Pre-K Counts Teacher Assistant

OVERALL PURPOSE:

This position is responsible to provide a variety of assistance to the Teacher to ensure curriculum is delivered to three- to five-year-olds in a safe and healthy environment that fosters child growth and development. This position is also required to maintain documentation as assigned.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Assist with the implementation of an individualized curriculum to promote the holistic and comprehensive growth of PKC children.

Contribute to the development of an environment that enhances the curriculum.

Contribute to the development of a schedule and lesson plan that reflects variety and flexibility to meet individual needs.

Provide center activity plan that reflects variety and flexibility to meet individual needs.

Assist in promoting a safe and healthy learning environment to include supervision and awareness of the location of all children at all times.

Promote healthy habits.

Assess the health of each child daily.

Encourage independence in self-help skills.

Assist with completion of one home visit per year with each enrolled child's family; assist with conducting two staff/parent conferences.

Use transition times for learning.

1. Maintain current records for each PKC child as per Teacher direction.

Assist in the assessment of each child's development on an ongoing basis.

Maintain administrative documentation.

Create, maintain and implement appropriate plans as needed.

Utilize ChildPlus software to review health records, complete daily attendance meal counts and parent communication.

1. Provide activities that promote social emotional development of children.

Provide equipment, materials, activities and supportive interactions to promote each child's social emotional development.

Assist in the implementation of the designated social and emotional curriculum.

Provide overall positive tone for the learning environment.

Provide positive guidance.

Employ positive communication skills.

Provide materials and activities for creative expression according to lesson plan.

Use transition times for learning.

1. Provide support of activities of various types that promote the development of intellectual skills.

Provide equipment, materials, and activities and supportive interactions to develop sensory, science, and early math skills.

Provide equipment, materials, and activities and supportive interactions to develop writing, literacy skills, including phonemic and print awareness, understanding and use of language, complex vocabulary, and book appreciation.

Provide equipment and materials for small and large muscle activities.

Maintain involvement in center time and outdoor activities.

Integrate children's interests, respecting ethnicity, culture and family dynamics, in planning and implementation of activities.

Provide daily challenges for development of intellectual skills, problem-solving skills, and approaches to learning.

Assist in implementing the current curriculum enhancements.

Use transition times for learning.

1. Identify, refer and monitor children with special needs.

Alert Teacher to concerns regarding child progress.

1. Engage families as partners in each child's PKC experience.

Assist in the provision of opportunities for families to be integrally involved in the development of curriculum.

Assist parents/guardians in child observations and sharing with staff.

Provide on-going communications with parents/guardians and other staff to provide a team-based approach in the delivery of services.

Attend all required family engagement events annually.

Support the development of relationships between children and their families.

Interact with families in a positive manner to encourage communication.

Offer and encourage volunteer opportunities.

Provide individual volunteer opportunities to ensure every family's involvement; make progress toward meeting individual family goals.

1. Seek out and participate in opportunities to enhance personal and professional growth.

Attend all scheduled professional development opportunities.

Establish and achieve annual professional development goals in consultation with supervisor.

Demonstrate knowledge of PA Early Learning Outcomes Framework Standards, the Head Start Framework and developmentally appropriate practices.

Maintain confidentiality and compliance with HIPAA requirements.

Participate in mentoring as requested or applicable.

Maintain development hours as required by PA Pre-K Counts and Keystone Stars.

1. Assist in the daily operations of the facility.

Perform duties to ensure the safe operation of the facility.

Complete the Daily Classroom Safety Checklist and Playground Safety Checklist basis and submit to the PKC Director within the assigned deadline.

Participate in routine school district fire drills.

Ensure all facility entrances/exits are safe for children, staff and parents.

QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION

Associate Degree or Bachelor Degree in education or related field; OR

High School Diploma or General Education Degree (GED) and a Child Development Associate credential or a state-awarded certificate that meets or exceeds the requirements for a CDA credential; OR

Enrolled in a program that will lead to an Associate or Baccalaureate Degree in any field

EXPERIENCE/TRAINING

One to two years related experience/training working with preschool children, preferred.