Teacher Assistant - Floater

Job DetailsJob Location: Yakima, WA 98908Position Type: Full TimeEducation Level: High School or GEDSalary Range: $17.20 - $18.20 HourlyTravel Percentage: NoneJob Shift: DayThe Teacher Assistant - Floater supports the overall mission and value of Catholic Charities and the Childcare and ECEAP division. Primary duties include providing quality care and education to all children of Carroll Children's Center and Growing Hope Childhood Development Center through a floater model. This position will support classroom coverage for lead teachers and teacher assistants upon request with an emphasis on promotion of social, physical and intellectual growth of children. The Teacher Assistant - Floater is responsible for the care, hygiene, learning, and developmental activities of the children; communication with parents; and maintaining the classroom records, cleanliness, and orderliness while assigned in any classroom.

Responsibilities

Maintain flexibility in emergent needs and response times for overall program coverage and success
Support and inform child attendance counts at all times when in classroom or on playgrounds
Assist Lead Teachers and Teacher Assistants to create and maintain a safe and healthy environment by following program standards, policies and procedures
Provide backup and extra coverage as assigned, including but not limited to classrooms, bus, kitchen, and reception to cover for breaks, lunches, lesson planning, and meeting coverage
Survey all classrooms consistently, seeking opportunities to support and step in as requested
Care for the physical, mental, and emotional needs of the children while providing competent direct supervision to ensure the safety of all the children in the classroom
Apply health standards and care for the children and classroom
Assist the Program Managers in reducing infractions of company policies
Report needed repairs and maintenance to the Program Manager

Support with planning & provide curriculum through standard care giving routines as assigned with your time and role in the classroom

Support Lead Teachers and Teacher Assistants in establishing a learning environment that builds and enhances each child’s self-esteem and positive self-concept
Provide activities and opportunities that encourage curiosity, creativity, exploration and problem solving appropriate to the developmental level and learning style of each child
Implement positive guidance practices that teach and meet the individual temperaments of each child
Observe, document and assess individual and group needs, interests, and skills and share the observations daily with the Program Manager.

Provide support to the families of the children

Promote and implement family involvement
Embrace diversity and a variety of family arrangements and styles
Maintain open, friendly, cooperative, and respectful verbal communication with each child’s family
Provide families with information, resources and referrals as needed

Foster positive discipline and communication in the classroom

Guide and sustain positive, respectful interactions between children and adults
Maintain an atmosphere that encourages open communication with children and adults
Provide opportunities and support for children to understand, acquire, and use verbal and non-verbal means of communicating thoughts and feelings, like Sign Language and PECS
Submit attendance records and required paperwork in a timely manner
Maintain confidentiality of children, families, and staff
Initiate and encourage teamwork among adults in the room and across both centers

Continue professional development

Participate in required training and share information with other staff as requested
Participate in scheduled supervision, require meetings and retreats
Attend required Pyramid Module trainings and ensure the implementation of learned information in the classroom
Work with the site supervisor to apply for the Early Achievers grant to create a professional development plan that will allow for the achievement of higher education in ECE or related fields.

Participate in Center activities and other duties as requested

QualificationsJob Requirements

The following requirements are those that are normally required for performance of this position. Any disabled applicant or incumbent who does not meet one or more of the requirements, but who can perform the essential function of the job (with or without reasonable accommodations) shall be deemed to meet these requirements.

Physical Requirements

This position normally requires the physical demands of standing, walking, bending, lifting up to 50lbs or performing other work requiring medium physical exertion, talking and hearing and adequate vision on a regular basis to perform the job requirements. These physical demands are required up to 95% of the time.

Non-Physical Requirements

Education & Experience

Initial ECE Certificate or be on an approved Professional Development Plan to obtain within 5 years

Special Skills

Preschool classroom experience
Emergency procedures

Training in Creative Curriculum

Basic computer skills

Licensure, Registration, Certification

Valid food handler’s card
Valid First Aid and CPR card
Verification of a negative TB test
Proof of 1 MMR

Bloodbourne Pathogens Training

Renew Annual Trainings – Safe Sleep; Shaken Baby
30 hour STARS Training – Childcare basics (or proof of exemption)
10 hours STARS Annual Training
Enhancing Quality of Early Learning inservice STARS training within 6 months of hire

Employment is conditional upon

Being cleared by criminal background check and fingerprinting when required

Wage Range: $17.20 to $18.20, depending on education and experience

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8am to 5pm

Benefits

7 paid holidays, 1 paid Personal Day, 15 days of Paid Time Off (PTO) per year
Health insurance including medical & prescription coverage, with optional dental and vision insurance plans. Majority of premiums paid by Catholic Charities
Retirement 403(b) Plan: employee contributions commence upon employment; Catholic Charities contributes 2% of monthly income and matches up to 4% of employee contributions following 6 months of employment
Basic Life Insurance paid 100% by Catholic Charities
Flexible Spending Account eligibility following 6 months of employment
Education Assistance Program reimbursing up to $5,250 per year for approved continuing education after 6 months of employment
Additional voluntary insurances including supplemental life, accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D), critical illness, long term disability, accident, and ID theft
Employee Assistance Program includes 3 counseling sessions per year, legal consultations, financial coaching, and other wellbeing tools
Annual longevity awards begin at 5 years of employment

It is the practice of Catholic Charities to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, citizenship status, marital status, creed, genetic predisposition or carrier status, sexual orientation, gender expression, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Applicants from underrepresented backgrounds are encouraged to apply. We gladly offer reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities to support participation in the hiring process and employment.