Teacher Assistant-Floater

This is a Teacher Assistant Floater position and will go between the Seguin and New Braunfels Head Start Centers. JOB SUMMARY: The Head Start Teacher Assistant-floater is responsible for the assisting the Head Start Teachers in implementation of the program in an assigned classroom and ensuring that classroom operates in compliance with Head Start Performance Standards, TDFPS Minimum Standards and all state and local regulations. The Head Start Teacher Assistant provides care and education for children and their families in a child care setting, provides a supportive, safe, and stimulating learning environment and will be knowledgeable of Texas Minimum Standards for Licensing and Head Start Performance Standards. This is a year-round position. This position will travel between both Seguin and New Braunfels centers depending on where coverage is needed and will assist in providing care for children ages 6 weeks to 4 years old (both Early Head Start and Head Start children). ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Assists Teachers in maintaining a calm, safe classroom and playground that incorporates developmental appropriateness; assists in creating an atmosphere in which the children feel comfortable and secure, reflecting the cultures of all enrolled children to include children with special needs. Provides direct classroom support necessary to maintain program classroom ratio and ensure two teachers are present at all times; assists with providing breaks and other classroom needs as requested. Ensures the safety of children through constant supervision, effective arrangement of space, proper maintenance of equipment and regular practice of fire drills and other emergency procedures. Works closely with the Teacher to develop lesson plans that meet the physical, social, emotional, and intellectual needs of each child; plans small and large group activities for variation in ability levels and individual interests. Assists Teacher in incorporates developmentally appropriate practice according to the Head Start Performance Standards. Assists Teacher in ensuring continuity of curriculum and high standards of equality in the classroom; works individually with children who experience difficulty in group activities. Consistently implements center routines, including hand washing, tooth brushing, eating, napping, and transitioning between activities. Operates the classroom in compliance with all childcare-licensing standards, paying particular attention to standards prohibiting any form of physical punishment. Assists Teacher in ensuring that the arrangement of each classroom provides a stimulating, clean, and safe learning environment. Ensures proper documentation in children's files in all content areas. Assists Teacher in ensuring Individual Education Plan (IEP) or Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) goals are implemented in the classroom for each identified child; continues the ongoing assessment process, maintaining written and electronic records on each child. Ensures all classrooms have a variety of materials and planned activities designed to encourage individual and group play to promote language/literacy, social-emotional, physical, match and science and cognitive skills to include children with special needs. Provides experiences that promote individual self-expression in conversation, imaginative play, and creativity and provides positive guidance to promote self-esteem. Provides experiences involving thinking skills such as generalizing, classifying, sorting, and problem solving. Makes available a variety of opportunities to help children develop and understands appropriate relationships with others. Increases the complexity and challenge of activities as children develop. Observes, records, and reports any child's behavior, sharing information appropriately with other EHS/HS management staff for intervention or assistance on improving child's behavior. Shows personal development and growth by being relaxed, using a calm, quiet voice, being pleasant and enthusiastic about the children, and by using self-control in trying situations. Assists with transition activities for the Head Start child and family: into Head Start, during the year, and to the next placement (kindergarten). Joins the children at snack, breakfast, and lunchtime, ensuring that the Head Start philosophy of serving family style meals is maintained and that the children serve themselves. The Teacher Assistant and Teacher will both be seated at the table(s) with the children at mealtimes. Joins the children at snack, breakfast and lunchtime, ensuring that the Head Start ph