Head Start Floater Associate Teacher

About PLN
Founded on Skid Row in 1980, Para Los Niños (PLN) partners with more than 10,000 children, youth, and families each year through integrated education, wellness supports and advocacy, addressing individual and systemic barriers to create pathways to success. In addition to operating early education centers, charter elementary and middle schools, youth workforce development sites and family services, PLN is the only children's mental health provider in the Skid Row neighborhood.

PLN's community transformation work brings together community members, community-based organizations, city and county agencies, elected officials, and businesses to tackle issues that impact PLN families. Ninety-three percent of families served by PLN live in areas with the highest levels of food insecurity and homelessness in L.A. County.

Position Overview
Under the supervision of the Teacher, the IAT is responsible for the academic, social and emotional growth and development, and supervision of children. In partnership with the teacher, the IAT assists with the design and integration of classroom goals and objectives. With, the Teacher, the IAT is responsible for the development, implementation and evaluation of lesson plans designed to stimulate children's learning and support critical thinking.
The IAT is responsible for assisting the Teacher in the provision of a quality educational experience that is responsive to the interest, needs and developmental age of the children enrolled in the assigned classroom. In the absence of a teacher, associate teacher, or assistant teacher, the Itinerant Associate Teacher provides substitute coverage. In addition, the Itinerant Associate Teacher provides coverage for breaks, lunches, and planning meetings.

The Itinerant Associate Teacher has a primary site assignment but may, in cases of staff call-out, be asked to provide substitute coverage for another PLN site.
Duties
Guiding Philosophy

Carries out Mission, Vision, and Values established by the President/C.E.O. and Board of Directors.
Participates in the overall agency Accreditation Quality Improvement process.
Adhere to professional conduct at all times (i.e. proper tone and language use in the classroom, respectful, proper for children, parents and peers at all times).
Attends and participates in Professional Development meetings.

Planning and Creating the Learning Environment
In the classroom and yard Itinerant Associate Teachers must participate in:

Providing a learning environment that reflects the PLN Guiding Philosophy.
Providing a learning environment that promotes curiosity and inquiry.
Providing a learning environment that is flexible and changes according to the needs and interests of the children.
Providing a classroom environment that reflects the children's learning.
Planning and providing experiences for children that promote critical thinking and inquiry.
Planning and providing experiences for children that nurture and stimulate their cultural needs.
Collecting and analyzing observations of children's learning behaviors in order to assist in the development of lesson plans and individualized goals as well as the completion of DRDPs.

Supervision

Participates in supervision meetings on a weekly basis with Teacher and Teacher assistant.
Provides supervision and care to children in the classroom and actively participates in classroom and yard activities.

Classroom Management

Participates in developing age appropriate curriculum (lesson plans) that are responsive to children's interests and needs and support skill acquisition in all domains of development.
Assists in the: completion of attendance records, maintenance of up to date emergency forms, curriculum plans, individual child development profiles and other records as needed.
Assist in completing and developing short and long term goals for individual child and overall group.
Assists in the orientation of parents to the classroom.
Completes checklists to ensure that classroom is kept neat and orderly.
Completes documentation and reports of all incidents, accidents or behavioral outbursts (be the client, parents and or staff).
Assists in the completion of daily, weekly, and monthly logs and reports as requested by teacher/supervisor.

CCL/ CDE Head Start

Completes ratio counts in the classroom on a day-to-day basis ensuring constant children supervision.
Completes and reports any symptoms of child abuse to supervisor and/or the Child Abuse Hotline.
Completes daily health checks regarding hygiene, safety, and overall well-being of children.
Provides input into DRDP's (for children familiar to the Itinerant Associate Teacher) twice a year for Preschool and four times a year for Infants and Toddlers as required by California Department of Education.
Participates as requested in parent conferences after each DRDP is completed.
Performs other duties as assigned by Supervisor.

Qualifications and Experience Requirements
The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge; skills required to…