Early Learning Educational Assistant III

Salary Range: Educational Assistant III, SR-13:  $3,122.44 per month 

Early Learning Educational Assistant positions are located on school campuses that have Executive Office on Early Learning (EOEL) Public Prekindergarten Program classrooms and serve children in the year before kindergarten entry.  This position works independently to provide learning experiences in all areas of development and academic disciplines, in accordance with established guidelines, available resources, and the Early Learning classroom teacher.  Some of the essential duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Cultivates healthy, challenging learning environments and experiences; converses with children in a positive manner during child-initiated activities and during routines and transitions; greets children upon arrival and ensures safe departure; instructs and models appropriate behavior; encourages positive social rapport; assists in guiding children during transitions and routines; addresses conflicts between children; engages with children during play to promote development and learning in all domains of development.
2. Implements and assesses learning experiences for children based on plans and goals established with or by the teacher; sets up activities/areas for children to participate in indoor learning centers, small or large group activities, and outdoor activities; supervise and conduct group and individual learning activities; builds positive relationship and guides children through supportive interactions.
3. Observes children and documents/assesses their development and learning; collects other data as directed by the teacher.
4. Ensures overall health and safety for children; assists children in areas related to health and safety, including toileting, handwashing, eating, resting, and playing; ensures healthy and safe environment; reports and follows-up on unsafe play/work areas and materials; sanitizes materials and surfaces when needed; assists children in dealing with stressful situations.
5. Prepares and maintains materials and environment for learning experiences; organizes and prepares learning centers as guided by the teacher; observe children's use of materials and environment in order to provide modifications, adaptations; consult with teacher as needed.
6. Supervises before, during, and after class activities.

Special Requirement:  In order to provide young children with developmentally appropriate high-quality early learning programs that contribute to long-term positive impacts, applicants must meet one of the following:

1. Possession of a current Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential;
2. Successful completion of coursework for a certificate that meets the requirements for a CDA Credential; or,
3. Be enrolled in a program or coursework that prepares the individual to obtain a CDA Credential.  Evidence of active pursuit toward completing the program must be provided annually to EOEL.  Applicants selected for hire who qualify under this option must provide evidence, as requested by the EOEL, of their active efforts to complete the preparatory coursework or obtain a CDA Credential.

Basic Education Requirements:  Applicants must possess a high school diploma, General Equivalency Diploma (GED), or equivalent AND one of the following minimum education requirements, which have been established within the parameters described by the Federal Government's No Child Left Behind Act of 2001:

1. 48 semester credits, baccalaureate level courses, from an accredited institution of higher education recognized by the Hawaii Department of Education.  The forty-eight (48) credits may be from various programs or academic subject areas.  In addition, of the 48 credits from baccalaureate level courses, 3 must have been for math and 3 for English courses.
2. An Associate in Arts (AA) or Science (AS) degree or higher from an accredited institution recognized by the Hawaii Department of Education.  The credits earned for the degree must include a minimum of 48 credits for courses that are baccalaureate level.
3. Successful completion of the ParaPro Assessment provided by the  Education Testing Service (ETS).

Experience Requirements:  Except for the substitutions provided for in this specification, applicants must have had experience of the kind and quality described below and in the amount shown in the table below:

Class TitleGeneral Experience (years)*Specialized Experience (years)* Educational Assistant III11

* One (1) year of General or Specialized Experience is defined as a school year approximately 180 "teacher duty" days or approximately 38 weeks per year.

General Experience:  Experience which involved direct interaction with people and which demonstrated the ability to provide and elicit information and to observe, evaluate and take action or report accurately on different situations.  In addition, either concurrently or separately, there must be evidence of demonstrated ability to organize materials, maintain records, and write descriptions, consisting of a few sentences, of occurrences or observations.  There must also be a demonstrated awareness of basic educational programs, goals, functions, and activities which may have been gained through involvement in activities such as serving on school/community committees, advising youth groups, or taking part in parent/teacher/student meetings and activities.

Specialized Experience:  Work experience involving direct contact with students and which included student management (in directing activities, ensuring order, etc.).  The experience must have provided familiarity with common academic, social, behavioral, and developmental problems of students, and the opportunity to observe the resolution of these problems by professional staff, or participate in problem resolution under direction of professional staff.  The experience must also have involved using a variety of instructional materials, techniques, and equipment, and performance of specific instructional, counseling, or guidance tasks and testing routines.  This type of work experience is generally gained in an educational setting by positions providing a variety of supportive services to professional personnel directly engaged in the academic, personal, social, and/or vocational development of students.

Allowed Substitutions of Education for Experience:

1. Possession of a Certificate of Completion in Child Services or related program from an accredited community college may be substituted for one-half (1/2) year of General Experience.
2. Successful completion of coursework in a curriculum leading to an Associate in Science degree in Teacher Aide, Educational Assistant, Early Childhood Education or equivalent, from an accredited community college which did not include the completion of a practicum which involved instruction-related activities may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester credits for one-half (1/2) year of the experience.
3. Successful completion of coursework in a curriculum leading to an Associate in Science degree in Teacher Aide, Educational Assistant, Early Childhood Education or equivalent, from an accredited community college which included the completion of practicum which involved instruction-related activities may be substituted for General and/or Specialized Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester credits for one-half (1/2) year of experience.
4. Possession of an Associate in Science degree in a field such as Teacher Aide, Educational Assistant, Early Childhood Education or equivalent from an accredited community college which included successful completion of a practicum which involved instruction-related activities may be substituted for all of the General and all of the Specialized Experience requirements.
5. Successful completion of coursework in a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree from an accredited four (4) year college or university may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester credits for one-half (1/2) year of the experience provided that there is also a demonstrated awareness of basic educational programs, goals, functions, and activities which may have been gained through involvement in activities such as serving on school/community committees, advising youth groups, or taking part in parent/teacher/student meetings and activities.
6. Possession of a bachelor's degree in Education or its equivalent from an accredited four (4) year college or university may be substituted for all of the General and Specialized Experience requirements.
7. Possession of a Professional Diploma in Education or its equivalent from an accredited four (4) year college or university may be substituted for all of the General and Specialized Experience requirements.

Quality of Experience:  Possession of the required number of years of experience will not in itself be accepted as proof of qualification for a position.   The applicant's overall experience must have been of such scope and level of responsibility as to conclusively demonstrate the ability to perform the duties of the position.

Salary:  The advertised salary is based on full-time employment and includes shortage and school year differentials, if applicable.

Requirements:  Applicants must meet all the requirements for the position they are seeking as of the date of the application, unless otherwise specified.  Unless specifically indicated, the required education and experience may not be gained concurrently.  Calculation of experience is based on full-time, 40-hour workweeks.  Part-time experience is pro-rated.  Example:  Twelve months of experience at 20 hours/week is equivalent to six months of experience, not one year.  Also, hours worked in excess of 40 hours/week will not be credited.  Example:  Twelve months of experience at 60 hours/week is equivalent to one year of experience, not one and a half years.

Temporary Assignment:  Claims of Temporary Assignment (TA) experience to meet the minimum qualification requirements must be verified and attached to the application using one of the options below:

1. A copy of the applicant’s TA History Report or equivalent system-generated report;
2. A signed letter from the applicant’s supervisor that includes the applicant’s name, his/her TA job title, the TA start and end dates (from mm/yy to mm/yy), his/her specific TA duties performed, and either the TA hours worked per week or total TA hours worked; or,
3. Copies of the applicant’s signed SF-10 Forms.
   

Documents:  Attach all relevant supporting documents to your application.  Documents that were attached to applications submitted before November 16, 2023 do not automatically attach or transfer to applications submitted on and after December 16, 2023.  All submitted documents become the property of the Hawaii State Department of Education.

Information about Temporary Positions:  Temporary positions may be extended year to year, dependent upon funding and departmental needs.  Making yourself available for temporary positions increases your employment possibilities and may lead to permanent opportunities.  A person hired for a temporary position may also become a temporary employee upon satisfactory completion of the initial probation period of at least six months.  Once a temporary employee, you would be eligible to apply for promotion and transfer opportunities to permanent as well as other temporary positions.  You may also enjoy other rights and benefits as afforded to an employee in a permanent position, with the exception of return rights and placement rights associated with a reduction-in-force.  

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