Head Start Teacher Assistant

Location: Quanah, Texas
Employer: Rolling Plains Management Corporation (RPMC)
Status: Full-Time, 30-40 hours per week, mostly Monday-Friday, but hours may be varied by the Center Director to accommodate all hours the Center is open. This is a school year position.

Rolling Plains Management Corporation is seeking applicants for the position of a Head Start Teacher Assistant at the Turner Child Development Center in Quanah, Texas.  

Responsible to the Center Director, the Teacher Assistant assists the Lead Teacher in implementing their respective program and meeting all required regulations to provide a safe and healthy educational environment and an environment conducive to learning for enrolled children and their families. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily.

• Medical (mostly employer-paid) and employer paid dental, and vision insurance 

• $25,000 life insurance policy at no cost to employee

• Dependent care FSA (up to $5000 per year provided by employer)

• Telemedicine, tele-counseling, and Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

• Matching 401K plan

• Paid sick leave, vacation leave, and 14 paid holidays

• Voluntary benefits: critical illness, accident, long-term disability, and supplemental life insurance

• Demonstrate knowledge of the Head Start Performance Standards policies and procedures.
• Demonstrate knowledge of Child Care Licensing Minimum Standards.
• Follow the Head Start Performance Standards, all RPMC policies and procedures, and the EHS written educational plan.
• Assist the Lead Teacher in planning and maintaining a safe, clean learning environment and assure the well-being and safety of children in her/his care.
• Establish a caring professional relationship and a climate of mutual trust and respect for families of diverse backgrounds and cultures.
• Assist the Lead Teacher in planning and implementing activities with children between the ages of 3 and 5, with the curriculum provided and with Head Start-mandated outcomes.
• Maintain a cooperative attitude of working with center staff, volunteers, parents, and program specialists to plan and implement classroom activities.
• Assist the Lead Teacher planning and implementing developmentally appropriate daily activities that engage children in literacy, language, and math activities using songs, books, and games that are integrated with themes/topics in line with the curriculum.
• Assist the Lead Teacher in using assessment information to interact individually with children during learning center activities.
• Maintain accurate and current assessment information, noting the child's progress across all developmental domains utilizing anecdotal notes and/or examples of children's work.
• Assist the Lead Teacher with all paperwork in a timely and accurate manner, including home visit forms, parent/teacher conference forms, lesson plans, and transition forms.
• Assist the Lead Teacher in developing and implementing weekly lesson plans that are consistent with the program curriculum and HS guidelines.
• Encourage and model language expansion, extended learning, and problem-solving strategies throughout the day.
• Use positive methods of child guidance in accordance with the established discipline and guidance policy.
• Assure the child-staff ratio of 2 staff up to 20 children (depending on the age of the group) is maintained at all times.
• Monitor children on the playground to ensure safe and appropriate play and monitor play areas to ensure the safety and cleanliness of the equipment.
• Ensure all children are visible at all times.
• Respond to crisis or emergency situations that may occur by providing First Aid or CPR, preventing the spread of blood-borne pathogens, and assessing the need for emergency services.
• Be aware of the legal and professional responsibilities of protecting all children from physical punishment or verbal abuse by anyone in any program and immediately report any such incident to the appropriate Supervisor.
• Observe children to detect signs of illness, injury, emotional disturbances, learning disorders, speech problems, or other special needs. Report those signs immediately to the Director for required or necessary follow-up.
• Observe children for any suspected or disclosed signs of child abuse or child neglect and report them immediately following the RPMC Child Abuse/Neglect Reporting Policy and Procedures.
• Sit with children during meal times and consume the same "Type A" lunch as children, providing a model for good nutritional habits (unless prohibited by dietary or doctor concerns).
• Assist in completing home visits and parent-teacher conferences as required.
• Work cooperatively with the Lead Teacher assigned to her/his classroom as a team to involve all parents with their children and to encourage the active participation of all parents and volunteers in the program.
• Maintain accurate attendance records daily.
• Work cooperatively with ERSEA and the Family Service Specialist, following up on all absent children and contacting the parents to determine the reason for their absence.
• Safeguard all classroom supplies and equipment and