Teaching Assistant

Description

The Learning Center at St. Peter Prince of Apostles School is looking for a full-time Teaching Assistant in a day care setting.

Job Summary:  The caregiver is responsible for providing supervision and care for children through a caring, positive, authoritative relationship.  The caregiver makes children feel welcome and comfortable.  The caregiver assists in the development of program activities and is responsible for a small group of young children and performs activities that ensure the health, safety and progress of reach child in the group.  The caregiver reports to the program director directly and ultimately the school principal if necessary.  The caregiver is an hourly employee of the St. Peter Prince of Apostles School and Parish.

 Duties and Responsibilities:

• Understands and follows “General Responsibilities for Child-Care Center Personnel” as outlined in the Texas DFPS Minimum Standards.
• Cares for young children’s daily physical needs; diapering, toileting and feeding.
• Meets the emotional needs of each young toddler; talks with, smiles at, and loves each child.
• Satisfies the developmental needs of each young child:  reads to, plays with, and entertains young children.
• Adheres to regular work and activity schedules.
• Adheres to the dress code policy of the school.
• Works cooperatively and harmoniously with all staff.
• Identifies safety hazards and immediately corrects them or reports them to director.
• Supervises children carefully and closely and keeps the group under control at all times.
• Follows discipline policy and provides appropriate level of discipline when necessary.
• Assists children in a way that develops the child’s role and initiative, and interacts in ways that help them learn.
• Supervises and assists children with meals and cleanup.
• Helps plan the program curriculum and implements activities which are designed to facilitate positive development.  Ensures sufficient materials are on hand for planned activities.  The activities are geared to the needs of the individual child with concerns for his/her interests and special needs.
• Helps organize each day’s activities to provide children with a variety of experiences and opportunities that allow them to develop curiosity, initiative, problem-solving skills, and creativity, as well as a sense of self and feeling of belonging to the group.
• Helps arrange particulars for scheduled class parties (Thanksgiving, Christmas, End of the Year, etc).
• Provides for the physical safety of each child from arrival time until departure time.
• Knows and applies basic first aid and prepare accident reports in cases of accidents and injuries.
• Protects all children from physical punishment or verbal abuse by anyone in the any program activity, and immediately reports any such incident to the center director or person in charge.
• Interacts with parents and children in positive ways and treats them with dignity and respect.  Communicates the child’s progress with parents in a positive and supportive manner.
• Maintains a positive and professional attitude with parents, children and staff at all times.
• Maintains a professional attitude and loyalty to the program and supports the policies and procedures of The Learning Center.
• Maintains a neat and orderly child care environment.  Performs an equal share of general housekeeping duties.  Maintains and stores equipment properly.
• Completes daily reports on each child for parents every day outlining the child’s care and needs.
• Attends required staff meetings, training events, conferences/workshops, etc.
• Is able to perform all of the above duties with no day-to-day supervision.
• Performs any other tasks deemed necessary by the program’s director.

This position description is not intended to be all-inclusive.  It is understood that the employee will also perform other reasonable related business duties if requested by the director.  Position descriptions are reviewed periodically and may be revised if deemed necessary.  This job description is not a written or implied contract.
A performance review will be conducted annually.  The director will agree to performance goals and criteria at the start of the review period.  Such goals and criteria are subject to change upon mutual agreement at any time.
Other Policies:

• All staff members must be on time for work.
• All staff members must give 2 weeks notice for any time off request.  Requests made with less than two weeks notice will not be approved.
• All staff members must put their cell phone in the drawer in the kitchen. No staff member should have their cell phone on them or with them at any time.
• All staff members should help out with all the children no matter which classroom they are from.
• Lunches are 30 minutes only, including the time you leave to get food.
• Teachers will communicate with each other in the classroom about what is being done that day and what each teacher needs to do.
• Staff members are to wear dress slacks or nice pants and either their spirit shirts or a nice top to work every day unless the director states otherwise.  As part of school-wide spirit days, staff may wear jeans on Monday with their spirit shirt.
• All staff members are to be checking the daily rosters to make sure all children are there every hour.  It should not be the same person all the time.
• All staff members will have an assigned spot on the playground to watch the children.  If you must leave your spot for any reason, let another staff member know so they may watch your area while you are away.  There is to be no standing with another staff member and talking.  THE CHILDREN ARE OUR MAIN PRIORITY.
• As a professional courtesy, there should be no gossiping about your fellow staff members.  If there is a problem, talk to the director.
• Time sheets are due by 12:00 pm on Friday at the end of the two week pay period.  If your time sheet is not in by this time, your payment will be delayed until the next pay period.
• There will be no after hour access to the TLC buildings unless permission is granted by the director.

Requirements

• Meet the requirements for a caregiver, as outlined in The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services’ Minimum Standard Rules for child-care centers
• Undergo initial fingerprinting and criminal background check (at the expense of The Learning Center) and ongoing checks as required by law.
• Maintain current certification in Infant/Child First Aid and CPR (at the expense of The Learning Center).
• Maintain required level of training hours with required documentation.
• Complete, in a timely manner, all trainings required by the Archdiocese of San Antonio.
• Must have a warm and friendly personality, be sensitive to the feelings and needs of others, be able to relate well to children and be willing to fulfill responsibilities in accordance with The Learning Center program.