POSITION IDENTIFICATION
TITLE Assistant Teacher
CLASSIFICATION NUMBER 2550
GRADE 40
CLASSIFICATION Nonexempt
IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR Teacher-CDC
MAJOR ADMINISTRATOR Lead Teacher
GENERAL FUNCTION
The Assistant Teacher provides for the care, safety, and nurturing of all children in the group (infant through preschool), assists in planning and implementing a developmentally appropriate program for children, assists in creating a physical environment that meets the changing needs of children, maintains a safe, clean, and pleasant environment, instructs other adults in proper care, and provides information to parents regarding their children as well as general child development information. The position is contingent upon continuation of funding.
MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE QUALIFICATIONS
Education: A high school diploma or the equivalent is required; sixty hours of college credit with classes in child and family development, including early childhood development, are preferred.
Experience: With a minimum of 60 hours of college credit as described in the Education section, no working experience is required; two years of experience working in a program with young children and their families are required if the educational preparation is a high school diploma.
Skills: An understanding of early childhood growth and development is required, as well as the ability to apply this understanding to appropriate activities. Must be able to instruct adults by role modeling in interactions with children and their families. Must be able to oversee individual children and a small group of children simultaneously, possess effective interpersonal skills, and have a general knowledge of nutrition, health, and first aid. The ability to develop knowledge of, respect for, and skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds is required.
License: Certification for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first aid is required or must be obtained within thirty days of employment.
Certification: Child Development Associate (CDA) credential is preferred.
Other: Must be able to maintain visual contact with physical area occupied by infants, toddlers, or pre-school children. Must be able to get up and down from the floor, move quickly, and lift a minimum of 10 pounds. Successful completion of the screening process for Family Care Safety Registry is required. Must attend required child care licensing training (12 clock hours) annually.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Provides for the care, safety, and nurturing of all children in the group by assisting in implementing a developmentally appropriate curriculum for children, assisting in arranging the physical environment to meet the changing needs of children, working with children in a warm, calm, and unhurried manner, meeting the social, emotional, physical, and cognitive needs of individual children, and maintaining a safe, clean, and pleasant environment.
2. Instructs other adults (students, families, and co-workers) by demonstrating verbally and role-modeling a sound knowledge of best practices, specifically child growth and development information.
3. Helps to assure communication by providing information to families regarding their children as well as general child development information by assisting in scheduling and conducting parent conferences and other parent activities, assisting in assessing the developmental progress of children participating in the childrens programs by completing developmental assessments on each child at the time of entry into the program and periodically during their participation, maintaining weekly observational records relating to each child's developmental progress and interaction with parents, and assisting with parent conferences with each family at least once per semester.
4. Assists with managing funds for the childrens programs as requested by ensuring that expenditures (e.g., groceries for the Center) stay with budget allocations and maintaining program records for attendance and Child Care Food Program.
5. Assists in providing an appropriate learning environment for University students by assisting students in planning and implementing activities in the Center, assisting in the pre-service workshops for students, and participating in the evaluation of student teaching performances.
6. Contributes to the effective operation of the Child Development Center by resolving special situations that arise and participating in staff meetings and ongoing training regarding the program, children, and families.
7. Contributes to a work environment that encourages knowledge of, respect for, and development of skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds.
8. Remains competent and current through self-directed professional reading, developing professional contacts with colleagues, attending professional development courses, and attending training and/or courses as required by the Director of the Child Development Center.
9. Contributes to the overall success of the Child Development Center by performing all other duties as assigned.
SUPERVISION
The Assistant Teacher is supervised by the Teacher-CDC and will be evaluated in accordance with University procedures.
OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES
REVISED JANUARY 2017
