Teaching Assistant 01642- Infant and Toddler

KANSAS CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Job Title: Teaching Assistant – Infant and Toddler

Job Title Code: 1642

Salary Grade: Z03 – Z05

Department: Early Childhood

Reports To: Office of Early Learning- designated supervisor

FLASS Status: Non-exempt

Date Prepared: May 2016 Revised:

PURPOSE OF JOB: To effectively plan and implement developmentally appropriate classroom instruction designed to meet the needs of enrolled infants and toddlers. While assisting the lead Teacher, help facilitate a team teaching environment. To promote the involvement of families in their child's education.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Curriculum

Understand the content areas of Early Childhood Development; support and collaborate with co-workers to ensure an effective child/family service team.

Work with Lead Instructor to complete required planning during designated planning time during the work day.

Organize, plan and implement an instructional program for infants and toddlers utilizing the framework of the early learning curriculum.

Plan effectively with the Lead Teacher on a daily basis to provide applicable experiences that are developmentally appropriate. Ensure that lesson plans are posted and address the individual needs of each child.

Promote and support children's social, emotional and physical development consistent with the philosophy of Early Childhood Development. Plan, facilitate and nurture the development of each child's self-esteem, trust, and growing autonomy.

Individualize instruction to promote the development of each child's cognitive and language skills by preparing the environment for infants and toddlers to learn through active exploration and interaction with caregivers.

Provide a language and print rich environment that promotes literacy through classroom pre-reading and pre-writing activities.

Respond quickly to children's personal needs (verbal and non-verbal cues), temperament styles, and abilities.

Establish a learning environment that values diversity and provides a variety of multi-cultural experiences. Demonstrate cultural competency and respect for each child's background by incorporating the cultural and familial values into the curriculum.

Work with the Lead Teacher to maintain accurate and confidential records of each child's developmental level and progress on a regular basis. Document daily; individual needs, strengths, interests, service plans, attendance, and meal counts for each child.

Follow training guidance, leadership and technical assistance from the Lead Instructor and support staff.

Accurately document initial and ongoing development of children using assessment tools at established quarterly intervals.

Assist the Lead Instructor in completing the referral process, as designated by the district and Head Start Mental Health/Disabilities Coordinator, to support individual needs of infants and toddlers.

Assist with the transition into the program and exiting out of the program.

Environment

Monitor the arrival and departure of the infants and toddlers.

Maintain a safe transition procedure when moving children from one area to another.

Monitor and maintain a positive, safe and healthy learning environment for children by immediately reporting any unsafe condition and completing and submitting the weekly safe environments checklist.

Assist the Lead Instructor in maintaining an inventory of classroom supplies and equipment.

Assist the Lead Instructor with maintaining a bulletin board with pertinent information for families.

Assist the Lead Instructor with maintaining current displays of children's work in classrooms and in hallways, as appropriate.

Assist the Lead Instructor with keeping daily records of student attendance and maintain daily attendance logs for all classroom volunteers.

Report all staffing and classrooms concerns to supervisor in a timely manner.

Adult/Child Interactions

Interact with children, providing positive role models and guidance as dictated by CLASS (Classroom Assessment Scoring System for Infants and Toddlers). This observation tool focuses on the effectiveness of classroom interactions among teachers and children.

Establish and maintain respectful, responsive relationships with children utilizing the Conscious Discipline Approach.

Demonstrate meaningful interactions with children throughout the day.

Families

Actively recruit families and community patrons for volunteer participation. Provide guidance to families.

Develop and maintain supportive, professional relationships with children and their families to enhance parent education, communication, involvement and advocacy.

Promote family involvement and provide educational guidance to families through home visits and conferences. Conduct two home visits and two conferences per family each year.

Professional Development

Collaborate with content area specialists related to education, health, safety, and occupancy standards to maintain compliance.

Attend orientation and in-service training sessions and implement information from training, and guidance from supervisor and consultants into practice to improve performance.

Attend family and professional meetings as required.

Obtain a minimum of 20 hours of training each year in the field of Early Childhood Education or Child Development.

Update professional development plan each year.

Leadership/Management

Model professionalism and teamwork with all staff.

Follow daily classroom schedules and events in compliance with MO State Licensing requirements.

Support the Lead Instructor as needed in completing all required paper work assuring accuracy and timeliness.

Support and guide interns, substitutes and volunteers assigned to the classroom, as appropriate.

Other duties as assigned.SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: None

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Degree in Early Childhood Education (Bachelor or Associate)

Understanding of developmentally appropriate practices for infants and toddlers

Understanding of the Vision/Mission of Early Learning

Experience working with children and families in an urban environment preferred

Submit initial physical and TB screening results and renew as required.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor Degree in Early Childhood Education

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This job requires that the employee be able to: sit, stand, walk, speak, hear, use hands, fingers, reach with hands and fingers; bend, stoop, get up and down off the floor, lift objects of at least 25 pounds and in case of emergency, a 40 pound child. Job requires the employee occasionally to stoop, kneel, crouch, and sit on floor or crawl. Visual ability requires mono and color vision, close vision, distance vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT:Length of work year: 10 months

Benefits: Retirement Programs, Health and Dental Insurance are provided.

Budget Holder:

________________________________Title_____________________________Date_________

Human Resources:

________________________________Title_____________________________Date_________



6/7/16 Signed by Budget Holder



Primary Location:
Early Childhood
Salary Range:
$13.27 - $23.58 / Per Hour
Shift Type:
Full-Time