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Description

Job Overview

The PK-3 Head Start Assistant Teacher supports high-quality early learning by working in collaboration with AVANCE and ISD staff to promote positive child outcomes for children of all abilities. The Assistant Teacher helps implement the curriculum, foster a safe and nurturing classroom environment, and support children's development across all domains. This role requires flexibility to adapt to classroom needs and a commitment to AVANCE's mission and standards.

Job Responsibilities

The Assistant Teacher will be evaluated on a combination of skills, dispositions, and behaviors aligned with AVANCE's expectations for instructional staff, including:

1. CLASS teacher-child interactions
2. Learning environment
3. Curriculum implementation
4. Child assessment
5. Meeting all children's needs
6. Working with families
7. Professional growth and collaboration

Child Growth and Development

• Support implementation of developmentally appropriate lessons using the ISD and AVANCE approved instructional materials. 
• Foster a collaborative relationship that ensures shared responsibility for classroom instruction and child outcomes. 
• Utilize small-group, whole-group, and individualized instruction to meet the needs of all students. 
• Integrate language, literacy, math, and social-emotional learning throughout the daily routine. 
• Support on conducting ongoing observations and documentation. 
• Collaborate to analyze assessment data and adjust instruction to support individual learning goals. 
• Maintain accurate records and portfolios for each child in accordance with AVANCE and ISD requirements. 
• Develop respectful and trusting relationships with families through regular communication, parent-teacher conferences, home visits, and family meetings. 
• Partner with families to support children's learning and development, promoting culturally responsive practices and family participation in the classroom. 
• Support teacher to establish and maintain a well-organized, safe, and engaging classroom environment that encourages exploration and learning. 
• Promote social-emotional development and self-regulation using positive guidance strategies. 
• Ensure daily routines support predictable structure while remaining responsive to children's needs. 
• Follow and adhere to ISD district safety protocol and procedures. 
• Adhere to all Head Start Program Performance Standards, licensing regulations, and ISD district policies. 
• Participate in program monitoring, self-assessment, and continuous quality improvement initiatives. 
• Maintain confidentiality of child and family information. 
• Collaborate with the Accessibility & Mental Health Coordinator, Education Coordinator, ISD interventionists, and other support staff to implement individualized accommodations and strategies. 
• Support dual language learners by incorporating culturally and linguistically responsive instruction and materials. 
• Attend all required training, in-service days, and professional learning communities offered by AVANCE and the ISD. 
• Engage in reflective practice, professional goal setting, and continuous improvement aligned with CLASS, TPOT, curriculum fidelity, assessment data, and Head Start program goals. 
• Participate actively in co-teaching planning sessions and joint problem-solving with the co-teacher and ISD and AVANCE support staff. 

Communication and Service Coordination

• Support teacher on scheduling and completing two home visits and two parent-teacher conferences each year. 
• Encourage and engage family members to serve as classroom volunteers. 
• Collaborate with family services staff to support families in PCEP and in implementing family life practices, extending learning into the home, and meeting expectations for attendance. 
• Collaborate with ISD and AVANCE support staff. 
• Prepare or modify weekly lesson plan and classroom environment in collaboration with teacher. 

Record Keeping and Reporting

• Maintain required documentation of activities, including child and family information, assessment data, volunteer logs, etc. 
• Follow health and hygiene practices including handwashing, sanitizing, and universal precautions.
• Ensure active supervision and safety of children at all times.
• Responsible for collaborating with the Teacher in the preparation of daily lesson plans. Post lesson plans for parents, volunteers, and visitors in the classroom.

Ongoing Monitoring/Self-assessment

• Participate in ongoing reflective coaching and self-assessment. 
• Conduct daily health/safety monitoring of the indoor and (as requested) outdoor environment.

Planning and Implementation

• Support implementation of ISD's/AVANCE's chosen curriculums with fidelity, being aware of the big ideas while also following all assigned guidance and resources. 
• Prepare or modify weekly lesson plans and prepare to implement small-group activities, read-aloud, circle time, and other curriculum components. 
• Follow all guidance and expectations to support implementation of AVANCE's Parent-Child Education Program. 

Establish and maintain a safe, healthy, and positive learning environment

• Ensure classroom arrangement, materials and displays are organized and conducive to children's learning. 
• Establish and maintain a safe, healthy learning environment, including full supervision of children at all times, in accordance with the ISD, Head Start and childcare licensing requirements. 
• Follow all health and hygiene practices, including handwashing, sanitizing, and universal precautions. 

Support the social and emotional development of children.

• Establish positive and productive relationships with families focusing on building trust and rapport.
• Know and understand School Readiness Goals and strive to help all children achieve them. 

Other Duties

• Performs any and all other duties as assigned.
• Model appropriate classroom practices.
• Work with the Supervisor and Teacher to develop and support the individual development plan for assigned volunteers.
• Assist the Teacher in devising work methods and procedures that support improvements in existing work practices; supporting the volunteers you supervise in developing and setting goals, priorities and timelines.
• Maintain the plan to meet changing or emergent program requirements within available resources and with minimum sacrifice to quantity or quality of work.
• Participates in assigned meetings, events and training as required.

AVANCE Core Competencies

• Execution & Accountability 
• Problem Solving & Decision-Making 
• Communication & Influence 
• Collaboration & Teamwork 
• Stakeholder Focus 
• Adaptability & Continuous Learning

Requirements

Education

Required: 

• At a minimum, a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential or a state awarded certificate that meets or exceeds the requirements for a CDA credential, is enrolled in a program that will lead to an associate or baccalaureate degree, or is enrolled in a CDA credential program to be completed within two years of the time of hire.

Preferred:

• Degree in early childhood education.

Work Experience

Required

• Prior experience with children ages 0-5 years.       
• Physical exam and background checks are required for this position. 
• Travel required locally or long-distance up to 10% of the time for work-related meetings and functions. 
• Must have a valid driver's license and reliable transportation. 

Additional Skills

• Demonstrated ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment; demonstrated flexibility to handle multiple priorities.  
• Ability to interact effectively with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Must be honest, dependable and able to meet deadlines.
• Self-motivated and able to work independently.

Travel

• Ability to travel to various sites: Dependable transportation is required daily with a valid driver's license, a clean driving record (subject to annual MVR (Motor Vehicle Report) check and policy), current auto liability insurance and be bondable by AVANCE, Inc.
• Travel required up to 10% of the time for work-related site visits, meetings, and functions.

Equipment

• Standard office equipment generally used includes:
• Telephone
• Personal Computer (monitor, keyboard, and mouse) or Tablet
• Printer/Photocopy Machine
• Calculator
• Fax Machine

Working Conditions

• Work is generally performed in an office environment. 
• Noise level in the work environment is moderate to occasionally loud (examples: business office with computers and printers, light to moderate traffic, human voices). 
• May be required to operate a motor vehicle during the course of duties. 

Mental and Physical Demands

Maintain emotional control under stress; work with interruptions and deadlines; walking, standing, stooping, bending, pulling and pushing, use hands to finger, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; occasional: lifting/carrying, pulling/pushing 10 pounds.?Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Environmental Factors

Occasional exposure to: biological hazards (communicable diseases, bacteria, insects, mold, fungi, etc.). Occasional expose to weather related conditions when working in outside environment /neighborhoods and events.

ADA/ADAAA Statement

AVANCE is committed to equal opportunity in employment for persons with disabilities and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), as amended, and any other applicable state and federal laws. Accordingly, AVANCE does not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities in regard to application, hiring, advancement, discharge, compensation, training or other terms, conditions and privileges of employment. Moreover, it is AVANCE's policy to provide reasonable accommodations in employment to qualified individuals with disabilities so that they can perform the essential functions of the job, unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of AVANCE's business or would change the essential functions of the position. Retaliation against an individual with a disability for utilizing this policy or seeking a reasonable accommodation is prohibited. Individuals with any questions or requests for accommodation should contact the Human Resources Department.