The Assistant Teacher is responsible to assist the Head Start Teacher for the general day to day operations of the Head Start classroom. The Head Start Teacher Assistant is also responsible for providing educational, relational and social experiences for preschool children to foster growth and developmental in all developmental domains.
The Head Start Teacher assistant reports directly to the Center Director. The Head Start Teacher assistant will assist in creating and nurturing strong partnerships with families and ensure that program standards, compliance, and quality are of the highest standards.
As a front line representative of Save the Children, The Head Start Teacher assistant 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, Collaborations, Creativity, and Integrity.
As a Save the Children employee who will come into contact with children on a routine basis, you are expected to prevent child abuse in every situation by striving, through mental awareness, good practice and training to minimize risk to children. You must take positive steps to protect children who may be a subject of concern and report and respond to any instance of child abuse and promote training and awareness around all child safeguarding obligations.
- Assist in planning and conducting activities with Head Start Teacher to meet individual needs of children in accordance with the daily schedule.
- Engages with children during all activities throughout the day. Provides constant supervision of children during all learning activities indoors and outdoors and ensures safe environment.
- Provides a balanced program of child-initiated and teacher-directed activities, active and quite learning activities, and opportunities for individual, small group, and large group learning activities.
- Maintains classroom discipline using developmentally appropriate techniques.
- Maintains documentation as required by agency.
- Participates in Professional Development Plan including CPR and First Aid.
- Will be required to take lead in absence of teacher.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
- Makes routine decisions around day to day execution of the job. Good time management and organizational skills. Works closely with management to ensure program compliments Head Start Standards. Keeps manager informed of important issues. Builds effective relationships within the organization, the children and their families.
- Strong interpersonal, communication and organizational skill. Ability to follow directions and take initiative.
- Ability to work collaboratively with Head Start Teacher, other staff, parents, and community partners in the provision of high-quality services to children and families.
- Knowledge of the purpose of the Head Start/Early Head Start Program
- Ability to relate sensitively with children and to work well with staff, parents and families.
- Ability to keep all information on families strictly confidential.
- Ability to communicate effectively with children, parents and staff.
- Bilingual preferred (English/Spanish or English and other languages used by children and families).
- Must participate in professional development training including basic first aid and pediatric CPR certification as required by state licensing and HSPPS.