Instructional Aide - Early Head Start

Job Title:                              Instructional Aide

Wage/Hour Status:            Nonexempt

Department:                        Curriculum & Instruction

Reports To:                         Campus Principal

Approved By:                     Superintendent                                                    

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SUMMARY:

Provide nurturing, responsive, and developmentally appropriate care for infants and toddlers ages six (6) weeks to two (2) years. The Early Head Start Paraprofessional ensures a safe, clean, and engaging environment that promotes each child’s physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development while maintaining compliance with Head Start Performance Standards, state licensing regulations, and district policies.

 

 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

 

Instructional Support

1. Assist with administration and scoring of objective testing instruments or work assignments.
2. Help maintain neat and orderly classroom.
3. Help with inventory, care, and maintenance of equipment.
4. Provide orientation and assistance to substitute teachers.

 

Student Management

 

• Child Care and Learning Environment

   - Provide direct supervision and responsive care for infants and toddlers at all times.

   - Create a nurturing, predictable, and stimulating classroom environment that promotes learning through play and           exploration.

   - Implement daily routines including feeding, diapering, and napping, following all sanitation and safety guidelines.

   - Facilitate age-appropriate activities that promote sensory, motor, language, and cognitive development.

   - Encourage positive social and emotional development through modeling, guidance, and redirection.

   - Ensure all classroom materials and equipment are clean, safe, and developmentally appropriate.

• Health, Safety, and Compliance

   - Maintain compliance with all Donna ISD, Head Start, and State Licensing standards and procedures.

   - Conduct daily health and safety checks of the classroom and playground.

   - Follow emergency procedures and child release policies as outlined by district and licensing guidelines.

   - Maintain accurate attendance, meal count, and daily logs as required.

• Communication and Collaboration

   - Build positive relationships with families, sharing updates on their child’s daily routines and developmental         progress.

 

Other

5. Maintain confidentiality.
6. Participate in staff development training programs to improve job performance.
7. Participate in faculty meeting and special events as assigned.
8. Exercise professional judgment in absences; be punctual to work, meetings, and appointments.
9. Perform other duties as assigned by the immediate supervisor.
10. Follow district safety protocols and emergency procedures.

               

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

None

 

 

EDUCATION/CERTIFICATION/LICENSES/EXPERIENCE:

High school diploma or GED

Completed two (2) years/48 hours of study at an institution of higher education; or

Obtained an Associate’s Degree (or higher)

Valid Texas educational aide certificate

Some experience working with children

Child Development Associate (CDA) credential in infant/toddler preferred or willingness to obtain within one year of hire

Must meet all State Child Care Licensing requirements

Current CPR and First Aide certification preferred

Knowledge of infant and toddler growth and development

                                                                                                                      

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence and memos.  Ability to write simple correspondence.  Ability to effectively present information in one-to-one and small group situations to administrators, teachers, peers, students, parents and the school community.

 

 

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.  Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

 

REASONING ABILITY:

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but involved written or oral instructions.  Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.

 

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Ability to work well with children.  Working knowledge of copier, personal computer, typewriter, and audiovisual equipment.  Ability to develop effective working relationships with students, staff and the school community.  Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.  Ability to perform duties with awareness of all district requirements and Board of Education policies.

 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Occasional absences are understood but regular attendance is required.

 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to reach with hands and arms.  The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, sit, and talk or hear.  The employee is occasionally required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls and climb or balance. Moderate stooping, bending, kneeling, crouching, crawling and lifting is required of this employee.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and peripheral vision.  The employee needs to be able to tell where a sound is coming from and hear in a noisy environment.

 

The employee must maintain emotional control under stress.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud at a standard acceptable level for this environment.  The employee is frequently exposed to infection at a greater risk than the average person. 

 

Donna Independent School District is a public school district based in Donna, Texas (USA). In addition to the city of Donna, the district also serves portions of Alamo as well as the communities of Muniz, Scissors, and South Alamo. In 2010, Donna ISD was rated "academically acceptable" by the Texas Education Agency. Donna ISD's total student enrollment for 2010 was 14,873. Donna ISD has 14 elementary campuses, 4 middle schools, and two high schools. Donna ISD's current superintendent is Roberto Loredo.