Head Start/EHS Teacher Aide

Job Overview
Assists center staff in carrying out various duties at a Head Start center as assigned, in accordance with Head Start Performance Standards, Child Care Licensing Regulations, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and other applicable standards. Work is performed under the direct supervision of a Head Start Teacher.

Ideal Candidate

The Head Start/Early Head Start Teacher Aide candidate will have a high school diploma and be willing to complete 45 clock hours from the Department of Children and families within 90 days of employment. The ideal candidate will also agree to earn a Child Development Associate (CDA) within two years. Experience in working with young children is required. The Teacher Aide position is a part-time position (19 hours per week), and the expectation is the chosen candidate will eventually move into a full-time position.

Salary

Minimum: $34,320.00/per year

Core Competencies

• Customer Commitment - Proactively seeks to understand the needs of the customers and provide the highest standards of service.
• Dedication to Professionalism and Integrity - Demonstrates and promotes fair, honest, professional and ethical behaviors that establishes trust throughout the organization and with the public we serve.
• Organizational Excellence - Takes ownership for excellence through one's personal effectiveness and dedication to the continuous improvement of our operations.
• Success through Teamwork - Collaborates and builds partnerships through trust and the open exchange of diverse ideas and perspectives to achieve organizational goals.

Duties and Responsibilities

Note: The following duties are illustrative and not exhaustive. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. Depending on assigned area of responsibility, incumbents in the position may perform one or more of the activities described below.

• Assists the teacher in implementing a good balance of child-directed and teacher-directed activities.
• Assists with providing healthy and safe activities that are developmentally and age appropriate.
• Assists the teacher in enrollment and attendance record keeping and reporting duties.
• Assists with playground supervision. Serves as sick room attendant as directed.
• Assists the Teacher with individual and group learning experiences, indoor play activities, field trips, music and art, hygiene and nutrition programs.
• Organizes materials needed for classroom activities.
• Provides clerical assistance to the teacher.
• Participates in parent meetings and works with parent volunteers in the classroom.
• Attends staff meetings, training sessions, etc.
• With assistance of the teacher, documents instances of child abuse as required by law.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Job Specifications

• Knowledge of preschool aged children's mental, emotional and social development.
• Ability to get down on the floor with children and interact with children.
• Ability to work with preschool children and parents.
• Ability to keep records and make reports as needed.
• Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Demonstrate patience, good judgment, resourcefulness and reliability.
• Ability to work effectively with others.

Physical Requirements

• Regular kneeling, stooping, bending, and sitting on the floor to attend to children's needs.
• Ability to provide physical assistance in the transportation of special needs children.

Work Category

• Medium work - Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

Minimum Qualifications Required

• Graduation from high school or possession of a GED certificate; AND
• Six months experience working with preschool children; AND
• Enrolled in and actively pursue Child Development Associate credentials (CDA) within 2 years of hire; AND
• Obtain the 40 clock hours from the Florida Department of Children and Families; AND
• Certification in First Aid and CPR within 12 months of hire; AND
• Possession of a valid Florida Driver's License.

Emergency Management Responsibilities

In the event of an emergency or disaster, an employee may be required to respond promptly to duties and responsibilities as assigned by the employee's department, the County's Office of Emergency Management, or County Administration. Such assignments may be for before, during or after the emergency/disaster.

Additional Job Requirements
A department, depending on the nature of its mission and operations, may require that employees in all or certain positions in this job classification:

• Maintain the ability to pass the background checks required for the position. These background checks may include but are not limited to:
• Criminal History Background Check using Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS)
• Level 1 and Level 2 Background screening (Ch. 435 Florida Statutes)
• Child Abuse, Abandonment and Neglect Record Check using the State Automated Child Welfare Information System (SACWIS)
• Sex Offender and Sexual Predator record check using the list maintained by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE)
• Possess the necessary job-related license(s) or certification(s) that may include possession of a Florida Driver License (Class E) or an applicable Commercial Driver License (CDL).