About the position
An Early Head Start Classroom Assistant at Catholic Charities ensures the safety and security of children in the classroom. The role involves developing positive relationships with parents and families, assisting other staff in planning and coordinating student activities, providing classroom coverage for teacher absences, and maintaining classroom materials and equipment. The assistant is responsible for ensuring a safe, clean, and orderly classroom environment, taking direction from classroom staff, providing crisis intervention, and participating in meal preparation and clean-up. Compliance with Colorado State Licensing regulations and Head Start Performance Standards is required, along with participation in training and workshops related to early childhood development. The assistant must enroll in coursework for the Child Development Associate (CDA) certification if not already obtained, to be completed within 6 months of hire.
Responsibilities
- Ensures the safety and security of children in the classroom.
- Develops positive relationships with parents and families of each child.
- Assists other staff in planning, coordinating, and completing student activities.
- Provides classroom coverage for teacher absences and updates teaching staff upon their return.
- Assists in the organization and maintenance of classroom materials and equipment.
- Ensures that the classroom is safe, clean, and orderly.
- Takes direction from classroom staff regarding classroom organization and management.
- Provides crisis intervention including child abuse reporting.
- Ensures a safe environment by following safety rules.
- Participates in the preparation, setup, serving, and clean-up of meals and snacks.
- Administers first aid as needed.
- Complies with all Colorado State Licensing regulations and Head Start Performance Standards.
- Participates in required training, programs, workshops, and meetings concerning teaching methods, first aid/CPR, universal precautions, food safety, and other topics.
Requirements
- Ability to interact well with children 6 weeks-5 years of age.
- Ability to remember schedules, programs, policies, and other details.
- Ability to remain calm and calm others in an emergency and/or confrontational situation.
- Knowledge of the service population’s cultural and socioeconomic characteristics.
- Ability to interact effectively as a team member and independently with Agency staff and a diverse client base.
- Must be currently enrolled in, or agree to enroll in, coursework to obtain the Child Development Associate (CDA) certification.
Nice-to-haves
- Experience effectively interacting with children ages 6 weeks to 5 years of age in a group setting preferred.
- Early Childhood Teacher (ECT) qualification preferred.
Benefits
- Salary: $20.01/hr - $20.81/hr Part-Time, 20 hours per week.
- Extensive Paid Time Off (4 weeks accrual for new employees - increasing based on tenure).
- 15 Paid Holidays annually.
- 403b Retirement Plan with Agency contribution of 4% & match up to 2% of annual compensation.
- Choice of 3 PPO Medical Plans (90% of employee's and 75% of dependent’s premiums is paid by Agency), Dental, & Vision starting the 1st day of the month following start date.
- May be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through Federal Student Loans.
