Head Start Assistant Teacher

1

Rock Island-Milan School District #41 JOB DESCRIPTION Head Start Assistant Teacher POSITION INFORMATION: POSITION TITLE Head Start Assistant Teacher DATE CREATED/AMENDED January 2024/October 2025 DEPARTMENT Head Start LOCATION Horace Mann Early Learning Center or other assigned district location FULL-TIME/PART-TIME Full Time APPOINTMENT TERM 10 months FLSA: EXEMPT OR NON-EXEMPT REPORTS TO: TITLE of POSITION SUPERVISOR Director of Early Childhood Programs & Education Manager SALARY/HOURLY RATE $18.63 - $28.25 /hour based on education and experience POSITION SUMMARY INFORMATION: An Assistant Teacher is expected to assist in providing responsive care, effective teaching, and an organized learning environment that promotes healthy development and growth aligned with the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework, The Creative Curriculum, and Conscious Discipline. Head Start Assistant Teachers, at a minimum, must have a CDA credential or a state-awarded certificate that meets or exceeds the requirements for a CDA credential, be enrolled in a program that will lead to an associate or baccalaureate degree, and be enrolled in a CDA credential program to be completed within two years of the time

of

hire.

Functions and Responsibilities: Instructional Development:

Assist

in

emphasizing

nurturing

and

responsive

practices,

interactions,

and

environments

that

foster

trust

and

emotional

security.

Assist

in

focusing

on

promoting

growth

in

the

developmental

progressions

described

in

the

Head

Start

Early

Learning

Outcomes

Framework:

Ages

Birth

to

Five,

as

well

as

supplemental

curricula.

Integrate

child

assessment

data

in

individual

and

group

instruction.

Assist

in

providing

developmentally

appropriate

learning

experiences

in

language,

literacy,

social

2 and emotional development, math, science, social studies, creative arts, and physical development .

Recognize

bilingualism

and

biliteracy

as

strengths

and

implement

research-based

teaching

practices

that

support

their

development.

Facilitate

opportunities

for

teacher-directed

and

child-initiated

activities,

active

and

quiet

learning,

and

individual,

small-group,

and

large-group

learning.

Supports the delivery of a comprehensive child development program through a culture of safety

designed

to

provide

children

with

a

full

range

of

developmental

experiences.

Classroom Environment and Organization:

Assist

in

maintaining

well-organized

learning

environments

with

developmentally

appropriate

schedules,

lesson

plans,

and

indoor

and

outdoor

learning

experiences

that

provide

adequate

opportunities

for

choice,

play,

exploration,

and

experimentation

among

a

variety

of

learning,

sensory,

and

motor

experiences.

Provide

adequate

opportunities

for

choice,

play,

exploration,

and

experimentation

among

a

variety

of

learning,

sensory,

and

motor

experiences.

Complete

assigned

custodial

duties

to

maintain

a

safe

and

orderly

classroom. Professional Development and Collaboration:

Complete

at

least

15

hours

of

annual

professional

development

in

addition

to

initial

training

requirements

and

certifications.

Demonstrate the ability to communicate openly and professionally with the lead teacher. Demonstrate a willingness to support the agency's goals.

Participate

in

staff

meetings,

training

sessions,

conferences,

workshops,

parent

involvement

activities,

and

other

professional

activities. Family and Community Engagement: Assist with recruiting families and children for eligibility in the Head Start program. Work with Social Service staff to engage parents and encourage family participation in the program.

Make provisions for being available for home visits or conferences as needed. Administrative and Reporting:

Assist

with

agency

reports

and

documentation

with

accuracy

and

punctuality.

Use

correct

grammar,

spelling,

and

punctuation

in

all

written

communication.

Demonstrate

knowledge

of

technology

skills,

including

entering

data,

accessing

the

Internet,

and

producing

reports.

Maintain

confidentiality

of

all

records

and

information

related

to

the

program,

staff,

and

students.

Professionalism and Conduct:

Demonstrate

professionalism

at

all

times.

Professionalism

includes,

but

is

not

limited

to:

good

personal

hygiene,

neat

appearance

consistent

with

dress

code,

reliability,

respect

for

others,

and

commitment

to

the

children

and

families

of

our

program

without

bias.

Demonstrate

emotional

maturity

when

working

with

children

while

maintaining

composure.

Maintain

good

physical

and

mental

health

with

the

ability

to

lift

25

pounds.

Physical

demands

include

sitting

on

the

floor,

standing,

bending,

and

moving

with

children.

3

Must

have

access

to

reliable

transportation.

If

staff

have

their

own

vehicle,

a

valid

driver's

license,

and

insurance

must

be

provided

annually.

Perform

other

duties

as

assigned. Physical Demands/Work Environment: The usual and customary methods of performing the job's functions require the following physical demands:

occasional

lifting,

carrying,

pushing,

and/or

pulling;

and

significant

fine

finger

dexterity.

Generally,

the

job

requires

60%

sitting,

20%

walking,

and

20%

standing.

The

job

is

performed

in

a

minimal-temperature

environment

with

generally

hazard-free

conditions.

Reasonable

accommodations

may

be

made

to

enable

individuals

with

disabilities

to

perform

the

essential

functions. Acknowledgements: The above job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and standards of the position.

Incumbents

will

follow

any

other

directives

and

perform

any

other

related

duties

as

assigned

by

the

Superintendent.

____

__

Supervisor

Signature

Date

____

__

Employee

Signature

Date