Teacher Assistant – Job Description
Position: Teacher Assistant
Department: Early Childhood Education / Childcare
Reports To: Lead Teacher and/or Center Director
Employment Type: Full-Time or Part-Time
Position Summary
The Teacher Assistant supports the Lead Teacher in providing a safe, nurturing, engaging, and developmentally appropriate learning environment for children. The Teacher Assistant helps with classroom activities, supervision, routines, behavior guidance, classroom organization, and maintaining a clean and welcoming environment.
The ideal candidate is caring, dependable, patient, energetic, and passionate about working with young children.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Assist the Lead Teacher with daily classroom routines, lessons, and learning activities.
- Actively supervise children at all times to maintain their safety and well-being.
- Engage children in age-appropriate educational activities, including art, sensory play, music, literacy, math, science, dramatic play, and outdoor activities.
- Assist with circle time, small-group activities, centers, and transitions.
- Encourage children's social-emotional development, independence, communication, and positive peer interactions.
- Model and reinforce positive behavior and classroom expectations.
- Assist children with meals, snacks, toileting, diapering, handwashing, rest time, and other daily care routines as appropriate for the age group.
- Help prepare and organize classroom materials and learning centers.
- Maintain a clean, organized, sanitary, and safe classroom environment.
- Follow proper cleaning, sanitizing, and health and safety procedures.
- Assist with maintaining attendance, meal counts, classroom records, and other required documentation when assigned.
- Follow CACFP meal service and meal-counting procedures when applicable.
- Observe children and communicate developmental, behavioral, health, or safety concerns to the Lead Teacher or Director.
- Build positive and professional relationships with children, families, coworkers, and administration.
- Maintain confidentiality regarding children, families, and staff.
- Participate in staff meetings, professional development, required trainings, and center events.
- Follow all center policies and procedures as well as applicable childcare licensing regulations.
- Assist in opening, closing, or covering classrooms when needed.
- Perform additional childcare-related duties assigned by the Lead Teacher or administration.
Qualifications
- High school diploma or GED required.
- Previous experience working with children in a childcare, preschool, school, camp, or similar setting preferred.
- Early Childhood Education coursework, CDA credential, or related education is preferred but not required depending on the position.
- Must meet all state childcare licensing requirements.
- Must complete required background clearances and health documentation.
- CPR and First Aid certification preferred or willingness to obtain certification.
- Must complete all required childcare and professional development training.
Skills and Abilities
The successful candidate should demonstrate:
- Patience and compassion when working with young children.
- Strong communication and teamwork skills.
- Dependability and professionalism.
- Ability to follow directions and classroom procedures.
- Positive attitude and willingness to learn.
- Ability to appropriately manage children's behaviors using positive guidance.
- Good organizational and time-management skills.
- Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced childcare environment.
Physical Requirements
The Teacher Assistant must be able to:
- Frequently sit, stand, walk, bend, kneel, and move throughout the classroom.
- Sit on the floor and interact with children at their level.
- Lift and carry children or classroom materials when necessary.
- Participate in indoor and outdoor activities.
- Respond quickly and appropriately during emergencies.
Professional Expectations
Teacher Assistants are expected to arrive on time, maintain professional attendance, dress appropriately for working with children, communicate respectfully, follow confidentiality requirements, and contribute positively to the classroom and center environment.
Equal Opportunity Employer
We are committed to providing a professional, respectful, and inclusive workplace and consider qualified applicants without discrimination as prohibited by applicable law.
Pay: $15.51 - $16.52 per hour
Expected hours: 80.0 per week
Benefits:
- Employee discount
- Flexible schedule
- Paid time off
Work Location: In person
