Teacher Assistant

Teacher Assistant Job Description

Under the direction of the classroom Master Teacher and Cottage Supervisor, provides a safe, secure, and nurturing environment for children enrolled in the program.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Primary Functions

  • Plan for and provide a safe, healthy, caring and engaging environment for children enrolled in our program
  • Plan and initiate developmentally appropriate activities that promote the growth and development of the whole child to include activities in the areas of
    • Self and Social Emotional development
    • Language and Literacy
    • Cognitive
    • Motor/Perceptual
    • Physical/Health
    • Science and Nature (outdoor play spaces)
    • Dramatic Play
    • Multi-cultural/diversity
  • Assist in caregiving routines such as hand washing, serving meals, diapering, toileting, and naptime as assigned
  • Contribute daily observations to compile for assessments of children
  • Work with children and adults in the program under the supervision of the classroom Supervisor, Master, or Associate Teachers
  • Help to care for classroom equipment including set-up and clean-up of both indoor and outdoor areas according to shift worked
  • Articulate program goals and philosophy and apply them to working with the children and other adults working in the program
  • Maintain order and neatness in all classroom and outdoor areas, including manipulatives, home living, blocks, books, creative art, sinks, bathrooms, sandbox, and digital equipment. Sanitize /clean up toys and equipment daily
  • Other duties as assigned

Customer Service and Collaboration

  • Establishes and maintains working relationships with various A.S. and University departments

Safety

  • Ensures all operations are conducted with safety of staff and customers as first priority, and in accordance with the Injury and Illness Prevention Plan and other safety policies
  • Adheres to both the Associated Students’ and Children’s Center Codes of Safe Practice
  • Reports accidents to supervisor and reviews changes required to avoid reoccurrence Ensures completion proper documentation is completed for each accident (employee and/or non-employee) and forwards to supervisor
  • Reports maintenance problems and/or broken and unsafe equipment to the appropriate party immediately

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum & Preferred Requirements

Education:

  • Must be currently enrolled at San Diego State University, taking a minimum of 6 units
  • Minimum enrolled in or have 3 Child and Family Development units
  • Minimum 3 units in Infant/Toddler development needed when working with Infants and Toddlers
  • CFD major/minor preferred

Experience:

  • Experience working in a child care preferred but not required

The following items are required for employment at childcare establishments:

  • FBI, DOB, and Child Abuse Index fingerprint clearance
  • TB clearance, current Health Screening and up to date immunizations
  • Beginning in January 1, 2018, Health and Safety code 1596.8662 requires all licensed providers, applicants, directors and employees to complete training as specified on their mandated reporter duties and to renew their training every two years
    • Certificate of completion of the Mandated Reporter training AB1207 and must be renewed every two years. This online training can be completed and accessed at http://childcare.mandatedreporterca.com/ 

License & Certification Preferred:

  • Current Pediatric First Aid and CPR training, including Infant and Child
  • Work toward obtaining Associate Teacher Credential as experience and education dictate

Trainings:

  • Attend monthly mandatory staff trainings

PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS

  • Follows all Children’s Center and Associated Students personnel policies
  • Adheres to NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct
  • Maintains confidentiality
  • Must establish positive, professional, and productive relationships with the children, families and staff in our Center
  • Must attend and participate in monthly mandatory staff meetings

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

  • Knowledge of current best practice in child development
  • Strong communication skills
  • Ability to work as part of a large classroom team

SCHEDULE & WORKING CONDITIONS

This is a part-time position. Regular M/W/F or T/Th schedule between 7:30 AM and 5:30 PM

WORK ENVIRONMENT The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The work environment may involve exposure to various elements including but not limited to: chemicals, dust, sun, rain, blood borne pathogens, and other environmental risks.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

  • Hearing and speaking to exchange information with children, staff, and families.
  • Bending, stooping, and lifting children and/or equipment up to 50 pounds from the ground.
  • Standing for extended periods of time.
  • Moving quickly and easily both indoors and out from sitting to standing.
  • Working outdoors on a daily basis. May include rainy days.
  • Ability to visually scan the working environment to insure children’s safety.
  • Able to perform movements including grasping, touching, pushing, and pulling.
  • Manual dexterity and eye-hand coordination.

RELATIONSHIPS

Inside the Organization:

• Reports to the Master Teacher

A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate can be offered this position with Associated Students. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the application status of applicants or continued employment of current Associated Students employees who apply for the position. Fingerprinting is required for all employee and volunteer positions that have direct contact with minor children.