SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: The Floater/Assistant Teacher is responsible for ensuring the care and education of a group of children as part of a teaching team. He/she assists with the planning and implementation of the curriculum.

Nature and Scope:

Under the direction of the Director of Operations, Assistant Director, Curriculum Specialist, and Team Lead; the Floater/Assistant Teacher is responsible to support the delivery of a high-quality educational experience for the children and families under his/her care. This professional must implement the program based on the programs goal and objectives. All decisions must be guided by Head of the Class Learning Academy's policies, Bright from the Start licensing, and accreditation standards from our accreditation entities. 

Responsibilities:

Ensure School Readiness/Academic Instruction:

• Utilize the curriculum goals and objectives to assist the lead and assistant teacher in developing lesson plans to support the early learning standards and include educational experiences in Language/Literacy, Math, Science, Social Studies, Creative (Music, Art and Drama), Social & Emotional, and Physical Development.
• Work as a team member to meet the needs of the children enrolled in each classroom.
• Develop individual relationships with children by providing care that is responsive attentive, consistent, comforting, supportive, and culturally sensitive.
• Assist in activities that relate to the weekly studies and extend on what they know about each student’s interest and their families.
• Implement family style meals, sit and eat with children, and engage them in conversation.
• When appropriate participate in open communication with parents.
• Ensure that the classroom environment is being kept clean and organized in accordance to program goals and philosophy.
• Keep all appropriate records and documentation that is required in order to maintain a safe environment in each classroom.
• Daily assignments may include coverage for other staff during breaks and planning time, cleaning toys and other classroom equipment, clean common areas such as bathrooms, and outdoor play areas, removing garbage, inventory supplies, organize art and supplies cabinets.
• Maintain a safe and healthy environment
• Arrange the learning environment to support learning content areas and ITERS and ECERS criteria.

Empower Healthy Living/Health & Safety

• Follow the design that has been created to protect the children’s Health and Safety at all times. This includes, but is not limited to, ensuring that all Physical Hazards are always inaccessible to students.
• Assist in creating an environment that prevents challenging or disruptive behaviors through – classroom strategies/designs, effective transitions and engaging activities.
• Use positive redirection to address inappropriate behaviors. 
• Provides adequate supervision as defined by Bright from the Start, Quality Rated, and Head of the Class Learning Academy during all activities (indoors & outdoors) as well as during all times when children are under their direct care. Any lack of supervision that results in an injury of a student can be grounds for immediate termination.
   
• Follows and teaches health practices relating to Hand-washing and Basic Hygiene Practices.
• Complete Incident Reports and to follow the required documentation steps and protocol in reporting the incident to the Directors and families immediately.

Family and Volunteer Engagement:

• Assistant Teachers/Floaters will use a variety of formal and informal strategies to become acquainted with and learn from families about their family culture and structure.
• Assistant Teachers/Floaters work in conjunction with their colleagues to plan activities for student and teachers strongly encourage family involvement during all branch activities and events.

Professional Development:

• Assistant Teachers/Floaters evaluate and improve their own performance based on ongoing reflection and feedback from supervisor, peers and families. Teachers develop a staff development plan with their supervision.
• Assistant Teachers/Floaters must attend all trainings that are guided and selected to ensure BFTS and HOTC training requirements are met.
• Utilize planning time to help develop lesson plans (with colleagues) and other task to support the overall program goals.
• Commit to an agreed upon work schedule and is flexible, if needed to adjust hours with little notice.
• Attends Pre-service, In-service and any special training sessions required by the program.
   
• Perform other duties as related to the delivery of a quality program.

COVID-19 Expectations:

• Gloves are needed when changing diapers and for mealtimes. The Assistant Teacher/Floater must change gloves in between each child.
• Sanitizing all toys/chairs/door handles frequently after each use.
• Provide each child with their own set of materials to reduce the spread of germs.
• Open & closing shift- all tables & counters wiped down.

Minimum Requirements:

• Must be 18 years of age.
• CDA, TCC (preferred)
• Have at least 2 years of experience working with children (preferred) 
• Excellent verbal/written communication skills.
• Must Be Willing to Submit and Pass a Background Check