TEACHER AIDE - Alakanuk Head Start

Job Summary

Assists the Teacher or Teacher Director in the overall care, nurturing, and education for a center-based group of young children. Works in partnership with parents and other staff to provide full range of Head Start services to children and families. This position is 35 hours per week, 37 weeks per year with summer layoff.

• Ensures compliance with all applicable federal and state sanitation and safety regulations, Child & Adult Care Food Program guidelines, to include traditional foods guidelines, Federal and state regulations, Head Start Performance Standards, agency and Child Development Division Head Start/Early Head Start Policies and Procedures and the Head Start Work Plan.
• Supports partnerships with parents that are respectful, culturally sensitive, and non-judgmental.
• Conducts parent-teacher conferences and home visits with parents and ensures that families’ strengths, and needs are identified and addressed.
• Supports a safe, healthy, nurturing environment for children including using the principles of Active Supervision at all times.
• Assists classroom teacher with curriculum and lesson planning that respects the needs of individual children. The materials provided will:
  • Consider the children's interests, disabilities, special talents, and individual style of learning.
  • Consider the individual in relationship to their cultural and socioeconomic background.
  • Help children to become aware of their roles as integral members of the group.
  • Assure children are treated with dignity and respect.
• Assists with ensuring appropriate documentation of program operations for class assigned including conducting and entering ongoing observations of children, assessing children’s developmental levels, and utilizing the results in the planning process through the designated assessment system.
• Supports community partnerships for the support of families and children.
• Assists volunteers in learning and abiding by program philosophy while working with children.
• Participates in weekly staff meetings, regular supervisory meetings and all required training.

• Assists kitchen and janitorial staff as requested by supervisor and as work schedule permits.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

• Develops and maintains constructive and cooperative working relationships with children, families, staff, and others.
• Assists with the planning and implementation of age and culturally appropriate activities and supervision of an assigned group of children that promotes their social and emotional development.
• Participates in active supervision strategies of positioning oneself to observe all children; watching, counting, and listening at all times, and using one's knowledge of each child's development and abilities to anticipate their actions and get involved to give appropriate redirection when necessary.
• Assists in maintaining classroom in accordance with all applicable health and safety regulations and standards.

• Provides full attention to what other people are saying and taking time to understand the points being made and asking questions as appropriate.
• Speaks clearly and communicates information and ideas effectively so others will understand.
• Ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing, and to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
• Possesses sound judgment and decision making abilities to evaluate the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
• Uses logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
• Ability to exercise good judgment, courtesy, and tact in working with a diverse staff.
• Ability to read, comprehend, and follow established policies and procedures.
• Ability to manage work time well, prioritize and meet deadlines.
• Ability to establish good rapport with people of diverse cultures and belief systems.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a team environment.
• Must demonstrate sound judgment, professional boundaries, ethics, and ability…