A. GENERAL SUMMARY OF WHAT THE POSITION DOES
This position works as a part of a teaching team to work as a partner with the
teacher/lead teacher in developing activities for preschool (Head Start) children to
provide them with varied experiences and an appropriate learning environment.
Works with typically developing children and children with disabilities. Assistance is
given to the teacher in carrying out the goals, policies, and activities designed to
implement educational objectives and performance standards. This position works
with families to promote parent involvement in the program. This position may be
assigned additional duties based upon program need and areas of developing
expertise. This position works along with the teacher/head teacher to attain the goals
of the program. The position may be reassigned to various classrooms/centers as
deemed necessary for program operations.
B. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE POSITION
Duties of the position are described in major functional areas listed below. Additional
duties may be assigned.
- EXAMPLES OF SPECIFIC JOB DUTIES
- Preschool Classroom Activities
- Assists the teacher in all classroom activities, field trips and outdoor activities
including lesson plans. - Assists in developing materials and providing activities related to the cultural
background of the children and families served. - Participates in the screening, observation and documentation of children.
- Helps supervise at mealtime, eating with the children to encourage good
nutrition and proper social skills. - Helps keep the classroom and its contents clean and orderly.
- Is familiar with each child and parent.
- Uses initiative and imagination to assist the child and be perceptive and
knowledgeable about the needs of each child. - Assists the teacher in any aspect of the program as the need arises.
- Takes charge of the class in the teacher's absence.
- Makes home visits with the teacher as required or requested and documents
them as requested.
- Parent/Family Involvement And Community Relations
- Assists the teacher in meeting the program's needs for parent/family involvement
in each classroom. - Establishes a relationship of trust and rapport with the families of the children.
- Communicates with families to facilitate positive interaction with the program,
awareness of the child’s needs and development, how the activities of the
program promote positive development and their roles in the child’s overall
education and development. - Participates in the training of families as requested.
- Involves parents/families in the educational activities of the program:
- to emphasize their role as the principal influence on the child's education and
development; and - to assist parents/families to increase their knowledge, understanding, skills and
experience in basic child development.
- Assists with identifying and arranging for parents to volunteer in the classroom as
volunteers and substitutes. - Assists the teacher with collecting monthly in-kind records from parents and
community members participating in the program. - Assists with the supervision of all assigned volunteers in the classroom.
- EXAMPLES OF GENERAL JOB ACTIVITIES
- Understands, generates and documents in-kind and other allowable costs applied
toward the non-federal share requirement. - Attends all workshops and meetings as deemed necessary by the immediate supervisor.
- Attends all required staff and parent meetings and activities.
- Responsible for understanding Head Start Performance Standards and local child care
licensing regulations. - Expected to be knowledgeable of the regulations associated with prevention of
occupational disease and injury, including the exercise of universal precautions and the
prevention of contamination. - Positively promotes Head Start in the community.
- Maintains strict confidentiality with respect to Head Start Head Start children,
families and staff in accordance with established policies and procedures. - Becomes thoroughly familiar with Meriden YMCA Employee Handbook, Meriden YMCA
Operations Manual and all other Meriden YMCA handbooks, manuals and resources and
adheres to them.
PERFORMS OTHER DUTIES AS ASSIGNED
C. SUPERVISION EXERCISED
Immediate supervision means those employees the position assigns, directs and evaluates.
Positions Supervised: Head Teacher
D. PERSONAL CONTACTS
Major internal and external contacts.
Internal External
See Organizational Chart Head Start Parents - as needed
Community Partners - as needed
E. DECISIONS AND COMMITMENTS
This section will describe the kinds and impact of decisions and commitments;
the effects, influence and significance of these decisions; the consequence of
error and the limitation of the finality of decision-making.
Decisions and commitments involving the education program are very important and
affect the children and continued funding of the programs. Following the guidelines and
the regulations of the program are of the utmost importance to ensuring quality services
for the children and families.
Supervisor decisions regarding staff are important to ensure compliance with the
agency Personnel Policies and Procedures, to ensure good management, and
protect the employee rights.
F. SUPERVISION RECEIVED
The job description and the content area work plan serve as a guideline. Assistance
is received from other agency staff as needed. Outside assistance can be received
from other related resources. Head Start Head Start effectively uses the teamwork
approach. All content areas are interwoven so as to better assist and support
families. The immediate supervisor is responsible for appraisals of this position.
This position receives content area supervision and technical assistance from
program supervisor, specialist, coordinator and/or managers.