Daycare Assistant Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Sweetwater County School District Number One 
Full-Time Daycare Assistant and Preschool Teacher Assistant 
Job Title: Full-Time Daycare Assistant and Preschool Teacher Assistant
Location: Overland Elementary Early Childhood Education Center
Reports To:  Overland Elementary Early Childhood Education Program Executive Director/ Preschool Principal and Daycare Director 
Terms of Employment: 
Months Per Year: __10___                 Full Time __X___     
Salary Classification: PIV-0, $22.50
Nature and Scope of Job: The purpose of the Assistant is to assist the Lead Teacher in the preschool and assist in the daycare. Cooperate in a supportive role to provide the highest quality instruction and supervision in a safe and healthy learning environment for all children.  To promote the health, safety, welfare, nutrition and education of all children in the early childhood center.
Job Functions:  The Assistant will assist the Teacher in the preschool and daycare in providing a learning environment and facilitating experiences for the children to develop socially, cognitively, physically and emotionally within developmentally appropriate practices.  The Assistant supports the Teacher in the preschool and assists in the daycare working directly with the children on a daily basis, interacting and modeling desired behaviors for the children.  The Assistant will involve and support the parents in meaningful ways and appreciate the importance of parent involvement.  The Assistant will assume the role of Classroom Teacher when the  Teacher is absent.  The Assistant will share with the Teacher in the preschool the responsibility of conducting home visits, conferences, observations, assessments and other duties as assigned.
Essential Functions:

1. Assist in the daycare classroom as needed.
2. Possess and demonstrate strong working knowledge of Head Start Performance Standards and/or Wyoming Early Learning Standards, as well as other regulations.
3. Model enjoyment, humor, and enthusiasm for teaching and expect students to enjoy learning.
4. Facilitate in conjunction with the Teacher in the preschool and daycare to implement curriculum, which reflects mandated elements and components, parental and cultural influences, and promotes the social, emotional, physical and cognitive development of all children.
5. Under the direction of the Teacher in the preschool and daycare, assist in creating weekly lesson plans addressing individual goals for children.  Provide a comprehensive safe and healthy learning environment for all children.
6. Assist in guiding and facilitating activities of the children, including: daily activities, field trips, selecting and arranging materials in the classroom.
7. Follow a consistent schedule, which includes small and large group experiences, work time, music and movement, large and small motor activities, skill development, meals and effective transitions between activities.
8. Assist the Teacher in maintaining a comprehensive and ongoing portfolio assessment for each child, including weekly observations in each area, examples of the child's work, and a developmental assessment.
9. Participate with the Teacher in home visits and parent teacher conferences to discuss and set educational goals for each child's individual development and to discuss progress.
10. Document attendance and all activities and submit to the appropriate staff, any prescribed forms consistently, correctly, and promptly.
11. Complete and submit required forms and records in a timely and accurate fashion; lesson plans, time approvals, meal reports, etc.
12. Eat with and assist children in development of social and self-help skills, and sound nutritional practices.
13. Guide children's acquisition of social skills.
14. Under the direction of the Teacher, the Assistant will be responsible for referral of behavioral, health, education, mental health and social service concerns to the appropriate staff member.
15. Attend staff training and meetings as requested.
16. Cooperate with other staff and classroom groups to maintain the smooth functioning of the classroom and program, which at times may require changes to meet the needs of the children.
17. Work with other teachers, teacher assistants, and volunteers to use and develop their skills and abilities in planning and carrying out classroom activities.
18. Maintain a safe and healthy classroom environment.  Assure that classroom equipment, furniture, materials, and supplies are properly maintained and stored.
19. Use the playground and gym as an extension of the classroom and assure the playground and gym are safe.
20. Assure files are complete, accurate, and confidentiality maintained for assigned students.
21. In consultation with coaching and feedback, develops own professional work goals and training plan.
22. Possess and maintain licenses and/or certifications required for the position.
23. Demonstrates regular attendance and punctuality as required of position.
24. Assists with recruitment of children into Overland Elementary Early Childhood Center.
25. Perform other duties as assigned.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by a person in this position.  They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all duties that may be performed in such a position.
Other Functions:

1. Actively communicate with children in a positive way that encourages curiosity, exploration, problem solving and ongoing development of communication skills.
2. Possess and utilize effective interpersonal skills with children and adults from a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds, abilities, and educational levels, including effective oral and written communications.
3. Maintains confidentiality of all information concerning students, staff, parent/guardian in any public setting, classroom or area where students or uninvolved staff are involved.
4. Demonstrate commitment to teamwork.
5. Project genuine care and sensitivity toward early childhood learning center families.
6. Develop and maintain supportive and trusting relationships with all parents.
7. Other duties as assigned.

 
-Employees are held accountable for all duties of this job-
Job Qualifications:
Knowledge, Skills, and Mental Ability:

1. Adhere to program/personnel policies and procedures.
2. Must possess passion for working with children birth to 5 years old and their families.
3. Must possess strong classroom management skills, which include discipline as well as record keeping and assessment ability.
4. Must possess knowledge of group dynamics and interpersonal skills.
5. Must possess knowledge of psychological, emotional, educational, and behavioral development of children birth to 5 years old.
6. Must possess technological and computer skills.
7. Must possess excellent oral and written communication skills. Read, write, and speak well enough to understand and be understood.
8. Must possess problem solving, flexibility, imagination, patience, reasoning, creativity, judgment, and analytical abilities.

 
Education, License, Certification or Formal Training:
Sub certification (exclusive to School District Preschool and Daycare), preferred Associate degree in early childhood education, child development or related field or a Child Development Associate Certificate or (CDA). Experience working with birth thru elementary-aged children is preferred.
Physical Demands:
Able to sit and/or stand for extended periods of time.
Visual acuity to meet all responsibilities.
Hearing acuity to monitor children's overall safety and well-being and facilitate learning.
Lower body strength to allow repeated up and down movements while interacting with children.
Strength to lift objects that weigh at least 50 pounds and move them more than 50 feet.
Flexibility and stamina to fulfill the above responsibilities and to engage children in a wide variety of physical activities, including demonstration of such activities.
Environmental Demands:
Seasonal fluctuations in building temperature.
Possible exposure to blood and bodily fluids.
Fluorescent lighting.
Daily exposure to a variety of weather conditions, including extremes.
High noise level of small children.