Preschool Program Associate

Hours:

• Monday Tuesday Thursday Friday: 8:30am - 4:00pm
• Wednesday: 8:30am - 12:30pm

Position Criteria:

• High School Diploma
• Experience with early childhood education preferred

Performance Criteria:

• Prep Daily Materials
• Prepare Question of the Day for the week.
• Change out LETTER of the Day and record letter sound.
• Change out Question of the Day and record question.
• Make copies for weekly journal name writing or other materials as needed
• Small Group & Large Group Support
• Prep small groups.
• Assist in running small groups.
• Take over large group instruction when needed based on student behavior.
• Support all children during large groups by encouraging and modeling appropriate positive behavior (body basics hands to self listening ears etc.)
• Support children in need with adaptive materials during large group instruction and read aloud.
• Morning/Afternoon Class Setup
• Prep tables for morning fine motor activity.
• Switch out attendance pictures for morning and afternoon.
• Prepare snacks for class.
• Classroom Teacher Support
• Assist with GOLD data collection.
• Assist classroom teachers with all required home visits at the beginning of the year.
• Help with math and literacy assessments.
• Make copies print laminate materials for teachers.
• Assist classroom teacher with supervision of all students throughout the day (IQPPS maintain classroom ratios)
• Collaborate weekly with classroom teachers on center activities and crafts.
• Prepare materials to support the teachers lesson plans.
• Meetings
• Program associate meeting (required monthly).
• Leadership team meeting (monthly).
• Participate in weekly 30-min classroom meetings (required)
• Required monthly all-staff meetings
• Arrival & Dismissal Duties
• Supervise classroom during arrival and/or dismissal: this is a daily split duty with the classroom teacher. One performs required duty while the other supervises the classroom.
• Get kids out of cars at AM and PM arrival (all preschool classrooms).
• Walk all classroom children to their parents car at dismissal time.
• Other dismissal duties: caller traffic/stop sign
• Assist classroom teachers with all transitions for all students.
• Assist all children with arrival and dismissal routines including helping with coats zippers mittens snow gear.
• Student Interaction & Care
• Support peer interactions.
• Engage with all children teaching positive social/emotional skills by helping them identify feelings support and model calm-down strategies.
• Support all children with problem solving skills and conflict resolution.
• Help children understand language (non-English speaking children) with visuals and body language.
• Assist students with toileting as needed
• Take sick children to nurse
• Work directly with all students. Reinforce the implementation of teachers classroom learning targets.
• Assist all students with daily fine motor skills: name writing cutting gluing painting zippers buttons opening snack packages etc.
• Lead groups of children in weekly art projects.
• Documentation & Communication
• Document (take photos) childrens learning and play and upload to Seesaw for family viewing.
• Organize and file all students learning artifacts to be shared at family conferences and end of year portfolio.
• Assist with collection of GOLD data. This entails working with individual children and small groups; observing students during large group instruction learning centers and outdoor learning.
• Classroom Environment
• Help maintain classroom routines.
• Assist teacher with beginning of year classroom set up (contract starts one week prior to students arriving).
• Display and switch out all student work throughout the year.
• Help adapt story maps.
• Prepare and organize materials manipulatives and toys for each learning center (Sensory Art Library Dramatic Play Blocks Toys and Games Discovery) which reflect the weekly or monthly study and/or student interests. Change out as student interests fade or unit study changes.(All toys manipulatives and supplies require picture label per IQPPS)
• Set up a dramatic play center to support the curriculum unit of study: create theme (i.e. vet clinic building/construction site apple orchard etc.) prepare materials change out toys create backdrops and label all toys.
• Make sure all centers include books that either support curriculum study math and literacy goals seasons/holidays or student interests. Change out at least monthly.
• Assist in preparation maintenance and organization of all picture labels.
• Cleaning & Supplies
• Clean all tables chairs door handles and class sink daily.
• Replenish snack supplies for the classroom.
• Monitor replenish and organize all classroom supplies (i.e. art supplies office supplies writing baskets busy boxes first aid supplies)
• Maintain a clean environment by following IQPPS. This includes daily weekly and monthly cleaning schedules of all toys manipulatives and surfaces.
• Complete and provide proper documentation of all required cleaning.
• Recess Supervision
• Monitor safety of all students during morning and afternoon recess. Provide assistance to students in case of injury. Accompany to nurse if needed.
• Take children inside to the bathroom as needed.
• Help children when conflicts arise by encouraging sharing and turn taking.
• General Classroom Support
• Provide overall assistance to the teacher and all students.
• Medicaid Documentation for designated student(s) as needed per state/federal requirements
• Behavior Plan Documentation for designated student(s) as needed per Behavior Intervention Plan requirements
• Other duties as assigned

Physical Demands: The Special Education Associate job demands require: occasional maximum lift of 25 lbs from floor to waist; occasional maximum carry of 25 lbs for 30 ft; occasional maximum horizontal push/pull force of 40 lbs; occasional grip force of 30 lbs; frequent bend; frequent crouch; frequent neck rotation; frequent trunk rotation; frequent standing; frequent walking; occasional forward reach; occasional overhead reach; occasional lateral/sideways reach; occasional hand coordination; occasional fine motor coordination; occasional sitting; occasional crouch/kneel.

Required Experience:

IC