizes surfaces, picks up and puts away materials in the classroom or kitchen in order to maintain a safe and organized environment.
- Serves as janitor in the absence of the regular custodian or janitor on a periodic basis.
- Does light yard work or snow removal.
Other General Job Duties and Essential Job functions
- Attends all workshops and meetings as deemed necessary by the immediate supervisor.
- Attends all required staff and parent meetings and activities.
- Responsible for understanding 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.
- At the minimum be 18 years of age.
- Must have a valid driver’s license
- 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).
- Acceptable tuberculosis screening results, a clear criminal records check (including child abuse registry check if required by state regulations) and an initial health exam are required post job offer and prior to employment.
- Knowledge of the basics of working with preschool children.
- Knowledge of the purpose of the Head Start/Early Head Start Program.
- Knowledge of basic food preparation, serving and sanitation practices.
- Knowledge of local resources, customs and languages helpful.
- 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.
- Must have the physical, emotional and mental ability to assist the Bus Driver with a vehicle full of children in a safe and pleasant manner when riding the bus.
- Ability to work with children with disabilities.
- To drive agency vehicles (if applicable), must have a valid driver’s license and be insurable by the Save the Children Head Start insurance carrier and have a Motor Vehicle Record acceptable to Save the Children Head Start.
- 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.
- Clear criminal records check (including child abuse registry check if required by state regulations) and pass all state and local health requirements required post job offer and prior to employment.
- To drive agency vehicles (if applicable), must have a valid driver’s license and be insurable by the Save the Children Head Start insurance carrier and have a Motor Vehicle Record acceptable to Save the Children Head Start.
- Current and former Head Start/Early Head Start parents will receive preference for employment vacancies for which they are qualified.