Teacher Assistant

Summary

South Central Child Development, Inc. (SCCD) provides Head Start preschool and family services within 16 counties in South Central South Dakota since 1986. SCCD is seeking a highly motivated individual to work with children in our center to help prepare them for school.

Teacher assistants work directly with a lead teacher and Head Start children between the ages of 3 and 5. The assistants/tutors will participate in all activities, including health, nutrition, mental health, self‑awareness and self‑concept for all children enrolled in the center. Assistants will help the teacher with setting up the classroom and note taking. As a member of the classroom team, assistants will prepare classroom materials to support lesson plans, create learning centers as needed and help to plan and initiate meaningful learning activities.

Assistants will support independent skill building with students and behavior management techniques developed by the team.

Teacher assistants will facilitate the daily health and nutrition of our center. Assistants provide a safe, clean and healthy food service environment. Assistants also prepare and deliver food on a timely basis, follow the preplanned menus in accordance with the policies and procedures and purchase food and materials needed to promote children’s health and well‑being. The assistant will complete the nutrition reporting at the center.

Teacher assistants work with the bus driver to ensure the safety of the children while boarding, riding and exiting the bus. Assistants ensure that all children remain seated in their safety restraints at all times. Assistants maintain a bus that is free of debris and hazards, including ensuring children’s items are stored in backpacks and out of aisles and walking areas.

Assistants will help to clean and sanitize the bus as needed and maintain accurate transportation and emergency information. Assistants compile and collect daily pick‑up and drop‑off logs, report absences and share updated information with teachers and families.

• Assist the teacher in all aspects of the center operations
• Supervise children's daily activities as directed by the teacher and site supervisor
• Help maintain a safe and orderly environment for children
• Observe each child for signs of illness or health problems
• Assist children in table setting, meal/snack delivery and/or preparation of nutrition activities
• Promote appropriate conversation at meal/snack time (child focused), modeling table manners
• Assist the teacher in maintaining Creative Curriculum anecdotal observation records on each child
• Help provide an environment conducive to the child's intellectual, physical, emotional, and social development
• Receive meals from the vendor and prepare bulk food into family style meals
• Serve food items and assist children with meals (i.e. passing food, dishing food onto plates, opening milk cartons, etc.)
• Assist children in the clean‑up line
• Clean‑up after class meals and snacks
• Ensure that food temperatures are taken on all hot foods and maintain safe food temperatures and records
• Greeting parents when dropping off and picking up children
• Assist children boarding and departing from the bus
• Assist children with appropriate safety restraints on buses
• Attend all required training and staff meetings (including Bus Monitor Training)
• Must keep confidential information (including all information regarding families and children)
• Other duties as assigned by the Site Supervisor, Leadership and Administrative Teams

This position is located at the center, remote work is not available. This position typically works Monday through Thursday with children in the classroom. Friday hours are required for cleaning, classroom preparation, purchasing food, make‑up days and/or training and in‑services. The starting pay for this position ranges from $19.82 to $20.82 per hour, depending on education and experience.

Site Supervisor / Area Leader

Executive Director, Fiscal Administrator and SCCD's Leadership Team