Preschool Assistant bei Rock Walworth Comprehensive FA

Description

JOB PURPOSE or JOB SUMMARY:

The Preschool Assistant will provide essential support to educators and children 5 and under to promote a healthy environment where children are safe and can learn. With a focus on student and educator well-being, this position will partner to provide individualized services to students presenting with trauma histories, special health care needs, disabilities and/or delays, as well as dual language learners, in addition to supporting educators with day-to-day classroom needs. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Connect with children during: transportation to/from school; when providing educator breaks; when substituting in the classroom; when assisting with breakfast, lunch, snack, and/or recess; and when working 1:1 with children to promote skill development.
• Establish meaningful relationships with students for the purpose of understanding of who they are, how they communicate, and what they need to be successful in school and at home.
• Partner with mental health consultants, parents, educators and other agency staff to implement individual support plans and strategies that promote student success. Participate in the development of Individualized Family Service Plans, Individualized Education Programs, and/or Individualized Support/Behavior Intervention Plans, as requested.
• Serve as the first responder for children experiencing dysregulation and/or in crisis. Provide in-classroom support and implement individualized strategies to help return the child to a state of regulation.
• Work with children to strengthen fine and gross motor skills; cognitive, play, and social skills; self-help skills; and to manage sensory input.
• Identify and share strategies that work for individual children with their teachers and parents, guardians, and/or caregivers.
• Serve as a support during transitions to Head Start programming and/or Kindergarten.
• Complete all required paperwork according to program policies and procedures (e.g., attendance records, daily meal counts, child abuse and neglect reporting, volunteer records, family engagement reports, etc.).
• Conduct and document observations/screenings as assigned.
• Assist with family events, home visits, and/or playgroups, as requested/assigned.
• Provide integration of a variety of activities including but not limited to, music, movement and outdoor/active play, health, dental, nutrition and safety into the classroom day. Incorporate learning opportunities that foster the development of skills, behavior, language and literacy, cognition, and motor skills through implementation of program approved research based curriculum approaches.  

OPERATIONS SUPPORT

• Follow and comply with all safety and work rules and regulations.
• Assist with Emergency Preparedness and related safety drills.
• Attend agency meetings and participate in training, as requested.

The above list reflects the general details necessary to describe the principle and essential functions of the position and shall not be construed as the only duties that may be assigned for the position. An individual in this position must be able to successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities listed above. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position. It is the responsibility of the individual to inform the employer of any accommodation needed to perform the essential functions of this position.

Requirements

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• A passion for early care and education, social-emotional learning, trauma-informed care, and/or infant/child mental health.
• Coursework in early childhood development, education, social work, psychology, or a related field, and a willingness to obtain additional education pertinent to the role. (Financial assistance may be provided.)
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality at all times and handle sensitive matters with professionalism.
• Ability to collaborate with others and perform high quality work with minimal to moderate supervision.
• Ability to meet deadlines and maintain a workload that contributes to the overall effective operations of the agency. 
• Experience utilizing Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Teams, Outlook, Power Point, Adobe, etc.).
• Ability to work with diverse populations/family models.
• Must have or be able to obtain CPR and First Aid certificates.
• Ability to maintain good attendance.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• An associate's or bachelor’s degree in early childhood development, education, social work, psychology, or a related field, and a willingness to obtain additional education pertinent to the role. (Financial assistance may be provided.)
• Three or more years of work experience in any of the essential duties/responsibilities outlined above.
• Ability to communicate fluently in English and Spanish.
• Certification in infant and early childhood mental health or trauma-informed care, or licensure as a Special Education Program Aide.

PHYSICAL, MENTAL, and EMOTIONAL DEMANDS:

Employees must be able to demonstrate at all times that they are physically, mentally, and emotionally able to meet the requirements of their job.

Physical Demands:

Communication: Speaking clearly, hearing, and using hands to handle objects or controls.

Physical Activity: Depending on the job, employees may need to lift up to 40 pounds; stand for long periods of time; bend, squat or crouch; sit on the floor and return to standing; climb stairs; and/or move quickly throughout the building.

Visual Acuity: Seeing details of objects at various distances, as well as depth perception. The ability to withstand blue light from computer screens, smart phones, and other technology.

Auditory Acuity: The ability to hear and focus on conversations and potentially respond quickly to sounds. 

Mental Demands:

Cognitive Skills: Learning new information, remembering processes, focusing, categorizing, and integrating information for decision-making. Making timely and effective decisions under pressure.

Problem-Solving: Identifying problems, analyzing situations, and finding solutions.

Organization and Planning: Organizing tasks, setting priorities, and managing time effectively.

Adaptability: Adapting to changing situations and priorities.

Stress Management: Managing stress and maintaining composure under pressure.

Crisis Intervention Skills: Experience in crisis intervention and the ability to manage high-stress situations.

Emotional Demands:

Empathy and Emotional Intelligence: Understanding and responding to the emotions of team members. Understanding one's own strengths and weaknesses and how they impact others.

Relationship Building: The ability to form and nurture meaningful connections with others, both personally and professionally.

Conflict Resolution: Resolving conflicts constructively and fairly.

Frustration Tolerance: Coping with and enduring frustrating situations without experiencing excessive negative emotions or behaviors

Resilience: Maintaining a positive attitude and bouncing back from setbacks.

Growth Mindset: Believing that your abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication, effort, and learning, and maintaining an openness to receiving supervision and feedback to improve practice.

The physical, mental, and emotional requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an individual to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT:

• The employee primarily works indoors within a school building. The noise level in the work environment ranges from low to moderate, depending on the location of the work being performed.
• The employee regularly performs work that requires an immediate response. Regular interruptions to workflow are expected.
• The employee occasionally works in outdoor weather conditions for short periods of time.
• The employee may encounter illness and/or be exposed to situations that require CPR or first-aid to be administered.
• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an individual encounters while performing the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to successfully function within the work environment.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT:

This is a part-time (28 hours), limited term employment (LTE) opportunity. The schedule aligns with the school year calendar, with a projected end date of June 5, 2026. It is possible that employment may be able to be extended into the following school year. Given that this is a part-time position, benefits are not available; however, the employee will be eligible for holiday pay and paid time off.