Head Start Teacher Aide

Kitsap Community Resources’ Head Start and Early Head Start programs are looking for passionate team members who want to help children and families thrive. We are not childcare; we are early learning. Our team partners with families to build strong foundations for school readiness, healthy development, and lifelong success. If you’re excited about making a real difference in your community and supporting children during their most important years of growth, we’d love to have you join our team.

KCR offers comprehensive benefits including paid time off for vacation, sick days, and holidays, along with 100% employer-paid medical, dental, vision, life, and disability coverage for employees. In addition, we provide a 6.5% employer contribution to 401K after the first year, plus access to employee assistance, wellness initiatives, and professional growth and development training programs.

Please apply at kcr.org/career-opportunities/. If you need assistance with your application please contact Human Resources.

Job Title: Head Start Teacher Aide
Department: Early Learning & Family Services
Fixed Hourly Wage: $20.00
Position Type: Full Time, Non-Exempt, Monday- Friday
Direct Supervisor: Child Development Site Supervisor
Work Environment: Works with young children in a classroom setting, playgrounds, and on learning trips. May require travel to other Head Start sites.
Site Location: Larry Eyer

Job Summary

This position assists the HS Teacher in facilitating learning for 3-5 year old children in the Head Start classroom using an approved developmentally appropriate curriculum which promotes routines, social, emotional, physical, and intellectual growth of children in the program.

KCR Mission, Vision, & Core Values

Mission:
Kitsap Community Resources (KCR) is a nonprofit, private, social services agency. We are committed to creating hope and opportunity for all low-income Kitsap County residents by providing resources that promote self-sufficiency and stability.

Vision:
We exist with a clear vision of creating a community where everyone has an opportunity to thrive.

Core Values:
Kitsap Community Resources core values are a vital part of each position, and employees are expected to uphold them to the fullest.

• Integrity – taking care to honor our commitments in an ethical manner
• Compassion – genuinely empathizing with those we serve
• Excellence – demonstrating a high level of performance in all we do
• Diversity – showing honor and respect to all individuals we serve
• Collaboration – so we seek out partnership opportunities
• Teamwork – supporting our employees and partners as we fulfill our mission

Job Requirements

Required Education/Experience/Health:

1. Required Education: CDA (Child Development Associate Credential) or an Early Childhood Education General Certificate plus an additional 10 credits of Early Childhood coursework
2. Preferred Education: AA in Early Childhood Education
3. Early Head Start/Head Start experience preferred
4. Ability to pass State and/or Federal Background Checks as determined by position (prior to hire date).

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

1. Must demonstrate recognition and compassion for low-income peoples.
2. Must be aware and sensitive to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the American with Disabilities Act (ADA).
3. Demonstrated ability to input, aggregate and analyze data including generation of accurate and complete reports.

License(s) and/or Certifications:

1. Valid Washington State Driver’s License (to operate company vehicles and/or utilize other vehicles for company business)
2. Ability to obtain proof of insurability for operating an automobile (to operate company vehicles and/or utilize other vehicles for company business).
3. First Aide/CPR certification (within 90 days of employment)
4. Food Worker Permit (within 90 days of employment)
5. Initial physical exam (within 90 days of employment)
6. Tuberculosis (TB) Testing (upon employment and before contact with children, testing done before hire will not be recognized)
7. Current Immunizations per Washington Administrative Code (can be obtained upon hire)

Essential Physical and Mental Functions

1. Be able to physically match the activity level of an infant, toddler, and/or preschool aged child.
2. Position requires intermittent sitting, standing, walking, twisting, and bending
3. Must be able to get down on the child’s eye level and floor
4. Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds
5. Simple grasping and hand manipulation required as well as reaching above and below shoulder level.
6. Must be able to withstand exposure to noise in a classroom setting
7. Must be able to build secure, nurturing relationships with children and families
8. Cognitive ability to recognize and address safety concerns
9. Cognitive and emotional ability to work directly with clients in need, which may include homelessness, mental health issues, substance abuse, or other mental or physical barriers.
10. Must be able to work outside in a variety of weather conditions
11. Cognitive ability to discern accuracy and apply to work as necessary.
12. Physical and cognitive ability to operate a motor vehicle.

Key Responsibilities- Included but are not limited to

1. Reports to and accepts assignments from the Child Development Site Supervisor, Head Start Teacher and/or Child Development Manager.
2. Work collaboratively with the lead teacher and other site team members to develop and implement the daily and weekly lesson plans.
3. Practices active supervision to oversee and manage children in the classroom to ensure a safe, clean, healthy and professional learning environment.
4. Provides routine care for children including diapering, toilet learning, and feeding practices.
5. Ensure compliance with KCR Policies and Procedure, Head Start Performance Standards, Federal and State regulations and Washington Administrative Code (WAC) for the Child Care Licensing.
6. Ensure implementation of KCR Early Learning and Family Services (ELFS) written curriculum plan including used of approved developmentally curriculum with fidelity.
7. Maintain a positive, nurturing, and strength based learning environment that meets Performance Standards and is consistent with the curriculum and classroom assessment tools.
8. Maintain daily record keeping and reporting systems within web based data entry platforms and follow-up with timely completion.
9. In collaboration with lead teacher and parents, follow individual plans including education and transitions for each child.
10. Assist lead teacher in conducting home visits and conferences in accordance with Performance Standards.
11. Build relationship with children and families by greeting daily, encouraging volunteerism and engaging in curriculum planning process.
12. In Collaboration with teachers and team members, provide guidance to substitute and volunteers to maintain classroom quality in accordance with all policies, procedures and Performance Standards.
13. Attend and participate in all required/mandatory meetings and trainings, site parents and team meetings, and others as designated by Site Supervisor or Program Management.

Work/Life Balance

KCR offers a robust benefits package to support balance between work and life outside the workplace.

1. Vacation, Sick, Personal Holiday, and other time off for life events such as Jury Duty, Bereavement, etc.
2. 100% Employer paid Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Long-term and Short-term Disability for employee only (dependents can be covered through payroll deduction)
3. 6.5% Employer Contribution to 401K after first 12-18 months of employment
4. Employee Assistance Program
5. Employee Wellness Program
6. Employee Growth & Development Training Programs
7. Communicates regularly with co-workers and supervisor/manager to relate wellness levels and awareness

All duties and requirements listed in this job description are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position; employees will be requested to follow any other job-related instructions and perform any other job-related duties requested by their supervisor. Kitsap Community Resources reserves the right to determine the contents of KCR job descriptions.

Kitsap Community Resources is an “at-will” employer.

KCR recognizes that ideas come from a varied mix of minds, backgrounds and experiences. KCR is committed to attracting and retaining a varied and highly skilled staff, by honoring experiences, perspectives and unique identities of the community in which we serve. KCR provides equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, nation of origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic disposition, disability, veteran status or any other protected category under federal, state, and local law.

KITSAP COMMUNITY RESOURCES (KCR) is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. KCR is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment.

All employment decisions at KCR are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex, pregnancy, age, physical, mental or sensory disability, HIV Status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, past or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. KCR will not tolerate discrimination or harassment.