Head Start Teacher Assistant - Early Head Start

Job Description

Since 1966, the Capitol Region Education Council (CREC) has been dedicated to providing innovative, high-quality, and cost-effective educational programs and services to meet the diverse needs of children and adults in Greater Hartford. Serving 33 member districts and reaching additional communities statewide, CREC supports approximately 12,000 students annually through more than 120 educational programs. Our offerings include professional learning and coaching for educators, specialized programming for students with diverse needs, and PreK-12 education across 16 interdistrict magnet schools.

Additionally, CREC provides school construction, operations, and cooperative business services, while also delivering programs that help adults build real, job-ready skills.

The Teacher Assistant provides direct support to a lead Teacher in a classroom setting, assisting with lesson preparation, student supervision, individual or small group instruction, maintaining the classroom environment, and documenting student progress, all under the guidance of the teacher to ensure effective learning for all students; key responsibilities include preparing materials, implementing lessons with students, managing classroom behavior, and communicating with parents regarding student progress.

In collaboration with the teaching team, the Teacher Assistant is also responsible for the children's health and safety, including family-style dining meal service, on-demand feeding of infants (if applicable), diapering and toileting, and applying first aid. This position is responsible for supporting parent conferences and home visits; maintaining Head Start Performance Standards and local licensing regulations; and maintaining all required documentation per state and federal guidelines.

• Assist Teacher in carrying out activities with children in the classroom, including small and large group instruction, indoor and outdoor gross motor, mealtime, and nap time.
• Assist in the establishment of a safe and healthy learning environment.
• Assist in building positive social skills and maintaining appropriate and positive voice tone with children in the classroom.
• Assist in developing children's self-help skills, including dressing, toileting, handwashing, teeth brushing, and communicating needs.
• Aid in receptive and expressive language development, making extensive use of open-ended questions and frequently writing down/reading back children's own words.
• Participate in family-style dining meal experience and accurately record meal service within approved time periods.
• Assist teacher in observing and recording observations in children's portfolios and provide follow-up activities in the lesson plan.
• Assist teacher in medication administration, First Aid, and CPR as needed in the event of a medical emergency.
• Assume the lead Teacher role when the Teacher is absent.
• Assist the Teacher with two home visits and parent conferences per year.
• Encourage parent participation and provide support to parent volunteers working in the classroom; work to help the classroom meet in-kind goals monthly.
• Provide instruction and care for children; maintain ratio with two teaching staff at all times and implement Active Supervision through the triad approach.
• Assist the Teacher in writing the weekly lesson plans.
• Attend and participate in staff meetings; participate in all opportunities for continuous learning; actively engage in coaching relationships to promote professional development.
• Implement educational programming and research-based curriculum consistent with Head Start Performance Standards, and local licensing regulations.
• Assist in establishing good communication between the classroom and home environment and maintain communication between parents and staff.
• Assist in completing required written and electronic documentation, including accident incident reports, daily health checks, behavior observation reports, and attendance.
• Adheres to the Code of Conduct and Mandated Reporter expectations at all time, including appropriate physical redirection and the use of approved behavior management strategies.
• Adhere to the Time and Attendance Policy; will be punctual when reporting to work; calls supervisor when unable to report to work due to tardiness, sickness, and emergencies.
• Maintain strict confidentiality with respect to Head Start/Early Head Start children, families, and staff in accordance with established policies and procedures.
• Create, foster, and maintain a positive culture and climate across the program and support the mission and vision of CREC and CREC Head Start.
• Ensure compliance with Head Start Performance Standards and all federal, state, and local entities.
• Comply with all company policies and procedures.
• Other duties as assigned.

This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

• Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely…