Join Our Team Teaching Assistant

Our Teacher Assistants bring warmth, patience, and understanding to the classroom every day, encouraging children to learn and grow. They inspire children to be lifelong learners promoting social, physical, verbal, and cognitive development. Our Teachers are committed to making our center successful and know that creating meaningful relationships with children, families, and their team play a crucial role in that success.

All teaching assistants must:

  • Implement LEAP’s curriculum in a way that is consistent with the unique needs of each child.
  • Create a safe and nurturing environment where children can play and learn.
  • Partner and communicate with parents, with a shared desire to provide the best care and education for their children.
  • Support LEAP’s success; partner with staff and leadership to achieve goals around enrollment, accreditation, and engagement.
  • Cultivate positive relationships with families, teachers, state licensing authorities, community contacts and corporate partners

Specific duties and responsibilities include:

  • Assist the teacher to plan and facilitate age appropriate curriculum for children and posts lessons plans weekly. Help set up the classroom before and after activities.
  • Assist with diaper changing and toileting routines for children as needed, ensuring that proper hygiene and sanitation procedures are followed at all times. Promote toilet training when developmentally appropriate and in coordination with the lead teacher’s guidance.
  • Monitor and communicate with the lead teacher or parents regarding diaper supplies and when additional supplies are needed.
  • Effectively and positively disciplines children using methods approved by the Children’s Center; redirection, giving choices, reflected feelings and setting limits.
  • Maintains an attractive, safe, and interesting environment for the children in the classroom and on the playground following the guidelines in the Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale.
  • Ensures that the classroom is in compliance with the State of California, Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing division preschool licensing regulations.
  • Assist and guide Work-Study workers and volunteers per teacher direction.
  • Works with other staff members to maintain records of each child including DRDP, ASQs, attendance, special needs, meal participation and emergency information.
  • Maintains an open, informative, and respectful communication with parents.
  • Fosters the development of a warm and open interaction between children and staff.
  • Makes continual efforts to provide individual attention and differentiated instruction to each child per teacher guidance.
  • Attends and participates in the bi-weekly staff meetings, teacher meetings as well as attends workshops and professional development opportunities.
  • Supports teachers to ensure each parent receives personal notes about their child minimum of twice per month.
  • Collaborate with documentation for assessments on every child using the Desired Results Developmental Profile, following all Title V requirements. Observes all children and prepares anecdotal notes, work samples and photographs to document assessment.
  • Communicates with the Director, Assistant Director, and site supervisor on significant matters of concern such as health and safety of children, parents, staff or self.
  • Ensures facility health standards are met by; cleaning and disinfecting bathroom and diaper changing area, maintaining floors, carpets, and furniture, washing toys or dishes and disposing of trash in the classroom when
  • Performs other duties as designated.

Required skills and experience:

  • A love for children and a strong desire to make a difference every day.
  • Ability to build relationships with families and coworkers and create a dynamic environment where play and learning happens.
  • Outstanding customer service skills, strong organizational skills, and the ability to multi-task and manage multiple situations effectively.
  • Must possess minimum 6 units of ECE or be able to register for classes within 6 months of hire.
  • Highly encouraged to obtain a Child Development permit.
  • Must possess active CPR and First Aid Certification.
  • 1+ year Early Childhood Education Experience (highly preferred).
  • Must meet state specific guidelines for the role.
  • Must be physically able to use a computer with basic proficiency, lift a minimum of 40 pounds, work indoors and outdoors.  Must be able to assume postures in low levels to allow physical and visual contact with children, see and hear well enough to keep children safe, and engage in physical activity with children.

LEAP CORE COMPETENCIES FOR ALL STAFF

Mission/Vision-Focused: Catalyze others’ commitment to our vision of a community where all children are loved, valued and respected and all families are supported to reach their highest potential.  This drives their performance and professional motivations.

Relationship-Oriented: Understands that people come before process and is astute in cultivating and managing relationships toward a common goal.

Collaborator: understands the roles and contributions of all sectors of the community and can mobilize resources (financial and human) through meaningful engagement.

Results-Driven: Dedicated to shared and measurable goals for the common good.

Ethical: Understands his/her role in growing and protecting the reputation of the organization. Upholds our highest values of integrity, honesty and transparency.

Salary

Salary range is $17.00-$21.50 per hour depending on permit level and experience. This is a non-exempt, hourly position. In addition to a rewarding career where you help shape children’s futures, LEAP provides a competitive compensation package; including:

  • Medical, dental and vision
  • Discounted child care
  • Generous Vacation and Sick
  • Education assistance and reimbursement

To Apply

Please submit a cover letter and resume to Ivette Martinez at ivettem@leapcentralcoast.org