Description
Position Title: Assistant Teacher, Head Start
Employee Type: Full-Time Regular
Supervisor Title: Teacher, Head Start or Center Director
Division: U.S. Programs & Advocacy
Summary
The position of Assistant Teacher assists in the instruction of preschool-aged children in activities designed to promote social-emotional, physical, and cognitive growth. Assistant Teachers are also responsible for assisting the Teacher in the general day-to-day operations of the Head Start classroom.
In addition, the Head Start Assistant Teacher assists families in identifying and reaching their own goals. In collaboration with families, other program team members and community partners, the Head Start Assistant Teacher supports families in developing skills for leadership and advocacy for their children. This position documents all family development services to show a clear picture of the families’ needs, strengths and growth.
Assistant Teachers report directly to the Center Director or Head Start Teacher, and works closely with the Manager/Specialist of Parent, Family and Community Engagement (PFCE). The Assistant Teacher assists in creating and nurturing strong partnerships with families and ensuring that instruction is consistent with best practice and at the highest level of quality, in compliance with Head Start Program Performance Standards.
As a frontline representative of Save the Children, Assistant Teachers are required to ensure the safety and security of children and families that he/she comes into 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.
What You’ll Be Doing (Essential Duties)
- Engage with children during all activities throughout the day; provide constant supervision of children during all learning activities indoors and outdoors and ensure safe environment.
- Assist in planning and conducting activities with Head Start Teacher to meet individual needs of children in accordance with the daily schedule.
- Guide and facilitate activities with Head Start Teacher including classroom projects and field trips.
- Maintain classroom management using developmentally appropriate techniques.
- Provide a safe and developmentally-appropriate learning environment; interact with children one-on-one and in small groups.
- Protect the safety of children by implementing active supervision techniques to ensure no child is left alone or unsupervised at any time
- Work in cooperation with Head Start Teacher and Manager/Specialist of PFCE to engage families as full partners in assessing their needs and strengths, and prioritizing their needs and interests according to their own values; ensure there is an appropriate fit between families’ needs and interests and program services.
- Support each family in developing a Family Partnership Agreement so the family is able to understand and use goal development as a valuable life skill.
- Make and consistently follow up on referrals related to: Family Partnership Agreement goals, strengths/needs assessment items, children with special needs, family health, job and education services and other services related to wellness and family sustainability.
- Create ways to engage parents in the education of their children including encouraging classroom involvement and home activities.
- Serve as a liaison between staff and parents; partner with parents in the education of their children including encouraging classroom involvement and home activities.
- Participate in parent-teacher conferences to discuss children’s individual development and progress.
- Eat with and assist children with eating at mealtime to teach social and self-help skills and sound nutritional practices.
- Assist children in health and personal habits, such as resting, brushing teeth and toilet habits.
- Assist the Head Start Teacher in record keeping; conduct and document observations, assessments and screenings.
- Maintain confidentiality regarding children.
- Participate in staff meetings, committees and training sessions.
- Assist in the mobilization and documentation of matching in-kind activities, goods and services.
- Work may require the flexibility to stay until all children have left the program.
- In cooperation with supervisor, develop and document progress on professional development plan.
- Will be required to take lead in absence of teacher.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.