TEACHER ASST

This position is organizationally under the Head Start director, as operated by the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma. The Teacher aide/floater must be flexible to undertake a variety of miscellaneous duties as assigned by the supervisor or team leader. Teacher Aide/floater supports the teacher with the implementation of developmentally appropriate curriculum for preschool-aged students. Teacher Aide/floater will be assigned to classrooms needing assistance and will assist with daily activities, routines, and care for the students. The Education Manager and Director supervise the Teacher Aide/Floater.

Examples of key duties are interpreted as being descriptive and not restrictive in nature.

• Communicate in all areas with the assigned Teacher.
• Assist the Teacher in providing the daily educational program to a group of children.
• Assist the Teacher in providing daily guidance and nurturance to a group of children.
• Assist the Teacher in providing a safe, healthy, organized learning environment with the use of transitions and redirection.
• Position yourself at a child's eye level when interacting with them.
• Follow the daily lesson plans.
• Assist the Teacher in assessing the development of individual children.
• Assist the Teacher in planning for the needs of children based on assessment results.
• Assist the Teacher with a Parent/Teacher Conference after school hours.
• Eat meals with the group of children in your care.
• Assist the Teacher in implementing the Individualized Education Plan for children with disabilities.
• Participate in training as required by the Education/Disabilities Manager or Director.
• Attend staff meetings.
• Report suspected child abuse and neglect to the Director and to the appropriate agency.
• Assist the Teacher in maintaining children's attendance records and meal count.
• Assist the Teacher in maintaining records and reports.
• Maintain confidentiality of all information and records of children and families.
• Serve as a monitor on bus routes.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Assist the Teacher with disinfecting & cleaning of the classroom and bathrooms each day.

Ability to work under pressure and maintain personal composure, evaluate situations, and act/react appropriately and effectively with the children, co-workers, and parents in difficult situations.

The work environment characteristics described herein are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the primary functions of an early childhood worker. Normal conditions exist, as do conditions with other associated program services; the noise level in the work environment is moderately loud, and the employee must be able to manage levels of stress.

Caring for children can be physically demanding. The employee must occasionally lift, carry, and/or move up to fifty (50) pounds. The employee may be lifting and carrying children and equipment, and may spend time sitting on the floor or in child-size furniture. There are prolonged periods of sitting, standing, keyboarding, and reading. Specific vision abilities required by this job include reading, seeing from a distance, sitting in front of a computer screen, and color vision. Talking and hearing/listening are essential to communicate with parents, staff, peers, and children. Must have the ability to concentrate and maintain accuracy despite frequent work interruptions.

The employee may come in contact with children who are ill and/or contagious and must take precautions to ensure the health and safety of all children, parents, staff, and themselves. Must be able to work safely in an environment containing biological conditions which may be unhealthful or hazardous (such as bodily fluids and waste, germs, childhood diseases).

Experience/Education: (Minimum Requirements)

• High School Diploma or equivalent. Must be willing to enroll in courses leading to a Child Development Associate Credential as required by Head Start ACT Section 648A(a)(3)(B)(ii)(III)
• Good health status as documented by a physical examination.
• Be able to lift 50 pounds.
• Ability to provide evidence of freedom from TB.
• Ability to supervise outdoor play in all weather conditions in which children will play outdoors consistent with the outdoor policy.
• Ability to move quickly from one area of the classroom or playground to another.
• Ability to quickly move from sitting to standing and from standing to sitting.
• Ability to position oneself to be face-to-face with a standing child.
• Ability to sit in a child-size chair.
• Valid Oklahoma driver's license and satisfactory driving record.
• Reliable transportation.
• Satisfactory OSBI & fingerprinting background check.
• Maintenance of a current First Aid and CPR Certificate. (Training can be provided by center.)

Skills:

An ability to acquire training in the development of the young child, follow a lesson plan, and provide a healthy, safe, caring, nurturing, and encouraging environment. Computer literacy preferred.

Requirements:

Must possess documents that establish both identity and employment eligibility, pass a drug

screening test, and meet the required OSBI & fingerprinting background investigation.

Ability to work well with children and be patient with them. Ability to move and react quickly to a variety of circumstances.

• Member or descendant of Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma
• Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential
• Bilingual in Kickapoo/English or Spanish/English.

In performing their respective tasks and duties, all employees of the Kickapoo Head Start are expected to adhere to the following:

• Promote children’s rights, assist children, family, and staff to make informed decisions, treat children with dignity and respect, report suspected abuse or neglect, and support independent expression, choice, and decision-making.
• Adhere to all professional and ethical behavior standards of the Early Childhood professional.
• Meet the emotional, social, physical, and cognitive needs of each child.
• Abide by and follow the KTO policies and procedures.
• Abide by and follow the KTO Head Start policies and procedures.
• Adhere to the emergency and disaster plans for the center, and evacuate center as needed.
• Interact in an honest, trustworthy, and dependable manner with parents/ clients, co-workers/employees, and vendors.
• Must be culturally sensitive and respectful to the beliefs and traditions of the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma.
• Meet or exceed the performance standards set by the organization.
• Work independently and as a team member; consistently demonstrating professionalism, courtesy, efficiency, excellent internal and external customer service, high ethical standards, and behavior that contributes to harmonious relationships.
• Willingness to learn new skills and participate in training sessions, including maintaining a minimum of 20 clock hours of formal & informal training annually.
• Uphold the Policy and Procedures of the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma and Kickapoo Head Start
• Maintain high standards of personal appearance and grooming, which include wearing the appropriate work attire and nametag when working.

The Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma is committed to Equal Employment without regard to race, religion, color, gender, national origin, age, disability, or sexual orientation. However, in accordance with the Indian Preference Act (Title 25 U.S. Code 472 and 473) preference in filling vacancies are given to qualified Indian candidates.

In reference to Personnel Policy, Section 1-24, Employment At-Will. All employees who do not have a written contract with the employer for a specific fixed term of employment are thereby employed at the will of the employer for an indefinite period. Employment with the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma, without a written contract, is voluntary and therefore employees are free to resign at will at any time with or without cause or reason. Likewise, Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma may terminate the employment relationship at will at any time with or without notice and for any lawful reason deemed appropriate by the Tribe and the staff or for good cause, bad cause, or no cause at all. This policy is commonly referred to as “employment-at-will.”