Head Start Preschool Center Assistant

Dodge County Head Start promotes a caring, structured learning environment, giving children their first opportunity to learn important social and academic skills needed for success in education and life!

Delivered through 1,700 agencies in local communities, Head Start and Early Head Start programs provide services to over a million children every year, in every U.S. state and territory, in farm worker camps, and in more than 155 tribal communities. Head Start and Early Head Start programming is responsive to the ethnic, cultural, and linguistic heritage of each child and family.  Midland University has been the local grantee for the Dodge County Head Start program for over 50 years. We work closely with community partners like the Fremont Area United Way and the Fremont Family Coalition to improve community outcomes for all children and families in Dodge County, Nebraska.

Dodge County Head Start supports children's growth and development in a positive learning environment through a variety of services which include:
- Early learning: Children's readiness for school and beyond is fostered through individualized learning experiences. Through relationships with adults, play, and planned and spontaneous instruction, children grow in many aspects of development. Children progress in social skills and emotional well-being, along with language and literacy learning, and concept development.
- Health: Each child's perceptual, motor, and physical development is supported to permit them to fully explore and function in their environment. All children receive health and development screenings, nutritious meals, oral health and mental health support. The program connects families with medical, dental, and mental health services to ensure that children are receiving the services they need.
- Family well-being: Parents and families are supported in achieving their own goals, such as housing stability, continued education, and financial security. The program supports and strengthens parent-child relationships and engage families around children's learning and development.

Position Summary:

Assist in the delivery of a developmentally appropriate preschool program. Support the classroom teacher and assistant in creating a positive, healthy and safe learning environment. Assist with transportation and food service as directed.  Assist with light custodial and maintenance duties as directed.  Collaborate with other staff to manage program activities.  Full-time position with benefits.

Essential Job Functions: Family Support and Engagement

• Keep center environment clean, wash and disinfect tables after snacks/meals, art projects and other classroom activities throughout the day, pick up toys, books and other materials, keep floors and sleeping areas free of debris, sweep floors, clean counters and cabinets as needed to ensure a safe and healthy environment.
• Clean and sanitize the center as directed.
• Follow directions from the classroom teacher working one-on-one or in small groups with children.
• Assist the teacher in keeping order or handling emergency situations according to center and agency policies; remain calm in a very busy or emergency situation.
• Observe and supervise children at all times, including the classrooms, bathrooms, playground, and bus.
• Maintain the safety of children at all times.
• Implement food service/CACFP requirements according to program policies and procedures, serve meals family style; sit, interact and eat with children during snack and meal times.
• Ride and monitor the Head Start bus as directed.
• Use age appropriate conflict resolution skills to assist children with learning to resolve their own conflicts.
• Model friendly, respectful, warm and responsive interactions with children; interact with children at eye level.
• Refer parents to classroom teacher for information regarding their child’s day.
• May involve interaction with educationally, culturally, and racially diverse persons whose first language may not be English.
• Provide a supportive approach to learning, especially when dealing with students with developmental problems, emotional problems, physical limitations, or learning disabilities.
• Cooperate with other program staff in coordinating the day-to-day operations of the center to ensure a safe and healthy environment for children and staff and smooth operational functioning of the center.
• Perform other tasks as assigned by the Management Team: those tasks may include but are not limited to, subbing/changing classrooms, cooking or working in the kitchen to prepare or serve meals and/or wash and put dishes away, riding the Head Start bus, light maintenance and custodial duties, etc.

Essential Job Functions: Operational

• Work with other program staff to assure compliance with requirements of child care licensing, Head Start Performance Standards, child abuse and neglect reporting, and all other program policies.
• Comply with all program, state and federal policies, rules, and regulations regarding confidentiality.
• Participate in regularly scheduled meetings.
• Comply with program, state, and federal training and professional development requirements.
• Attend on-going training to maintain State of Nebraska licensing level and program requirements (may include evenings or weekends).
• Maintain professional and effective working relationships with co-workers and program staff.
• Effectively resolve conflict; remain calm in a very busy or emergency situation.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Position Qualifications / Certificates / Licenses:

• High School Diploma
• Basic knowledge of child development.
• Basic math ability.
• Clear understanding of verbal, written and oral communication.
• Compliance with other regulatory requirements as applicable.
• Pass criminal background check and post-employment medical examination.

Desired Qualifications / Skills / Licenses / Certifications:

• Early Childhood Education
• Experience working in early childhood center based care and education.
• Working knowledge of Nebraska State licensing regulations, Head Start Performance Standards; developmentally appropriate early childhood education practices; other program, state or national quality standards.
• First Aid / CPR
• Bi-lingual or basic understanding of Spanish.