Instructional Assistant

Position Summary:

Supports Administration, Center Supervisor, Teacher(s) and Associate Teacher(s) at the center in carrying out overall program goals and objectives in a positive, open and productive manner. Shares responsibility for overall quality of children’s educational experience. May support the Bus Driver in the safe transportation of children to and from the child care center. Supports CAPSLO’s mission by ensuring quality education and learning environments for all children involved in the program. The work of this person must always be under the presence of a teacher and or assistant teacher. An aide who is 18 years of age or older, and who meets the requirements of this position, may escort and/or assist children in going to the bathroom, and may supervise napping children without being under the direct supervision of a teacher.

Required Education and Experience:

• Must have completed 6 Semester units ECE/CD, with a grade C or better or credit.
• Experience working with children with a diversity of special needs is desirable.
• HS/EHS/MSHS/State-Braided Instructional Assistants must also meet at least one of the following criteria:
  • Have a child development associate (CDA) credential or the California equivalent of an Associate Teacher Permit (12 ECE semester units including core courses; and for EHS and infant/toddler classrooms must also have 6 infant/toddler units); OR
  • Be enrolled in a CDA credential program that will be completed within 2 years; OR
  • Have an associate or baccalaureate degree (in any area) or be enrolled in a program leading to such a degree.

Preferred Education and Experience:

• Units in ECE/CD include courses from the following core areas:
  • Child/human growth and development.
  • Child, family and community, or child and family relations.
  • Programs/curriculum.

License & Certifications:

• Valid California Driver’s License and reliable insured vehicle available for business use (mileage to be reimbursed) and acceptable driving record.
• A DMV printout and proof of insurance will be required.
• Must provide certificates of completion of approved pediatric first aid and pediatric CPR training within 30 days of hire. Employee is responsible for renewing and maintaining a valid CPR/first aid certification at all times.

Essential Functions:

• Assists in the safe supervision of children engaged in learning and play activities by:
  • Paying close attention to the safety of the children at all times
  • Maintaining firm, but gracious limit setting.
• Assists the Center Supervisor, Teacher(s), and Associate Teacher(s) in planning developmentally appropriate activities for all children by:
  • Collecting supplementary books, paper, art supplies and other materials for instructional use.
  • Providing input into lesson plan development.
  • Participating in learning and small group activities.
  • Encouraging language development conversation with children (including the child’s first language, if other than English).
  • Encouraging children to be involved in activities with respect to their individual preferences.
• Keeps Center Supervisor, Teacher(s) and Associate Teacher(s) informed of problems and concerns related to individual children, families and/or operations of the center program.
• Must have visual supervision of all children at all times.
• Aids children in developing cognitive, physical, one-to-one or small group skills.
• Aids children in developing self-help skills; toileting, feeding, dressing, napping, etc.
• Maintains confidentiality of records and information of program families.
• Maintains health and safety in the classroom as reflected in health and safety policies. Responsible for maintaining and tracking daily safety checklist and sanitation log.
• Implements each child’s Individual Education Plan (IEP)/Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP).

Responsibilities and Duties:

• Provides a clean safe environment by participating in center/bus set-up and housekeeping. Duties include: lifting and moving equipment and furniture, and cleaning activities such as dusting, sweeping, vacuuming, mopping, dish washing, etc. Assumes responsibility for center maintenance, including orderliness and cleanliness levels that ensure proper standards of safety and sanitation.
• Participates in physical activities (games, music & movement, outside play) with children which involve lifting, bending, carrying, twisting, stooping, pulling, pushing, reaching and other repetitive motions. In addition, centers caring for infants & toddlers will require lifting, carrying, diapering, changing, feeding and cleaning of children.
• Performs special exercises, follow-up occupational or physical therapy, and other related activities, as needed by individual children.
• Assists Associate Teacher(s) and/or Teacher(s) in maintaining narrative records on each child, including anecdotal records and daily charts.
• Documents parent contacts and child abuse reporting.
• May attend home visits to assist Teacher or Center Supervisor as needed; is available for evening or weekend home visits, meetings or special events to meet the needs of working families.
• Attends and participates in all staff meetings and required trainings. Attends in-service training as assigned by the program manager.
• Shares responsibility for overall quality of education experience for all children, including child/children with disabilities.
• Provides appropriate guidance to all children. Ensures personal rights of children are maintained at all times.
• Responsible as a Mandated Reporter of Child Abuse and Neglect. Accordingly, follows procedures for reporting known or suspected child abuse and neglect.
• Must use reasonable precautions in the performance of duties and adhere to all applicable safety rules and practices; and act in such a manner as to assure at all times maximum safety to one’s self, children, clients and other employees.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the Center Supervisor, Teacher(s) or Associate Teacher(s).

When assisting on the bus:

• Assists in the safe supervision of children engaged in boarding, riding and exiting the bus by:
  • Welcoming and helping children get on and off the bus
  • Assisting the children in fastening seat belts
  • Paying close attention to the safety of the children at all times
  • Maintaining firm, but gracious limit setting
  • Keeping children seated while the bus is in motion
  • Assisting the children during emergency evacuations
• Participates in occupying the children during the ride with activities (games, songs & conversation).
• Keeps Bus Driver informed of problems and concerns related to individual children or families.
• Assists with bus inspections at the end of each trip. Part of the daily inspection includes straightening seat belts, picking up trash and checking for children and items left in the vehicle.
• Ensures that the established bus seating chart is enforced.
• Verifies that at the end of the day children are being released only to the parent/legal guardian or other individual identified in writing by the parent/legal guardian.
• Assists the Bus Driver at the end of each bus route, to check that all children have been dropped off. Sign in sheets should be used to verify delivery.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Knowledge:

• Must have knowledge of and the ability to comply with applicable laws and regulations.

Skills:

• Must have strong written and verbal communication skills, and be able to communicate effectively with clients and program staff.

Abilities:

• Must be able to maintain good working relationships with other program staff.
• Must be concerned with self-improvement and career development.
• Must be willing to increase basic knowledge of child development and early childhood education, as well as techniques of working with children with special needs and their families. Infant/Toddler center staff must be willing to participate in Program for Infant/Toddler Care (PITC) cohorts as they become available.
• Must be dedicated to the goals and philosophy the program.
• Must uphold program Standards of Conduct at all times.
• Must be able to relate well to all people of the community regardless of color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, age, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, disability or socio-economic level.
• Must understand, uphold, and continue working toward accomplishing the mission, strategic goals and performance measures of the agency.

Supervisory Responsibility:

• This position has no direct supervisory responsibilities.

Work Environment:

• This job operates in a classroom environment as well as outdoors.
• This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, printers, copiers and phones.

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.

Physical:

• Must be able to lift up to 40 pounds.
• Must be able to bend, squat, reach, kneel, and climb stairs.
• Position requires intermittent sitting, standing, walking, twisting, and bending for long periods of time.
• Must be able to move from a sitting to standing position quickly, safely, and without difficulty.
• Must be able to chase a fleeing child. Must be able to join the children’s active play including jumping and running indoors and outdoors.
• Simple grasping and hand manipulation required as well as reaching above and below shoulder level.
• Must be able to withstand exposure to noise in a daycare environment.
• Must be able to assist children with diapering, toileting, and change of clothing.

Vision, Hearing and Speech

• Corrected or uncorrected vision and hearing within normal ranges.
• A clear speaking voice and other abilities necessary to endure child safety in the classroom, other areas and when in the community.

Travel:

• Must have dependable, insured transportation and valid California Driver’s License (mileage to be reimbursed) and acceptable driving record.
• A DMV printout and proof of insurance will be required.

Additional Eligibility Qualifications:

• Must be at least 18 years of age by date of hire.
• Must submit proof of current vaccination status for measles, pertussis, and influenza (or a current, signed influenza declination form) in compliance with SB 792.
• Must comply with the CAPSLO COVID-19 Vaccination Policy, either being fully vaccinated or sign a COVID-19 vaccination declination form.
• Must complete a health screening physical completed within 30 days prior to employment and a current TB skin test/Chest X-Ray.
• Employment is contingent upon meeting all job requirements and background requirements: criminal history check (Inclusive of DOJ, FBI and Child Abuse), acknowledgement of child abuse reporting responsibility, criminal record statement (Form LIC508), etc. A criminal history clearance is required prior to employment.
• Upon hire agency staff will check the Megan’s Law (or the current sexual predator website) to ensure each staff being hired is clear for employment. Program administrative staff will check the website annually to ensure all program staff are cleared to work.
• Must meet the Head Start Performance Standards and State requirements.
• Employment in Head Start, Early Head Start and Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Programs is contingent upon approval of the Policy Council.

Other Duties:

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Reasonable Accommodations:

I have read and understand the Essential Functions of this position, including the Responsibilities and Duties. I also acknowledge that the Responsibilities and Duties for this position may change in the future with or without prior notice.

I further understand that I can request a reasonable accommodation, should one be necessary for me to carry out the Essential Functions of this position. I can perform these with or without reasonable accommodation.