Head Start Teacher Assistant

General

Role and Responsibilities:

The Head Start Teacher Assistant is responsible for assisting in the care and education of a specific group of children as part of a teaching team. The Teacher Assistant helps in the planning and implementation of classroom instructional activities that support and assesses children's learning to inform planning and implementation and provide a safe and inviting classroom environment in accordance with federal Head Start Performance Standards/Head Start Act, Developmentally Appropriate Practices as defined by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), and State/local requirements.

This position requires active participation with other members of the teaching team, various Head Start staff, SCH staff and parents. The Teacher provides direction and oversight of the Teacher Assistant's daily activities and responsibilities and works in collaboration with the Assistant Director to whom the Teacher Assistant reports. The Teacher Assistant is expected to present a positive and professional image of the School City of Hammond, SCH Head Start and Geminus Head Start.

The Teacher Assistant also is expected to actively and effectively participate on committees and work teams as requested.

General Skills and

Qualifications:

Possess the knowledge and skills necessary to assist in the provision of high-quality early childhood learning experiences to students and their families whether learning is in-person or virtual.

Specific Responsibilities in This Position:

* Assist in the promotion of the cognitive, physical, social and emotional development of students through the planning and implementation of classroom activities (both in-person and/or virtual) that meet curricular goals and objectives and are: self-directed; meaningful; relevant; developmentally appropriate, active and engaging; challenging but achievable; reflective and respectful of students' needs, interests and differences; and utilize a variety of modalities and materials

* Support the use of teaching strategies that: build on what students already know; support student analysis and reasoning; prompt student thought processes and extend student learning; incorporate the use of open-ended questions; expand student vocabulary; employ back-and-forth exchanges to build students' language skills and assist in concept development

* Support student learning through participation in/leading read-alouds, large and small group activities and engagement during daily activities as outlined by the Teacher.

* Assist in preparations and management of virtual/e-Learning days as outlined by Teacher

* In the event of virtual learning - participate in virtual classroom experiences by supporting virtual Large Group, Small Group and individualizations through Google Meet and Google Classroom opportunities as scheduled.

* Participate in the development of a positive classroom climate

* Assist in the creation of an effective learning environment through the use of functional and attractive displays (including displays of children's work, evidence of learning objectives) and interest areas

* Assist in the maintenance of a safe and healthy learning environment

* Implement active supervision strategies whenever students are present

* Help to complete daily/weekly classroom and building environment checklists to ensure meeting of standards and regulations regarding education, health, and safety

* Prepare classroom environment, equipment, supplies and material for daily classroom activities, as outlined by Teacher

* Assist in the assessment of student learning through the utilization of authentic assessment

* Support the use of screening and assessment data for classroom planning and individualization

* Assist in the input of required child documentation via computer data entry

* Assist in the planning, preparing and implementing field trips to community resources (e.g. fire station, police station, grocery store, library) and through classroom visits by community resource people. When conditions do not permit field trips outside of the classroom or classroom visits from community resource people, field trips will be conducted virtually.

* Establish positive and productive working relationships with parents

* Participate in parent visits and parent-teacher conferences as outlined in program plans. When conditions do not permit in-person parent visits and/or parent-teacher conferences, home visits and parent-teacher conferences will be conducted virtually.

* Support the recruitment and participation of program volunteers (parent and community volunteers)

* Assist in the tracking and accurate reporting of volunteer time/In-kind

* Participate in family engagement and program governance (Parent Meeting) activities

* Support the recruitment of eligible children for Head Start

* Participate in the evaluation of programmatic services through the Self-Assessment Process

* Promote personal growth and development through incorporation of feedback from…