Teacher's Aide

Position Summary:

Early Childhood (EC) Division at Children’s Aid (CA) is founded on the belief that strong communities are built by children and families who have the access and skills and choice to create pathways to their success. The Early Childhood Department serves over 700 low-income children ages 0-5 and their families in schools and community centers throughout Manhattan, Staten Island and the Bronx through a combination of Federal, State and City funding. We believe that strong communities are built by children and families who have access, skills and choice to create pathways to their success.

Each Teacher’s Aide will work with their teaching team to ensure that all children reach developmentally appropriate milestones through the implementation of evidence-based curricula, individualized support and high quality learning environments. Teacher’s Aides will focus on making sure that all the children and families will be ready to be successful in Kindergarten and in life, while ensuring that all Head Start Performance Standards and site-specific funding regulations are met or exceeded.

Responsibilities: Under the direct supervision of the site’s Education Director, the Teacher Aide’s responsibilities include the following:

Curriculum and Instruction

• Assist in promoting high-quality and developmentally appropriate teaching and learning in the classroom that leads to children’s school readiness.
• Assist in providing responsive care to all children through individualized planning, instruction, and supervision.
• Assist in the planning and establishment of an environment in which children develop trusting and accepting relationships with adults and peers that foster growth and development.
• Assist design and execute a developmentally appropriate and integrated curriculum experiences to fidelity which provides opportunities for children’s meaningful exploration that enhances the social, emotional, intellectual, language /communication and physical well-being of the children in the Early Head Start.
  • Utilize effective teaching practices and assist classroom management that align with licensing agency standards, curriculum and Children’s Aid Early Childhood Division mission.

Record Maintenance, Screening and Assessment

• Assist the Lead Teacher and the Assistant Teacher in overseeing and maintaining accurate records on each child.
• Assist in observing and documenting students’ development daily to request additional support from Education Director through internal referral process.

Family Engagement

• Assist the Lead Teacher and the Assistant Teacher in encouraging parent involvement and communication through newsletters, bulletin boards, classroom events, Center-wide activities, and “open-door” policy.
• Depending on the Center and the funding requirements, participate in open houses, and/or family days.
• Assist the Lead Teacher educate families on the curriculum and developmentally appropriate learning opportunities they can provide at home by sharing resources and newsletters during parent-teacher conferences and throughout the year through our digital platforms.

Professional Development

• Participate in all agency offered trainings, workshops, in-service days, and/or all-staff conferences.
• Engage in self-assessment and reflection coaching experiences such as through completion of self-assessment surveys, video recording, coaching and collaborating sessions.
  • Maintain certification requirements and proof of attendance in professional activities.
  • Support the growth of the center including participating in program-wide goal setting and individual and program self-assessment.
  • Complete all Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) required trainings within the specified time frame.
  • Maintain Active Membership with Aspire AND “Registered” status with TEACH Account, both linked to CA.

Health and Safety

• Adhere to all state and city licensing requirements, teacher child/ratios, and CPR/first aid, Child Abuse Mandate, Foundations for Health and Safety, Blood Borne Infection and Mental Health First Aid certification.
• Maintain a safe and healthy environment for children aligned to CDC, DOHMH and ECERS guidance (i.e. clean toys, shelves, neat classrooms, reported damaged / broken equipment toys, etc.).
• In-person collaboration is an essential function of the job
• Perform other duties as assigned Perform other duties as assigned

And other related duties as assigned, at the discretion of the Educational Director and /or Children’s Aid.

Qualifications: The Teacher’s Aide must have qualifications that satisfy Federal Head Start requirements, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Article 47 regulations, and Universal Preschool Guidelines

The Teacher’s Aide will need to have qualifications that satisfy one of the following conditions:

• A high school diploma or GED is required.
• A Child Development Associate (CDA) credential is required (at hire or within the first year).
• Satisfies all other Federal Head Start requirements, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Article 47 regulations, and Universal Preschool Guidelines.

OR

• A high school diploma or GED is required.
• Have at least 90 credits in childhood development/early childhood education and be on a study plan to complete the CDA credential is required.
• Satisfies all other Federal Head Start requirements, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Article 47 regulations, and Universal Preschool Guidelines.

Other Qualifications:

• Bilingual preferred
• Experience working with infants and toddlers, and children with Special Needs
• Dedicated, excited and passionate about teaching and learning with young children
• Reflective on own teaching practice and willing to develop and increase capacity
• Professional approach
• Resourceful & dependable
• Effective communication skills
• Hold Mental Health First Aid Certificates