Early Childhood Associate-McKee PreSchool

Early Childhood Associate – McKee Preschool (2026-27)

Starting Date: Aug 14, 2026

Job Title: Early Childhood Special Education Associate

Position Type: Non-Exempt

Department: Teaching & Learning

Reports To: Building Principal

• Education: Associate’s degree or higher in early childhood education or related field, or willing to obtain the required certification.
• Work Experience: None specified.
• Licensure or Certification: If education requirements not met, must be willing to obtain a Childhood Development Associate (CDA) credential or Para Educator I/II certification from the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners.

• Experience working with preschool children in an early childhood program.
• Basic computer skills.

• Supervise students in all assigned areas, including bus loading and unloading.
• Contribute to curriculum planning and implementation.
• Supervise meals or snacks with children, modeling appropriate etiquette and mealtime conversations.
• Follow behavior management plans for individual students and implement strategies to maintain behavior and de‑escalate inappropriate behavior under teacher direction.
• Assist in record‑keeping, instruction, monitoring progress, and data collection.
• Perform personal care duties such as feeding, toileting/diapering, and positioning.
• Participate in all district and department‑required trainings, including first aid, CPR, and mandatory child and adult abuse training.
• Participate in family orientation and parent or Individual Education Plan (IEP) meetings as required.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Create an environment that is safe, nurturing, and child‑centered.
• Clarify and reinforce teacher directions.
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Arrive on time and work consistently.
• Maintain satisfactory and harmonious working relationships with the public, students, and other staff.

• Inside working conditions.
• Frequent demands:
  Standing, walking, sitting, telephone use.
• Lifting 20 lbs up to 25 feet.
• Occasional demands:
  Bending/stooping, reaching/pushing/pulling, driving.

All candidates offered a position will be required to successfully pass a criminal background check, a child and adult abuse registry check, and may be subjected to fingerprinting, drug and alcohol testing, a physical capacity test, and a motor vehicle record check.

The Des Moines Independent Community School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, disability, religion, creed, age (for employment), marital status (for programs), sexual orientation, gender identity, and socioeconomic status (for programs) in its educational programs and its employment practices. For questions or complaints related to this policy, contact Carol Wynn‑Green, 2100 Fleur Drive, Des Moines, IA 50321;

phone: 515‑242‑7709; email: carol.wynngreen. Complaints can also be directed to the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, 400

E. 14th Street, Des Moines, IA 50319‑1004, (515) 281‑4121, or Region VII Office for Civil Rights, Citigroup Center, 500 W. Madison Street, Suite 1475, Chicago, IL 60661‑4544.