EXPECTATION FOR ALL EMPLOYEES:

Supports the organization’s mission, vision, and values by exhibiting the following behaviors: excellence and competence, collaboration, innovation, respect, personalization, commitment to our community, and accountability and ownership

GENERAL SUMMARY:

Perform the duties as required to assist teaching staff in providing a safe, clean, healthy environment for the children in the classroom.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Provide support in all areas of the classroom, maintaining clean, safe, positive environments for learning. Assist as needed in conducting developmental screenings, taking child observations, and preparing/serving food, all under guidance of the lead teacher.
• Develop and maintain good communication while respecting confidentiality. Establish rapport and trust with parents, staff, volunteers, and visitors in order to respond to children’s environmental needs.
• On a daily basis, provide routine cleaning in the classroom. Including mopping floors, lunch clean up, emptying trash, cleaning & sanitizing bathrooms, sweeping and vacuuming floors, etc.
• Where applicable, ride the bus with children as a bus monitor. Assist children in boarding and exiting the bus, and assist driver in completion of daily sign on & off sheets, accounting by name all children on the bus.
• As bus monitor, ensure that any behavioral issues do not compromise the safety of any child on the bus or the ability of the bus driver to safely operate the vehicle.
• While riding the bus, use age appropriate communication skills and activities with children on the bus.
• Collaborate with the bus driver to ensure that each child is delivered to the care of a responsible adult (on the authorized list) upon leaving the bus. Ensure this authorized adult signs for the child upon drop off.
• Ensure that no child is ever left unattended while in your care, including but not limited to while on the bus. Follow all procedures put in place to prevent a child from being left behind.
• Assist the bus driver with any emergency situations following all rules and regulations as they pertain to school bus safety and child health.
• Perform other duties or complete other projects as assigned.

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, and ABILITIES:

• Ability to establish priorities and meet deadlines.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a driver’s license, automobile, and current valid insurance in order to travel to designation locations.
• Knowledge of Agency’s policies, practices and procedures.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, management, and various other business and community contacts.
• Ability to work with confidential information.
• Ability to work in a team-based environment.
• Ability to adapt to the organization’s changing needs.
• Ability to pass a physical examination.

NOTE: A review of this position has excluded the marginal functions of the position that are incidental to the performance of essential functions. All duties and responsibilities listed above are essential job functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. To perform this job successfully, the incumbent(s) will possess the skills, knowledge, and abilities to perform each duty or function proficiently.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education required for this position includes a High School Diploma and/or GED or one (1) year work experience in Head Start as a volunteer, parent or employee. Ability to read, write, perform basic arithmetic and follow verbal and written instructions. One year of experience working with children preferred. Computer experience preferred.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

WORKING CONDITIONS:

This factor measures the surrounding or physical conditions under which a job must be done and the extent to which those conditions make the job disagreeable. Consider the presence and relative amount of exposure to dust, fuel, dirt, heat fumes, contaminants, cold, noise, vibration, wetness, etc.

Normal working conditions with the absence of disagreeable conditions

GENERAL INFORMATION:

The statements contained in this job description are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned. Furthermore, this document does not establish a contract for employment and is subject to change at the discretion of the employer.

Immediate opening for a Program Aide to work in our Waukee Head Start classroom. 36 hrs/week position runs with school district calendar. Responsibilities include assisting classroom staff with daily class duties. High School Diploma and/or HiSet/GED required and 1 year experience working with preschool children. Must pass background check. Benefit package including IPERS. Apply online at www.newopp.org EOE Ad#2238