Position Overview
The Assistant Teacher Pre-Apprentice will assist with classroom preparation, routines, documentation of child development, and implementation of child-related or family engagement activities. The Assistant Teacher will also provide coverage for classrooms in cases of absences and provide release time for Plan Time and other required meetings. The Assistant Teacher supports the teaching team to ensure that the education program is developmentally appropriate and meets the individual needs of the children as mandated by Office of Head Start, Wisconsin Department of Children and Families, Wisconsin’s quality rating and improvement system, YoungStar, and Next Door policies and procedures.
Responsibilities/Duties/Functions/Tasks
- Assists classroom staff in maintaining a safe, clean and healthy work environment.
- Assists in the compliance of Head Start Performance Standards, Licensing requirements, policies, procedures and guidelines in the day-to-day operation of the classroom.
- Assists in the supervision and management of children in the classroom.
- Models appropriate behavior and interacts in a positive, friendly and courteous manner with children, staff, families and community volunteers in order to build and foster responsive relationships.
- Collects in-kind using take-home activities, field trips, and etc.
Accountability and Performance Requirement
All staff members are accountable for knowing and performing the responsibilities associated with their individual position in an efficient and effective manner, understanding that each of us plays an integral role in the success of our mission. All staff will support the agency mission, vision, standards of conduct/code of ethics and strategic directions and support administrative decisions. This must demonstrated by maintaining a positive work environment, and by behaving and communicating in an appropriate manner with children, families, coworkers, supervisors and the public while achieving performance expectations.
Qualifications
- High School Diploma or High School Equivalency GED.
- Does not have the Introduction to Childcare and Skills and Strategies certificates and willing to complete in six weeks at Next Door.
Special Position Requirements
- Teacher must have a basic understanding of how children develop and learn.
Preferences
- N/A
Safety and Health
Next Door is committed to providing a safe work environment and to fostering the well-being and health of its employees. An essential part of each employees’ job is the development of safe working practices and the observance of safety rules, including:
- Following safety warnings and directions at all times.
- Using personal safety devices when required.
- Reporting any unsafe conditions to supervisor.
- Following process for reporting suspected child abuse and neglect.
- Reporting unsupervised children, after ensuring child’s safety.
- Implement active supervision practices at all times, including transition times.
- Ensure knowledge of each assigned child’s location at all times.
- Ensure medication is stored according to licensing regulations (DCF 251) and Next Door policies and procedures.
Physical Demands
- Primarily active work; occasionally lifting, holding or moving up to 50 lbs.
- A biannual physical exam, drug screen and TB test are required as a condition of initial employment and continued employment.
Physical Activity
- Bending, stooping, kneeling, sitting on the floor, walking/transporting, handling, reaching, climbing, balancing, crouching, crawling, talking and speaking clearly, hearing conversation level, smelling, and seeing; ability to interact daily with children outdoors in varied weather condition.
Work Environment
- Mainly classroom setting and travel to various sites for meetings and/or trainings.
Personal/Physiological
- Ability to make frequent, significant decisions to understand and react to the employees and candidates.
- Ability to respond quickly and competently to an emergency or crisis situation in order to keep children and staff safe.
Note: This position description is not intended and should not be construed to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills or efforts associated with the position. It is intended to be an accurate reflection of principal job elements.
Join an award-winning team doing the most important work in Milwaukee.
This is your opportunity to help create bright futures and a stronger Milwaukee! Our teachers and staff are guided by Next Door’s mission: to support the intellectual, physical and emotional development of children by partnering with their families for success in school and in the community.
At Next Door, we work hard to ensure Milwaukee children living in poverty get a strong start to life during the most critical period of brain development, ages birth to three. You can help a child achieve that start in the classroom, in a home visitation setting, through family advocacy or in a wide variety of support roles.
Our employees also play a big role in shaping the future of Next Door. Driven by our strategic plan, you can help Next Door become the preeminent leader in early childhood education in Milwaukee and the employer of choice among early childhood professionals.
What we offer
Next Door teachers and support staff enjoy low teacher-student ratios, ongoing professional development opportunities at no cost, coaching support and extensive community partnerships that enhance our services.
We also offer employees competitive salaries, a strong benefits package, staff engagement opportunities with the KEEP (Keep Employees Engaged as Partners) Committee, paid holidays plus a paid time-off program and free parking.