Program Support Assistant Jobs in Mount Pleasant, MI

Job Title: Strong Beginnings Associate Teacher

Classification: Full-time, non-exempt, hourly

Salary Range: HS 01-03 ($17.44 - $18.60 - $19.68)

Hours: 40/week

Work Weeks: 41-44/year (school year)   

Program: Strong Beginnings                                     

Reports To: Strong Beginnings Lead Teacher

Positions Supervised: None

Mission Statement 

EightCAP, Inc., improves our community by collaborating with private, government, and community organizations to deliver programs that alleviate the causes of poverty and its effects, allowing individuals to become self-sufficient. 

Role Overview 

The Strong Beginnings Associate Teacher supports the Lead Teacher in providing a safe, nurturing, and engaging learning environment for three-year-old children participating in the Strong Beginnings Preschool Program. The Associate Teacher assists with implementing developmentally appropriate learning experiences, promoting children's social-emotional growth, maintaining a well-organized classroom, and fostering positive relationships with children and families.

Key Responsibilities 

1. Classroom Support: Assist the Lead Teacher in implementing developmentally appropriate, play-based learning experiences that promote children's cognitive, language, physical, social-emotional, and creative development.
2. Learning Environment: Help create and maintain a safe, welcoming, inclusive, and organized classroom that encourages exploration, independence, and positive interactions.
3. Child Engagement: Build positive, responsive relationships with children by actively participating in classroom activities, encouraging learning through play, and supporting children's individual needs and interests.
4. Health, Safety, and Supervision: Ensure the health, safety, and well-being of all children by maintaining active supervision and complying with all licensing regulations, program requirements, and Agency and district policies, as applicable.
5. Social-Emotional Development: Promote children's social-emotional growth by using positive behavior guidance strategies and fostering independence, self-regulation, problem-solving, and peer relationships.
6. Assessment Support: Assist the Lead Teacher with observing children's development, documenting learning, collecting assessment information, and preparing classroom materials that support individualized instruction.
7. Family Partnerships: Develop respectful relationships with families through positive daily communication and support family engagement activities as directed by the Lead Teacher.
8. Classroom Operations: Prepare classroom materials, assist with meals, transitions, toileting, and other daily routines, and ensure classroom equipment and supplies are clean, organized, and developmentally appropriate.
9. Program Compliance: Maintain compliance with all Strong Beginnings Program requirements, licensing regulations, and Agency and district policies and procedures, as applicable.
10. Emergency Preparedness: Be familiar with emergency procedures in order to respond effectively in the case of an emergency.
11. Perform Other Duties as Assigned. 
    

Qualifications 

• Associate degree in early childhood education or child development or the equivalent OR a valid center-based preschool CDA.

• Ability to communicate effectively and positively and work collaboratively with staff, families, Agency representatives, service providers, and community organizations in a respectful, professional, and non-judgmental manner.
• Understanding of mandated reporting requirements, including the ability to recognize, document, and report suspected child abuse or neglect in accordance with state law and program procedures.
• Must successfully complete all required state and federal background clearances.

Work Environment

This position operates primarily within a Strong Beginnings preschool classroom setting. This role requires regular interaction with children, families, staff, and community partners in a fast-paced early childhood education environment. The employee may be exposed to noise levels typical of a preschool classroom and will participate in indoor and outdoor activities in varying weather conditions as part of daily program operations.

Travel Requirements

Local travel to training locations, meetings, and community events may be required. The employee must possess a valid Michigan driver’s license, maintain an acceptable driving record, and have reliable transportation available for work-related travel.

Physical Requirements

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.
The physical requirements of this position include:

• Ability to move throughout classrooms, playgrounds, and program facilities.
• Ability to supervise and actively engage with children in indoor and outdoor environments.
• Ability to sit, stand, walk, bend, kneel, crouch, and reach as needed throughout the workday.
• Ability to lift, carry, and move up to 50 pounds occasionally.
• Ability to respond quickly and appropriately in emergency situations.
• Ability to operate standard office equipment, including computers, phones, and printers.
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.

Benefits 

Benefits include health, dental, vision, life insurance, AD&D, medical flex, and a 401k with a 5% employer match on your one-year anniversary.  Benefits begin on your 31st day of employment.   

Staff in this position may be eligible to apply for unemployment benefits during periods of layoff, in accordance with state unemployment regulations.

Employment At-Will Statement

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the employee assigned to this position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications. Employment with EightCAP, Inc. is at-will, meaning either the employee or the organization may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without notice, and with or without cause, consistent with applicable law.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

EightCAP, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive and respectful workplace.