Teaching Assistant Jobs in Springfield, MA (NOW HIRING)

JOB DESCRIPTION

POSITION TITLE:         Teacher Assistant

DEPARTMENT:            Early Care and Education

FLSA STATUS:              Non-Exempt

PAY GRADE:                 6

REPORTS TO:               Instructional Leader           

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The purpose of this position is to support the Agency’s needs by assisting Teaching Team in all daily classroom routines and procedures to provide developmentally appropriate care and education for children in accordance with established principles of early childhood education including but not limited to, The Office of Early Childhood Daycare Regulations, National Association for the Education of Young Children Accreditation Standards, and Child and Adult Care Food Program.

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

The list of essential functions, as outlined herein, is intended to be representative of the tasks performed within this classification. It is not necessarily descriptive of any one position in the class. The omission of an essential function does not preclude management from assigning duties not listed herein if such functions are a logical assignment to the position.

Supervision of Children:

• Ensure children are always supervised by sight and sound as stated in CRT Supervision Handbook. Ensure all others working in classroom comply.
• Comply with and enforce CRT Supervision Policy and Procedures of children by ensuring, including but not limited to, the use of supervision cards and appropriate name to face counts, and maintaining appropriate teacher to child ratios and group sizes.
• Attend team meetings, CRT training, Planning and Placement Team (PPT) meetings, Parent Teacher Conferences, and other meetings as required or mandated.
• Complete required paperwork in a timely manner in accordance with CRT policy and procedure. Such paperwork should include but not be limited to accident/incident reports, individual emergency contact information for each child, first aid kit checklists, daily safety checklists, daily health checklists, playground checklists, attendance, meal counts, etc.
• Responsible for overall safety, sanitation, and cleanliness of classroom always.
• Maintain that both classroom and playground are always well organized and free from clutter.
• Ensure safe working environment and follow all agency safety procedures and reporting.
• Perform and complete all other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Educational program:

• Provide a developmentally appropriate curriculum and daily plan in accordance with assigned CRT curriculum, policies and procedures.
• Comply with deadlines established for completion of daily and weekly tasks as assigned by the Instructional Leader and all other content areas as assigned.
• Support to ensure the Learning Experience Plan (LEP) and all accompanying documentation is completed weekly and given to the Instructional Leader for review as required, by specific timelines.
• Collaborate with Instructional Leader to help understand identified Special Needs children, to individualize each child's needs and goals as needed.
• Establish behavioral strategies in conjunction with Instructional Leader for any child with behavioral challenges that impede his/her learning experience.
• Implement Individual Education Plans (IEP) as needed.

Working with families and children:

• Communicate professionally and effectively with all families and children daily.
• Communicate with and respond to individual children during activities and routine by communicating with children at eye level, using appropriate tone of voice and modeling and questioning to extend children's thinking and language.
• Use and model positive guidance techniques with all children in accordance with CRT policies and procedures and Department of Children and Families Abuse and Neglect Training.
• Ensure mandated reporter guidelines are always followed.
• Recognize and celebrate cultural diversity into daily routines and engage families to contribute to and participate in multicultural activities regularly.
• Establish and maintain professional interactions and relationships of respect, mutual trust, and collaboration with families and all staff.

Child and Adult Food Care Program:

• Ensure compliance with the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) as outlined by program standards. Ensure all others working in the classroom comply.
• Ensure CACFP guidelines are met for all meals including but not limited to point of service meal counts, meal portions, and family style service.

ADDITIONAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Perform all other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE

Education: Must have and maintain a Child Development Associate (CDA) or 12 ECE credits to meet the minimum educational requirement. Minimum CT Charts a Course Ladder Level of 6 required. Those who do not meet the minimum educational requirement must be enrolled in CRT’s CDA credentialing processed. Continued employment will be contingent upon meeting training expectations and obtaining CDA within 1 year of hire.

Experience: Two years classroom experience working with children in a state-licensed program preferred.

Certifications: First Aid for Children, CPR Certification, and Administration of Medication preferred.

Demonstrated Skills: Ability to work in a team, share and implement ideas and activities for intervention with children and families, possess good oral and written skills, have attention to detail and accuracy in data collection.

Age requirement: Candidate must be a minimum 18 years of age.

ADA COMPLIANCE

Physical Ability: Tasks involve the ability to exert moderate extended physical effort in light work, typically involving some combination of sitting on floor, standing for extended periods of time, stooping, kneeling, crouching and crawling, and which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of moderate weight (> 55 pounds).

Sensory Requirements: All tasks require visual and auditory perception and discrimination. All tasks require oral communications ability.

Environmental Factors: Tasks are regularly performed with exposure to adverse environmental conditions, such as dirt, dust, pollen, odors, wetness, humidity, rain, fumes, temperature and noise extremes, machinery, vibrations, electric currents, traffic hazards, animals/wildlife, toxic/poisonous agents, violence, disease, or pathogenic substances.

Must have and maintain a Child Development Associate (CDA) or 12 ECE credits to meet the minimum educational requirement. Minimum CT Charts a Course Ladder Level of 6 required.