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Floating Teacher Assistant Job Description

Position Title: Teacher Assistant

Reports To: Director, Director Assistant

Job Category: Education

Exemption Status: Non-exempt

Approved by: Amanda Hellebush

Job Overview

Full Heart Child Care is a top-ranked, private child care center with passionate teachers who have a big heart. If you enjoy a supportive, team-centered environment, then you would love a position at Full Heart! The position of Teacher Assistant includes fostering an environment to promote the physical, mental, social, and academic well being of children at Full Heart Child Care.  Teacher Assistants will provide quality care in balance with social and intellectual experiences.  With appropriate guidance, children will grow both psychologically and socially in the care of Lead Teachers and Teacher Assistants.

*For all duties and functions, reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities.

Classroom Expectations

An Infant Teacher Assistant is someone who:

Has a basic understanding of an infant
Is attentive to the needs of an infant
Asks questions to learn more and understand more about the basics of infant development
Can take directions as well as delegate work tasks
Is proactive, not reactive
A Toddler Teacher Assistant is someone who:

Has a basic understanding of potty training
Has a basic understanding of the stages of diapering
Has a basic understanding of age appropriate activities for a child ages 18 months to 3 years
Has a basic understanding of meal time procedures for toddlers
An Early Preschool Teacher Assistant is someone who:

Has a basic understanding of how to potty train
Has a basic understanding of how to properly diaper
Has a basic understanding of how to effectively communicate with a 2 ½ – 3 year old
Has a basic understanding of the development of a 2 ½ – 3 year old
A Preschool Teacher Assistant is someone who:

Has a strong attention span
Is willing to read, play, and write with the children
Is able to be flexible and adapt to a 3-4 year old’s mind
Is willing to take direction
Is able to work alongside/guide the children as they work through the developmental milestones of a 3-4 year old
A PreK Teacher Assistant is someone who:

Has a general understanding of the development of a 4–5 year old
Is patient in times of chaos, as well as redirects children when in conflict
Is familiar with the PreK developmental milestones
Knows the boundaries of a 4-5 year old
Has a basic competence of what kindergarten readiness is

Essential Duties and Functions

Day to Day Caretaker
Create a safe and welcoming environment for children in care
Feed children healthy, approved food from a designated, parent-approved menu
Change children’s diapers at least every two hours or more often as needed.  Take potty-trained children to the restroom on an as-needed basis. Apply diaper cream as needed
Use the Brightwheel app to record all meals, toileting/diapering, and naps
Use the Brightwheel app to take at least one picture of each child for parent viewing
Comfort children who are struggling with any aspect of their self-regulation ability (feeling sad, angry, hurt, etc.)
Report any injuries to the director immediately and provide care according to your ability
Assist children in falling asleep- this may mean rubbing backs, rocking, etc.
Provide individualized care for each child, but especially infants.  Infants should be fed according to a schedule provided by parents and sleep according to a schedule provided by parents.

Education/Behavior Management
Assist lead teacher in planning age-appropriate lesson plans for classroom in the areas of art, sensory, science, math, and literacy
Help to create an environment that fosters learning through play by having activities available to children all day, every day
Incorporate process-based art in the classroom and have open ended art available
Always have a sensory-play option available for children (water, rice, dirt, etc.)
Use appropriate, positive behavior management techniques for children in care
Help to decorate room and create spaces/boards that represent the themes of curriculum
Refrain from negative discipline, yelling, or any type of corporal punishment.  This is a zero-tolerance policy and failing to comply will result in immediate termination.
Collaborate with other teachers in the room to determine correct form of behavior management

Training/Compliance
Follow procedures and guidelines for any regulation-based portion of the day (diapering, sunscreen, behavior management, etc.)
Maintain required training hours (on and off-site)
Seek out additional training in areas of interest/need
Maintain ratios at all times- this means you may not leave the classroom without another staff member stepping in
Refrain from using your cell phone in classrooms

Requirements:

Essential qualifications:

High school diploma or equivalent
1+ years experience working with children ages 6 weeks to 5 years of age
Must pass background checks
Strong oral communication skills
Ability to work independently and in collaboration with others
Ability to solve problems and act quickly in a crisis
Additional Competencies:

Must be able to multi-task and work in a high-stress, loud environment
Must have strong decision-making skills
Must pay attention to detail and reflection
Must have reliable transportation
Must maintain a professional appearance and attitude
Must be willing to be flexible and adaptable

Physical Requirements:

The demands of this job require the candidate to sit, stand, walk, bend, jump, reach, and lift equipment and children up to 50 pounds. This position often requires the candidate to be outdoors, to drive, to crawl, stoop, balance, walk up and down stairs, and run.

This job description is an overview of the tasks that are required.  It is not a complete list of duties, responsibilities, or requirements.  At any time, management may add to, take away, or change the functions of the position.

Please submit resumes to [email protected]