Opportunities for Broome

Job Description

Job Title: Assistant Teacher

Department: Head Start

Reports To: Lead Teacher and Education Coordinator

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt Head Start Calendar

Prepared By: Human Resources

Prepared Date: 07/07/11

Approved By: Policy Council

Approved Date: 07/25/2011

Summary: The Assistant Teacher shall assist the teacher in planning and carrying out the daily program activities and shall take over all duties in the absence of the Lead Teacher.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

Assist Lead Teacher in implementing developmentally appropriate activities as written in daily lesson plans

Assist Lead Teacher in preparing, in advance, materials needed to carry out daily activities

Manage large and small groups of children, as well as meetings children's individual needs

Utilize a team approach with Lead Teacher, parents, and other classroom teaching staff (to include public teaching an administrative staff when applicable) in the development and implementation of lesson plans and child observation and assessment

Actively participate in children's activities in the classroom and on the playground

Model appropriate behavior, language, and grammar skills for children and parents

Eat breakfast, snacks, and lunch with children; encouraging children to engage in conversation and promoting a pleasant atmosphere during meal time. Use meal periods and information about the food as part of the total education plan

Assist children with the proper health, nutrition, and safety training and encourage self help skills such as eating (serving self), dressing, brushing teeth, toileting, and personal hygiene

Attend monthly parent committee meetings and child/family related meetings (i.e. CPSE, IEP) as required, adjusting regular work schedule to incorporate this time into regular work hours

Participate (when possible) in two home visits and two parent/teacher conferences per child per year

Create an atmosphere that is welcoming to parents and families

Work in cooperation with other staff members to transition children and parents in and out of Head Start

In absence of Lead Teacher assume all responsibilities as described in the Lead Teacher job description

Record Keeping/Communication

Assist Lead Teacher in maintaining records (attendance, accident/incident reports, daily health check, family communication notes, fire drills, lesson plans, etc.) as required by Head Start and New York State office of Children and Family Services (OCFS)

Input required data in the Teaching Strategies GOLD and COPA data bases

Assist Lead Teacher in keeping ongoing observation records on children's performance and use these anecdotal records in updating child assessments, and in planning individual and group activities and interactions with children

Maintain a positive working relationship with parents and guardians, staff and other human service agencies

Assist Lead Teacher in maintaining a complete and up to date file on each child

Document any conversation/interaction with children/families and share relevant information with appropriate Head Start staff on a "need to know basis"

Fulfill role as Mandated Reporter as stated in the Child Abuse and Maltreatment policy

Check OFB online e-mail account frequently throughout the work week

Classroom Environment

Assure that children are treated with respect while using positive discipline techniques and setting limits and expectations consistently

Maintain a safe and healthy classroom environment

Maintain an orderly and clean classroom environment; this may include sweeping, mopping, etc. as necessary

Maintain inventory of classroom supplies and assure materials are in good condition

Professional Development

Maintain a working knowledge of all Head Start Performance Standards and adhere to all agencies policies and procedures

Participate in all meetings and in-service training (workshops, consultations, etc.)

Complete the 30 hours of professional development training as required be Head Start and NYS OCFS

Be computer literate and able to acquire new skills

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Competencies

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; Works well in group problem solving situations; Uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.

Project Management - Coordinates projects; Communicates changes and progress.

Technical Skills - Assesses own strengths and weaknesses; Pursues training and development opportunities; Strives to continuously build knowledge and skills; Shares expertise with others.

Interpersonal Skills - Focuses on solving conflict; Maintains confidentiality; Listens to others without interrupting; Keeps emotions under control; Remains open to others' ideas and tries new things.

Oral Communication - Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; Listens and gets clarification; Responds well to questions; Participates in meetings.

Written Communication - Writes clearly and informatively; Edits work for spelling and grammar; Varies writing style to meet needs; Presents numerical data effectively; Able to read and interpret written information.

Teamwork - Balances team and individual responsibilities; Exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; Gives and welcomes feedback; Contributes to building a positive team spirit; Puts success of team above own interests; Able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; Supports everyone's efforts to succeed.

Visionary Leadership - Displays passion and optimism; Inspires respect and trust; Provides vision and inspiration to peers and subordinates.

Change Management - Communicates changes effectively; Prepares and supports those affected by change.

Leadership - Exhibits confidence in self and others; Inspires and motivates others to perform well; Effectively influences actions and opinions of others; Accepts feedback from others; Gives appropriate recognition to others.

Cost Consciousness - Develops and implements cost saving measures; Conserves organizational resources.

Diversity - Demonstrates knowledge of EEO policy; Shows respect and sensitivity for cultural differences; Promotes a harassment-free environment; Builds a diverse workforce.

Ethics - Treats people with respect; Keeps commitments; Inspires the trust of others; Works with integrity and ethically; Upholds organizational values.

Organizational Support - Follows policies and procedures; Completes administrative tasks correctly and on time; Supports organization's goals and values; Benefits organization through outside activities; Supports affirmative action and respects diversity.

Strategic Thinking - Develops strategies to achieve organizational goals; Understands organization's strengths & weaknesses; Adapts strategy to changing conditions.

Judgement - Exhibits sound and accurate judgment; Supports and explains reasoning for decisions; Includes appropriate people in decision-making process.

Motivation - Sets and achieves challenging goals; Demonstrates persistence and overcomes obstacles; Measures self against standard of excellence.

Planning/Organizing - Prioritizes and plans work activities; Uses time efficiently; Sets goals and objectives; Develops realistic action plans.

Professionalism - Approaches others in a tactful manner; Reacts well under pressure; Treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; Accepts responsibility for own actions; Follows through on commitments.

Quality - Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; Applies feedback to improve performance; Monitors own work to ensure quality.

Quantity - Completes work in timely manner.

Safety and Security - Observes safety and security procedures; Determines appropriate action beyond guidelines; Reports potentially unsafe conditions; Uses equipment and materials properly.

Adaptability - Adapts to changes in the work environment; Manages competing demands; Changes approach or method to best fit the situation; Able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events.

Attendance/Punctuality - Is consistently at work and on time; Ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent; Arrives at meetings and appointments on time.

Dependability - Follows instructions, responds to management direction; Keeps commitments; Completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternate plan.

Initiative - Volunteers readily; Undertakes self-development activities; Seeks increased responsibilities; Looks for and takes advantage of opportunities; Asks for and offers help when needed.

Innovation - Displays original thinking and creativity; Meets challenges with resourcefulness; Generates suggestions for improving work; Develops innovative approaches and ideas; Presents ideas and information in a manner that gets others' attention.

Qualifications To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience

At least a CDA or an associate, baccalaureate, or advanced degree in early childhood education or in a field related to early childhood education. Universal Pre-Kindergarten must pass the NYS Assessment of Teaching Assistant Skills (NYSATAS)

At least one year's experience working with young children in a classroom setting. Direct experience working with low income children and families preferred

A physical, TB screening, criminal record check, and DSS Request for Search of Central Registry are required prior to employment. Physical and TB screening must be updated every two years.

Language Skills

Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.

Mathematical Skills

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

Reasoning Ability

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

Computer Skills

To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of Internet software; Spreadsheet software and Word Processing software.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

Valid NYS driver's license and personal transportation

Other Skills and Abilities

Understands and agrees to abide by Head Start program's standards of conduct, which include the following:

Staff will respect and promote the unique identity of each child and family and refrain from stereotyping on the basis of gender, race, ethnicity, culture, religion or disability

Staff will follow program confidentiality policies concerning information about children, families, and other staff members

No child will be left alone or unsupervised while under our care

Staff will use positive methods of child guidance and will not engage in corporal punishment, emotional or physical abuse, or humiliation. In addition, they will not employ methods of discipline involving isolation, the use of food as punishment or reward, or denial of basic needs.

Free from conviction of child and adult abuse, neglect, molestation, or exploitation.

Physical Demands The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is required to walk; sit; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, sit on floor and child size chairs and use taste or smell. The employee must regularly lift and /or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 60 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and distance vision.

Work Environment The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

,

JS_8.1.3,JS_8.1.3.1,JS_8.1.3.4,JS_8.1.3.5,JS_8.1.4,JS_8.1.4.2,JS_8.1.4.3,JS_8.1.5,JS_8.1.5.1,JS_8.1.5.2,JS_8.1.5.3,JS_8.1.5.4,JS_8.2.2,JS_8.2.2.1,JS_8.2.2.2,JS_8.2.2.3,JS_8.2.2.4,JS_8.2.2.5,JS_8.2.3,JS_8.2.3.1,JS_8.2.3.2,JS_8.2.3.3,JS_8.2.3.5,JS_8.2.6,JS_8.2.6.1,JS_8.2.6.2,JS_8.2.6.3,JS_8.2.6.4,JS_8.2.6.5,JS_8.2.5,JS_8.2.5.1,JS_8.2.5.2,JS_8.2.5.3,JS_8.2.5.4,JS_8.2.5.5,JS_8.2.5.6,JS_8.2.5.7,JS_8.3.6,JS_8.3.6.1,JS_8.3.6.2,JS_8.3.6.4,JS_8.3.1,JS_8.3.1.2,JS_8.3.1.4,JS_8.3.3,JS_8.3.3.1,JS_8.3.3.2,JS_8.3.3.3,JS_8.3.3.5,JS_8.3.3.7,JS_8.4.2,JS_8.4.2.2,JS_8.4.2.4,JS_8.4.3,JS_8.4.3.1,JS_8.4.3.2,JS_8.4.3.4,JS_8.4.3.5,JS_8.4.4,JS_8.4.4.1,JS_8.4.4.2,JS_8.4.4.3,JS_8.4.4.4,JS_8.4.4.5,JS_8.4.5,JS_8.4.5.1,JS_8.4.5.2,JS_8.4.5.3,JS_8.4.5.4,JS_8.4.5.5,JS_8.4.6,JS_8.4.6.1,JS_8.4.6.2,JS_8.4.6.5,JS_8.5.6,JS_8.5.6.2,JS_8.5.6.3,JS_8.5.6.4,JS_8.5.7,JS_8.5.7.1,JS_8.5.7.2,JS_8.5.7.3,JS_8.5.8,JS_8.5.8.1,JS_8.5.8.2,JS_8.5.8.4,JS_8.5.8.6,JS_8.5.9,JS_8.5.9.1,JS_8.5.9.2,JS_8.5.9.3,JS_8.5.9.4,JS_8.5.9.5,JS_8.5.10,JS_8.5.10.1,JS_8.5.10.2,JS_8.5.10.3,JS_8.5.10.4,JS_8.5.11,JS_8.5.11.2,JS_8.5.12,JS_8.5.12.1,JS_8.5.12.2,JS_8.5.12.3,JS_8.5.12.4,JS_8.5.1,JS_8.5.1.1,JS_8.5.1.2,JS_8.5.1.3,JS_8.5.1.4,JS_8.5.2,JS_8.5.2.1,JS_8.5.2.2,JS_8.5.2.3,JS_8.5.3,JS_8.5.3.1,JS_8.5.3.3,JS_8.5.3.5,JS_8.5.4,JS_8.5.4.1,JS_8.5.4.2,JS_8.5.4.3,JS_8.5.4.5,JS_8.5.4.6,JS_8.5.5,JS_8.5.5.1,JS_8.5.5.2,JS_8.5.5.3,JS_8.5.5.4,JS_8.5.5.5

Supplementary Information

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) in this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instruction or assignments. All duties and responsibilities are essential functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.

To perform this job successfully, the employee(s) will possess the skills, aptitudes, and abilities to perform each duty proficiently. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health or safety of themselves or others. The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, or abilities.

This document does not create an employment contract, implied, or otherwise, other that an "at will" relationship.

Employee Signature:______

Date:______