Preschool/Kindergarten Assistant

Deep Creek Baptist Academy

Preschool Teacher Assistant Job Description

Qualifications:

• Minimum 16 years of age
• Satisfactory background check, including criminal records and child abuse registry.
• Medical clearance:  able to lift up to 50 pounds, able to kneel, bend, sit on the floor and stand for extended periods of time, physician’s statement indicating candidate is free from any disability which would prevent him/her from caring for children, tuberculosis Screening with a negative result

Training:

• All staff must complete trainings as outlined in the Staff Handbook.  These trainings include but are not limited to:  Staff Orientation (completed within the first 30 days), mandatory reporting of child abuse; a minimum of 16 hours in job related training, monthly evening staff meetings.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Health, Safety & Nutrition:

• Ensure proper staff to child ratios
• Supervise children within eye sight and hearing range always. 
• Model good health, safety, and nutritional habits and ensure children’s needs in these basic areas are met.  Be prepared to respond appropriately to emergencies, injuries, or concerns.
• Be alert to indicators of illness and child abuse or neglect and prepared to respond appropriately
• Clean, disinfect, and organize classroom equipment, toys, furniture, bedding, and work surfaces weekly and as needed.

Child Growth & Development:

• Demonstrate a general knowledge of the principles and patterns of child development.
• Use practices that are responsive to the unique abilities, temperaments, learning styles, and genetic influences on young children as individuals.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the impact of family, environment, culture and society in the development and learning of young children.
• Strategically assist in facilitating development by nurturing children’s active engagement in learning through playful activities

Child Observation & Assessment:

• Assist the teacher with observations by using formal and informal methods to identify and document children’s interests, strengths and challenges providing anecdotal notes and/or examples of children’s work

Families & Communities:

• Build positive partnerships with children’s families with regard to managing behavior, nurturing development, assisting them with the policies of the program, and involving them in the program.

Learning Environment:

• Assumes role of the lead teacher in his/her absence.
• Assist the teachers with the implementation of Deep Creek Academy’s chosen curriculum in a way that is consistent with the unique needs of each child.
• Assist in creating an aesthetically pleasing and nurturing environment that facilitates development in all domains by planning, implementing, monitoring, and revising learning environments and materials that support curriculum goals and:
  • are safe, clean, comfortable, challenging, stimulating, and welcoming
  • center based with high quality arrangement, materials and furnishings
  • are culturally sensitive, intellectually stimulating, and responsive to children’s interests, developmental abilities and special needs
  • foster curiosity, exploration, play, critical thinking and problem solving skills
  • Accommodate a broad range of individual differences in prior experience, maturation rates, learning styles, special needs, cultural practices and interests.
  • Promote a spirit of unity, respect, and service in the interest of the common good.
• Assist the teacher with ensuring that the classroom is prepared for Sunday school at the end of the week.  As directed, remove any unnecessary items in classroom and replace any necessary items.  

Effective Classroom Interactions:

• Positive and nurturing interactions with each children based on respect, trust, calm approaches, respect for diversity and acceptance of individual differences in ability levels, temperament and other characteristics
• Encourage and model various forms of verbal and nonverbal communication frequently with children, and respond to children as individuals as well as to the group as a whole.
• Use guidance practices that are non-punitive, respectful, meet the emotional needs of individual children, and clearly communicate expectations for appropriate behavior
• Demonstrate knowledge and ability to effectively assist in guiding groups of children

Professionalism, qualifications & personal development:

• Maintain strict confidentiality regarding assessments, students, families, staff and center information according to ethical considerations, center policies, and state and federal laws.
• Advocate and focus on integrating high quality standards and practices into the development, implementation, and management of education program activities
• Demonstrate commitment to acquire and maintain current professional knowledge and for ongoing professional development by completing a minimum of 16 hours of job related training
• Follow and model a Christian and professional code of ethics including language, attitude, behavior, teaching techniques and conflict resolution using proper channels to air problems and complaints.
• Promote a professional appearance including adhering to the uniform policy

Job Classification and Compensation:

• Hours of work and schedule are determined on a school year/summer camp basis and are based upon program enrollment and needs
• This is a non-exempt position, meaning it is not exempt from the hourly wage and labor laws.
• The teacher assistant shall be supervised and evaluated by the lead teacher, supervisor, and director.
• This position will be assigned to the current pay plan on the basis of education and experience.