Teacher Assistant

POSITION SUMMARY: The Teacher Assistant will provide educational and engaging experiences in a safe and supportive environment for all participants in the after-school childcare program. The Teacher Assistant supports the daily operations of the after-school childcare program under the supervision of the Program Director, Assistant Program Director, and Teacher in Charge. This role focuses on creating a safe, engaging, and inclusive environment while facilitating activities that promote children’s physical, emotional, intellectual, and social development.

PRIMARY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES (include but are not limited to):

• Managing and engaging groups of participants
• Lead and/or assist in the implementation of curriculum plans
• Facilitate a safe and productive learning environment for youth
• Create a fun and visually appealing environment for youth
• Model, enforce, teach and develop age appropriate social, physical and emotional behaviors
• Employ positive behavior management strategies for disruptive and negative behaviors
• Demonstrate positive leadership and act as a positive role model to participants
• Perform set up and clean up duties every day in alignment with Department of Health regulations and UAU policies
• Abide by all safety protocols as outlined by the Department of Health, DYCD and UAU
• Performs other related duties as necessary or assigned

JOB QUALIFICATIONS:

• High School diploma or GED (Highschool Equivalency Diploma), required
• Matriculated college student or better from an accredited university or college, preferred
• 1+ year experience working with children, preferred
• Must have a valid drivers license.
• Must have a commitment to work from a strength-based perspective
• Must be culturally competent - ability to understand, be sensitive to the needs of, communicate with and effectively interact with people across cultures and age ranges
• Must pass reference checks and background as designated by DOH, DOE, DYCD and UAU
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Strong problem solving and mathematical skills
• Excellent organizational and time management skills
• Willing to take initiative and be flexible when needed
• Excels working in a collaborative environment to achieve target objects and outcomes
• Works well independently with minimal supervision, in addition to working in a professional atmosphere alongside youth between the ages of 5 and 11.
• Detail-oriented and thorough.
• Ability to interact with staff, families and participates while remaining professional, polite, and courteous.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENT: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job the employee is occasionally required to stand; sit or walk. Specific vision and hearing abilities are required by this job as outlined below.

• Incumbent will be scheduled based on operational need.
• Working both indoors and outdoors (based on appropriate and safe weather conditions).
• Involves sitting approximately 30% of the day, walking or standing the remainder.
• Must be able to remain in a stationary position for at least 20% of the time.
• May include working prolonged periods of time standing and walking, about 95% of the day.
• The ability to communicate information and ideas so others will understand. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.
• The ability to observe details at close range (within a few feet or more of the observer).