Preschool Teacher Assistant

General Purpose The Preschool Teacher Assistant is responsible for assisting the classroom teacher in all aspects of planning, evaluation and instruction of child development/school readiness skills as assessed appropriate to the needs of the children enrolled in the program. The Assistant will also assist the teacher as appropriate in all programming and related functions relevant to the developmental/educational program for the child enrollees in his/her classroom; and assist in the integration of all required components in accordance with the NC RESA preschool curriculum and philosophy. Qualifications & Requirements Associates Degree in Early Childhood or Child Development; or valid classroom CDA credential; or existing 120-hour approval. Experience working with preschool children. CPR and First Aid certification required per licensing. Strong verbal and written communication skills. Able to work as a member of a team and contribute to the agency vision and goals. Able to demonstrate confidentiality in all matters. Positive leadership skills. Must complete and pass required criminal history checks. Essential Duties (shall include, but are not limited to the following): To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Maintain a working knowledge of child development and its integration with the NC RESA preschool curriculum and philosophy, including early childhood best practices. Assist with the implementation of lesson plans, design of classroom environment, data collection and record keeping associated with highest quality developmental/educational programming for the preschool aged children in his/her center-based classroom. Assist with ongoing observation and review of all children enrolled in the program. Assist with classroom needs and arranging materials for daily activities and routines. Actively participate in all classroom activities, including ongoing positive engagement with children. Attend required staff meetings, trainings, and other scheduled program activities relevant to the child development needs of enrolled children. Provide input into planning for continuous program improvement. Complete all required reports and records on time, and submit them on time and in a professional manner (i.e. electronic and/or paper time sheets). Predictable/reliable attendance. Other Duties Act as a resource, if needed, to employees, students and the general public visiting the NC RESA. Possess knowledge of NC RESA's organization, mission, and philosophy. Perform other duties deemed appropriate by the Classroom Teacher or Early Childhood Administrator. Relationships & Commitment The Preschool Teacher Assistant shall be directly accountable to the Early Childhood Administrator and shall demonstrate commitment to the mission of the Newaygo County RESA through: Adherence to and enforcement of agency policies and administrative regulations. Performance resulting in quality outcomes. Performance resulting in internal and external consumer satisfaction. Continuous personal and professional improvement and development. Positive interpersonal relationships with colleagues and consumers. Continuously improving performance through internal and external evaluation. Exhibiting the mental/physical ability and stamina to meet essential duties of position. Supporting the agency and department in the Continuous Improvement Plan. Other Required Skills Able to communicate effectively (language skills). Able to work with mathematical concepts (mathematical skills). Able to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions (reasoning skills). Physically able to successfully perform the essential functions of the job (physical demands). Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Work Environment General school building/classroom setting; the noise level in this position varies. Terms of Employment Hourly/at-will employee (non-exempt under FLSA regulations) School year position; 7.5 hours per day (hours may vary depending on classroom schedule) Position covered by administrative regulations/individual agreement The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the American with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position. Additional duties are performed by the individual currently holding this position and additional duties may be assigned. The RESA does not discriminate and prohibits discrimination or harassment in any program or activity that it operates, including in admission and employment, as required by Title IX and other applicable law, on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity/expression), marital status, pregnancy status, genetic information, disability, age, or any other basis prohibited by law. NC RESA reserves the right to alter/amend this job description at any time.