Teaching Assistant

*Our Mission* Baby TALK (Teaching Activities for Learning and Knowledge) is a community model which serves every child birth to age three, providing information, encouragement, children’s books and activities.
Our mission is to positively impact child development by nurturing healthy parent-child relationships during the critical years.
The Baby TALK center based programming is designed to provide comprehensive services for families of Decatur and Macon County prenatally through age three.
*Job Summary* The Teaching Assistant is responsible for providing early care and education to all children in the classroom ages six weeks to three years of age; creating an environment that stimulates adequate development in the social, emotional, physical and educational processes; and recognizing that children are best understood and supported in the context of family, culture, community and society.
The Teaching Assistant provides support for the teacher to plan, organize, implement, and deliver a program based on the Head Start Performance Standards, Prevention Initiative requirements, and developmentally appropriate practice and participating as a member of an interdisciplinary team.
_*Regular and consistent attendance is an essential function of this position.
*_ *Essential Functions* * Following the comprehensive Head Start & Prevention Initiative services to families according to the Head Start Performance Standards, PI requirements, and DCFS Licensing Regulation * Assist in organizing the classroom and maintain a safe and healthy learning environment using the Infant-Toddler Environment Rating Scale-Revised (ITERS-r) * Assist in implementing lessons plans which includes small group, large group and individualized plans.
* Assist in making ongoing observations and assessments of each child in the areas of fine motor, gross motor, language, social/emotional, and cognitive skills.
* Develop an understanding of the program’s School Readiness Goals and how to assist in implementing the plans to meet the goals.
* Assist in maintaining classroom discipline by using techniques from Conscious Discipline which includes positive reinforcement, praise, and encouragement.
* Maintain a positive, calm attitude and a pleasant, soothing voice, and model this behavior for families and others working or volunteering in the program.
* Provide constant supervision of all children during all activities indoors and outdoors.
* Maintain a clean sterile environment by sterilizing all toys, cribs, sweeping floors, etc.
* Complete all required documentation in a timely and accurate manner.
* Promote parent-child bonding and nurturing parent-child relationships.
* Meet the requirement of 20 hours of training for each calendar year.
*Other Job Requirements* * Ability to represent the agency in a professional capacity.
* Adhering to dress code set by Baby TALK as a representative of the program.
* As a professional Baby TALK staff member, maintaining confidentiality of all information concerning families.
* Assisting in daily maintenance of the center.
* Perform other related responsibilities as assigned.
* Effective management skills including: written and verbal communication skills, decision-making skills, stress management skills, organizational skills, and observational skills.
* Demonstrated knowledge of State and Federal Early Head Start regulations, performance standards and guidelines or a willingness to learn (including the Illinois Dept.
of Health and CACFP regulations).
* Ability to work with diverse populations including special needs families * Ability to work as a member of a team where diverse program content must be well integrated to provide quality services * Possess current First Aid and CPR cards with infant/child CPR or a willingness to complete.
* Ability to pass agency sponsored physical examination and show proof of MMR & TDAP immunizations.
* Ability to relate positively to children and adults.
* Judgement and discretion in interpreting and adapting guidelines to specific problems; situations are somewhat varied and moderately complex * THIS IS A MANDATED RESPONDER POSITION.
*Other Skill Requirements * * Preference is given for the ability to operate computers and possess basic knowledge of MS Windows, Microsoft Word and willingness to learn Child Plus, Teaching Strategies and other BT software * Excellent supervision, managerial, and organizational skills.
* Excellent communication skills.
* Effective training/development skills.
* Must perform duties with moderate direction given, operating from established directions and instructions.
Decisions are made with general agency policy constraints, but occasionally requires independent decision-making.
*Education and Job Requirements* High school diploma or equivalency certificate (GED) is required.
AA/AS degree or higher Early Childhood Education (ECE) or an Infant/Toddler CDA or equivalent is preferred.
If the candidate does not currently have the required education, they have one year from their start date to complete and receive their Infant/Toddler CDA.
The Assistant Teacher must have the ability to establish a good working relationship with parents and their support person(s).
The Assistant Teacher will have the ability to understand and promote education and early childhood development as defined in EHS Performance and PI Standards.
*Physical Requirements of the Job* *Job Conditions:* The teaching assistant may work outdoors intermittently with exposure to typical weather providing outside activities for children (this includes 1+ hours daily outside in temperatures of up to 95 degrees with heat index and down to 29 degrees factoring in wind chill).
There may be frequent interruptions.
May be exposed to illnesses generally attributed to children.
There will be unpredictable schedule changes, so flexibility and the ability to adapt quickly and with a positive attitude is essential.
The ability to adjust to unpredictable changes and flexibility to adapt quickly with a positive attitude is essential.
*Physical requirements: * Must be able to stand and sit for long periods of time.
Must be able to frequently kneel, stoop, and bend.
Must be able to move quickly move from a sitting to standing position or a standing to sitting position.
Must be able to lift up to 45 pounds.
*Mental Requirements of the Job:* Continual interaction with co-workers, parents, and children to provide information; Must relate positively to children and adults; must be able to handle multi-faceted tasks on a frequent basis.
*Accountability* The Teaching Assistant is directly accountable to a Baby TALK Early Care and Education Coordinator*.
* The Baby TALK Early Care and Education Coordinator evaluates the Teaching Assistant once annually and more frequently if needed.
The Teaching Assistant is evaluated based on the responsibilities described in this Position Description, with particular emphasis on creating a setting that stimulates growth and exploration and facilitating developmentally appropriate activities to enhance development.
Teaching Assistants are scheduled per program need.
Job Type: Full-time Pay: From $15.
83 per hour Benefits: * Dental insurance * Employee assistance program * Flexible schedule * Health insurance * Paid time off * Vision insurance Schedule: * Monday to Friday Education: * High school or equivalent (Required) Work Location: In person