Head Start Assistant Teacher

Edmonds College Head Start/ECEAP/Early Head Start   Lynnwood, WA   Full-time     Education
Posted on September 13, 2024
Apply Now

HEAD START ASSISTANT TEACHER

(Early Childhood Program Specialist 2)


SALARY:   $3,294/month (after July 1, salary increases to $3,393 per month)

CYCLIC STATUS: This is a 10.5 month position, scheduled to work August - June each year.  Summers are off and unpaid.

LOCATION: Multiple locations in Snohomish County

DESCRIPTION:   

The Assistant Teacher works under the direction of the Lead Teachers in our Head Start preschool classrooms, implementing individualized curriculum and ensuring the health and safety of all students. The Assistant teacher builds trusting relationships with children that honor individual differences, cultural & linguistic backgrounds, and current circumstances. This is a classified position reporting to the Education Site Manager.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

100%:  Assisting and Teaching  in a Preschool Classroom

  • Instruct children in a classroom setting
  • Implement individual child educational programming and prepare curriculum materials as directed by the Lead Teacher 
  • Record anecdotal observations, conduct screenings and assessments according to standardized instructions
  • Maintain paper and electronic documentation and records
  • Execute classroom snack and meal service
  • Set up a preschool classroom (including moving of child's size furniture, tables, chairs, shelves, and regular sized shelving units)
  • Maintain the health and safety of all children and their environment 
  • Ensure that no child is ever left alone or unsupervised
  • Take the lead in managing the classroom during the Lead Teacher’s daily office hours, and whenever the Lead Teacher is absent
  • Meet weekly with teaching team to discuss classroom needs and responsibilities
  • Must be able to walk or run quickly, kneel or sit on the floor, lift approximately 50 pounds, sit in a child's size chair, and move quickly from multiple positions and levels
  • Ability to perform regular sanitation/cleaning of the classroom that may require the use of a broom, carpet sweeper, mop, vacuum, and the use of cleaning products
  • Obtain and maintain Inter Rater Reliability using Teaching Strategies Gold within one year of employment 
  • Other duties as assigned

KEY COMPETENCIES (specific knowledge, skills or skill sets, and/or abilities necessary to perform work activities):

  • Be able to perform all the essential functions of the position
  • Ability to work independently, but also be a team player
  • Ability to problem-solve and handle sensitive information and difficult situations tactfully and confidentially
  • Must be knowledgeable of and work in accordance with Head Start Performance Standards, Federal, State, and College policies and regulations, and negotiated agreements
  • Must be able to use a computer for written communication
  • Must be able to respond to and initiate communication with program employees and enrolled families
  • Must be able to exhibit cultural humility when working with staff and families from diverse racial, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds
  • Must be able to prioritize unplanned but required duties with ongoing confirmed deadlines. Must be flexible and able to negotiate priorities according to program needs while considering rules and process requirements
  • Must consistently adhere to an established work schedule and maintain a 95% attendance rate
  • Current Food Worker Card and Pediatric CPR/1st Aid

JOB READINESS FACTORS (working conditions such as environmental factors, mental and physical demands, willingness issues of the position):

  • Must be able to work under stressful situations and manage stress appropriately
  • Must be able to accomplish repetitive tasks while maintaining a high level of accuracy
  • Must be able to walk or run quickly, kneel or sit on the floor, lift approximately 50 pounds, sit in a child's size chair, and move quickly from multiple positions and levels
  • Ability to perform regular sanitation/cleaning of the classroom that may require the use of a broom, carpet sweeper, mop, vacuum, and the use of cleaning products
  • Must be able to transport self to off-site trainings and meetings
  • Required vaccines:  TDap, MMR, Hep B series
  • Must show a negative TB Test and obtain a health provider statement showing free of communicable diseases
  • Cleared Portable Background Check through DCYF

This is a classified position reporting to the Education Site Manager.

For information on applying, please see Application Procedures and Required Documents, below. 

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

  1. Educational requirement (One of the following is required): 
  • Washington State Initial Early Childhood Education Certificate, or
  • Twelve credits in early childhood education, leading to an Associate's or Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, or
  • A current Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, or
  • Enrollment in a CDA credential program, to be completed within two years of hire

2. One year of work experience in a preschool classroom

 (See Conditions of Employment section for additional requirements.)

PHYSICAL WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Work is performed in an early learning environment, and onsite/in-person. The ability to sit, bend, stoop, walk and generally move around the classroom and over uneven surfaces to work with children is required. The position requires some lifting and moving up to 50lbs in an emergency situation. Excellent communication skills are essential. This includes the ability to speak clearly and fully comprehend written and spoken English and will include communication with people for whom English is not their first language.  Those who are multilingual are strongly encouraged to apply. 

WORK SCHEDULE:

40 hours per week, Monday - Friday

COMPENSATION:  

Salary range 36.  Beginning salary is $3,294/month.  After July 1, 2024, salary will be $3,393/month.  Progressive increases to $4,093 per month, plus a full state benefits package, which includes tuition waivers for college classes, medical, dental, retirement options and more. Vacation and leave package includes 10 sick days per year, 10 scheduled holidays, 1 personal holiday, 3 personal leave days, and 11.67 vacation days per year (incremental increases to 20 vacation days per year).

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: 

You must document your citizenship or employment authorization within three days of hire. 

Criminal background check. Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the position. 

  • All new positions are contingent upon funding. 
  • This position is subject to a collective bargaining agreement. 
  • At this time, Edmonds College does not sponsor H1-B Visas.

Complete, sign, and submit Declaration Regarding Sexual Misconduct

APPLICATION PROCEDURES AND REQUIRED DOCUMENTS: 

All applicants must apply online. No paper submissions or emailed materials will be accepted. Your online application must include the following documents in order to be complete: 

  1. Cover letter that addresses the required qualifications.
  2. Current resume. 
  3. Names and contact information for three references. 
  4. For veterans' preference, please scan and attach your DD214, Member-4 Form. 

Important, if this posting is on an external website other than www.edmonds.edu/hr or Edmonds College Job Opportunities  please follow one of these links to apply. Applying via an external webpage will not enter our application system.

ABOUT THE COLLEGE: 

Established in 1967, Edmonds College is a public, four-year, state college. It focuses on academic excellence, student success, and community engagement, which reflect the three aspects of its mission: Teaching | Learning | Community. It serves about 20,000 students annually, including more than 1,000 international students from more than 60 countries. The college offers nearly 70 associate degrees and 60 professional certificates in about 30 programs of study. Its highest enrolled programs are the Associate of Arts/Associate of Science degrees, Paralegal, Allied Health (pre-nursing degree), Business/Accounting, Construction Management, and Culinary Arts. The college is located in the center of the growing south Snohomish County communities of Edmonds, Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace, Brier, Mill Creek, Mukilteo, and Woodway. For more information, visit www.edmonds.edu

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT

The college provides equal opportunity in education and in employment per state and federal law. The college prohibits discrimination against any person due to race, color, religion, national origin, sex (gender), disability, sexual orientation, age, citizenship status, marital status, veteran status, or genetic information. For questions about our nondiscrimination policy or gender equality and athletic teams, call our call our Title IX Compliance Officer 425.640.1024.