Preschool Teacher Assistant

**Make a difference! Build a career! Excellence in education, enrichment, and family support.

Help meet children's developmental needs.

Maintain and healthy and safe environment.

Team up with teachers and lead teachers to deliver for our students and caregivers.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Assistant Teachers, as members of the classroom’s teaching team, help ensure that each child’s developmental needs are met.

RESPONSIBILITIES

· Participate in planning and implementing developmentally appropriate curriculum and activities based on child assessment data.

· Participate in ongoing child assessment, using tools provided by the agency.

· Assist with completing all required family and progress reports

· Assist in maintaining a stimulating and nurturing classroom environment.

· Help to organize and maintain classroom order, equipment and materials.

· Help to organize and maintain center equipment and materials.

· Supervise, monitor, and interact with children throughout the day, maintaining their safety.

· Develop warm nurturing relationships with all children.

· Assist in the implementation of licensing and accreditation requirements.

· Refer concerns expressed by families to appropriate teacher and share observations regarding parent-child interactions.

· With the Teacher and Lead Teacher, communicate with families through daily contact, bi-weekly reports, newsletters, etc. and maintain documentation of all communication.

· Communicate daily with Lead Teacher regarding activities, incidents and concerns.

· Develop/complete annual Professional Development Plan.

· Help complete goals of annual classroom Action Plan.

· Attend staff, team, and curriculum meetings, training and supervision as required.

· Help organize and attend Center parent meetings and other Center events.

· Actively participate in Team, curriculum and other classroom meetings.

· Assist in food preparation and clean up, participate in mealtimes.

· Follow all agency policies and procedures and document as required.

· Willingness to work a flexible schedule.

· All other assigned duties.

QUALIFICATIONS

• High School Diploma. – Required
• Must be at least 18 years of age. – Required
• Demonstrated ability to successfully complete all job description responsibilities.
• Warm and nurturing personality.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills.
• Willingness to work a flexible schedule.
• Commitment to agency’s mission of supporting low-income families and at-risk children.
• All Teacher Assistants are required to take four Early Childhood Education college courses within the first 18 months of employment.

• All South Shore Stars employees should be able to lift at least 40 lbs and work in a non-sedentary environment.

Reports to: Lead Teacher

*This is a full-year, full-time position with a guaranteed 40 hours per week. 8 ½ hour workday,with one ½ hour unpaid break. Shift could change based on program needs.This is a physically active position. Equal Opportunity Employer

South Shore Stars is an equal opportunity employer. We embrace diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills.

We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

All employment is decided based on qualifications, merit, and agency need.

Mission

South Shore Stars provides comprehensive early education and youth development programs that enhance the optimal growth of children from economically and culturally diverse families, using a family support approach in collaboration with schools and other service providers.

Four core goals form the foundation of our work:

· Enable parents to work

· Help each child reach their full development potential

· Facilitate positive youth development

· Improve academic achievement for students at-risk of academic failure

At Stars, we are working to build an inclusive culture where difference is valued and the diverse voices of our employees are encouraged, supported, and celebrated. We believe diversity benefits and enriches the development of our staff, the children, and families we serve and the communities we serve. At Stars, we will work to find intentional ways to grow in our understanding and support of others, based on: Age ~ gender and gender identity ~ race ~socio-economic status ~ sexual orientation ~ physical or mental ability~ ethnicity~ veteran status ~education status ~religious or spiritual beliefs At Stars, we believe the power of diversity enriches us all by exposing us to a range of ways to understand and embrace the world. We commit to do the work of including diversity, equity, and inclusion practices at the center of our daily work. We understand that our work around this is on-going, and we pledge to continually find new ways of growing into this statement.