Description
The Rise Teacher Assistant is to provide the highest quality of early childhood education and therapeutic services to children with Down syndrome or other developmental disabilities from 6 months – 6 years of age and to children without disabilities from 6 months – 5 years of age. The teacher assistant is accountable to the director. *Notable for the Part-time TA position is the flexibility to work with various age groups needed when classroom teachers are absent.
Qualifications: 18 years or older, a Child Development Associate (CDA) or 12 hours equivalent of training in Early Childhood Education, experience working with young children.
Physical Requirements: Ability to move and lift up to 40 pounds.
The teacher assistant's responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Adhere to all safety and sanitation requirements set forth in the Minimum Standard Rules for Licensed Child-Care Centers; ensure that children are supervised and safe.
- Be flexible and able to work in various classrooms with various abilities through Lead Teacher guidance.
- Interact frequently with children showing affection and respect; encourage the use of communication and independent functioning using positive reinforcement.
- Assist teacher in the preparation and implementation of classroom activities; work with individual children and groups assigned by the teacher; assist children with self-care needs including toileting, diapers, feeding and lifting.
- Be aware that every student has various abilities including intellectual disabilities; make appropriate adaptations as directed and planned by the teacher.
- Treat colleagues with respect; willingly communicate with team members; display a positive attitude; maintain confidentiality; keep teacher informed of special needs or problems of children or parents.
- Treat parents with respect; direct parent concerns to teacher; make parents feel welcome at school.
- Perform routine duties and responsibilities on time; take initiative in recognizing what needs to be done and doing it. Daily duties include diaper changing(every two hours and as needed when a child is wet or soiled), sterilizing toys and equipment, preparing children’s lunches, vacuuming, laundry, washing dishes/utensils, and other general cleaning duties.
- Maintain good attendance; be on time to work.
- Attend workshops (at least 24 hours per year) conducted at Rise. Attend other conferences and workshops as recommended by supervisors.
- Other duties as assigned.
Requirements
- It is required that the individual hold a high school equivalent or diploma.
- A Bachelor’s (B.S. or B.A.) or Child Development Associates (CDA) degree is preferred and required by our NAEYC standards to attain once hired.
- Recommended that the individual have experience in working with young children with special needs.
- All personnel are required to have documentation of physicals, and tuberculosis tests, and are strongly encouraged to have the Hepatitis B vaccination.
- All personnel are required to participate in a minimum of 24 hours of in-service per year.
- Must maintain Annual CPR, First Aid, AED, Blood borne Pathogen Certification, Child Abuse Training Certification & Sexual Harassment Training Certification.