Teacher Assistant and Van Driver at The Arc of South Florida

NAME OF ORGANIZATION:  The Arc of South Florida                                                                                        Page 1 of 4

NAME OF DEPARTMENT:   Children & Youth

PROGRAM:     Project Thrive, ACE Academy and / or Children’s Trust grants. 

POSITION:  Van Driver – Assistant Teacher 

TITLE OF IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR:   Regional Director, Principal, Assistant Principal, Educational Supervisor specific to each program (e.g. Principal, Education Specialist or Lead Teacher) and Classroom Teacher

CURRENT POSITION:  X                      EXEMPT:                                 FULL TIME: 

PROPOSED POSITION:                       NON-EXEMPT: X                     PART TIME: 

SUBSTITUTE:    

                                                                                                            TEMP / SEASONAL: 

JOB DESCRIPTION:

General Statement of Responsibilities:

• The Teacher Assistant who is also a Van Driver is responsible for the safe transport of the children to and from school and for ensuring that the van is in compliance with safety requirements.
• Under the supervision of the Regional Director/Principal, Educational Supervisor and Classroom Teacher, the Teacher Assistant is responsible for assisting the teacher in the overall supervision of the classroom and ensuring the health and safety of all children in attendance. 
• The Teacher Assistant is actively involved in ALL aspects of the program including but not limited to direct interaction with the children, families and staff of The Arc of South Florida.
• The Teacher Assistant is responsible for keeping the site clean and organized, assisting with record keeping and evaluation of children and carrying out other duties as requested by supervisors.

Minimum School and Training Requirements:

1. High School Diploma or equivalency. CDA or FCCPC preferred.
2. First Aid / Infant/child CPR within the required time frame of the specific program.
3. Maintain ongoing professional development training according to program design.
4. Must have a clean driving record.
5. Must have a minimum of three (3) years driving experience.

Specific Duties - including but not limited to:

A. Interactions with children:

1. Initiate interactions with children.
2. Lead small groups.
3. Participate in all aspects of care of children including diapering, feeding and positioning.
4. Incorporate therapy recommendations into daily routine under supervision of teacher.
5. Use developmentally appropriate practices.
6. Assist teacher in implementing curriculum through school program curricula. 
7. Assist teacher in implementing the Family Support Plan or Education Plan.                                              Page 2 of 4        

B. Van Responsibilities:

1. Transport children to and from school safely and punctually. 
2. Do “the sweep” to check for all children at the end of each ride. Utilize the “No Child Left Behind” System.
3. Follow all established procedures including Birth-Two Standards Transportation Policies and any additional Agency, Project Thrive or ACE Academy policies.
4. Complete all required paperwork including Child Sign-In/Sign-Out Sheets mileage, gas receipts, and repair receipts.
5. Utilize technology appropriately as relates to transportation.
6. Comply with all safe driving operations and rules and understand that GPS monitoring can track all driving behaviors and locations.
7. Ensure the van is in compliance with all safety inspections and emissions requirements and cooperate with Van Coordinator regarding insurance and registration regulations.
8. Maintain cleanliness of van at all times.
9. Maintain a clean driving record.
10. Ensure van is only used for agency transportation purposes.

C. Policies and Procedures

1. Follow all Agency Policies & Procedures and the Employee Handbook.
2. Comply with quality assurance expectations and standards.
3. Safety:
   1. Follow all Agency safety and security policies and procedures
   2. Report accidents, injuries and unsafe work conditions to the Principal or assignee.
4. Ensure that personal appearance is professional and clean, following the dress code of the Children and Youth Department and wear the uniform of the program as requested.
5. Speak with others using clear and professional language.
6. Answer telephones using appropriate etiquette.
7. Maintain child/student confidentiality.
8. Maintain Agency confidentiality.
9. Protect Agency assets.

D. Interactions with families:

1. Maintain positive interactions with families at all times.
2. Attend occasional parent education and support activities (Open House).
3. Follow agency guidelines regarding technology and social media.

E. Interaction with staff

1. Develop and maintain positive working relationships with others. 
2. Cooperate with teachers, supervisors and support staff.
3. Follow therapists’ recommendations for best practices in positioning and implementation of the therapeutic activities in the classroom under the supervision of the classroom teacher.
4. Follow recommendations and requests from supervisors and administrators.                     Page 3 of 4
5. Provide observations and suggestions to supervisors.

F. Cleaning and Organizing:

1. Clean all areas of school as required throughout the day and after the children leave using safe and effective methods.
2. Maintain organization of school by filing paperwork, storing equipment and organizing supplies.
3. Maintain a hazard free environment.

G. Training:

1. Complete initial orientation provided by program.
2. Participate in on-going, in-service trainings. 
3. Complete 45-hour and 10-hour training required by the Department of Children and Families of all childcare workers if required by program.

H. Other:

1. Participate in fund-raising activities and agency events throughout the year.
2. Present a positive image of The Arc of South Florida to the community.
3. Attend community meetings needed for contract compliance and by Department Director’s directive.
4. Perform other related and additional duties as needed.

Minimum Physical Requirements:

1. Must have TB Tine test if needed for specific program.
2. Must be able to move, lift, carry, push, pull, and place objects weighing less than or equal to 10 pounds without assistance.
3. Must be able to bend, squat, and sit on the floor.
4. Must be able to lift at least 50 pounds with assistance.
5. Must be able to stay alert and focused at all times to ensure the safety of ALL the children and be ready to react in any situation.

Salary Range:  based on education, prior experience, and knowledge.

The Arc of South Florida, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and fully subscribes to the principles of Equal Employment Opportunity. Applicants and/or employees are considered for hire, promotion and job status, without regard to race, color, citizenship, religion, national origin, age, sex (including sexual orientation, and gender identity), disability, genetic information, veteran, or current or future military status or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.

The Arc of South Florida, Inc. is a drug free workplace. All applicants under consideration for employment will be drug screened and background checked as part of the hiring process.                                             

Disclaimer: The job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.                                                                             

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This position is subject to continuation of funding from government and private funding sources and grants.

Employee Name__________________________________________        Date_________________

Employee Signature______________________________________________