The Allegheny Intermediate Unit is seeking a Teacher Assistant professional to support its Head Start Program locations located throughout Allegheny County. We are looking for an experienced and motivated person to join our team of professionals who make a positive difference in children’s lives every day. If you enjoy working in a fast-paced professional environment, this is the position for you. We look forward to hearing from you soon. Find a home at the AIU!

Job Title: Teacher Assistant

Position Summary:

This position is accountable for the overall operation of the Head Start/Pre-K Counts classroom that complies with all relevant legislation, policies and procedures. This includes planning, coordinating, and managing in order to provide a conducive environment for the child’s healthy well-being and total development—socially, physically, emotionally, cognitively, nutritionally—with the support of the teacher and Education Specialist. The incumbent will substitute in the classroom during emergencies and in the absence of the teacher. *Itinerant teacher assistant is required to travel to all Head Start/Pre-K classrooms in Allegheny County to meet the daily needs of the program.

By leveraging strengths in AIU’s Core Competencies, the Teacher Assistant works closely with staff to provide children and families with a positive experience in AIU’s educational programs and activities.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

Accountability - Understanding of the importance of being accountable and ability to focus on those activities that have the greatest impact on meeting work commitments.

Effective Communication - Understanding of effective communication concepts, tools and techniques; ability to effectively transmit, receive, and accurately interpret ideas, information, and needs through the application of appropriate communication behaviors.

Establishing and Maintaining Trust - Knowledge of methods and ability to develop trusting business relationships and provide solicited, respected and valued perspectives to clients/peers that guide thinking, facilitate issue resolution and enhance client/peer capabilities.

Teamwork - Knowledge of the necessity and value of teamwork; experience with and ability to participate effectively as part of a team.

Professionalism and Ethics - Knowledge of and ability to demonstrate professionalism and integrity in all aspects of conduct and appearance, and adherence to applicable codes of practice-including confidentiality. In addition, must have ability to comply with the AIU Conduct Policy.

Job-Specific Competencies:

Accuracy & Attention to Detail - Understanding of the necessity and value of accuracy and attention to detail; ability to process information with high levels of accuracy.

Continuous Learning - Understanding of the rationale behind the necessity to continually learn and grow and the ability to seek performance feedback and identify approaches to improve own performance and that of others.

Flexibility & Adaptability - Knowledge of successful approaches, tools, and techniques for dealing with changes and adapting to a changing environment; ability to adapt as needed.

Producing Results - Understanding of the criticality of getting things done in spite of current circumstances and the ability to utilize assigned resources and leverage back-channel resources (individuals or teams) to achieve or exceed planned outcomes.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Helps to coordinate the educational, social, emotional, and physical development of the children in the Head Start/Pre-K Counts program appropriate to the developmental level of each child, and plan the curriculum with the team.

2. Assist the teacher in facilitating a variety of appropriate activities and experiences, which encourage questioning, probing, and problem solving skills that stimulate children to explore and express their creative abilities and promote physical development and nutrition.

3. Help children acquire and use language as a means of communicating their thoughts, feelings, and self-esteem to others. Assist children in developing the social emotional skills needed to have positive interactions with peers and adults, foster independence and encourage feelings of mutual respect among all those in the classroom.

4. Work with the teacher to coordinate the daily activities of the children and the classroom to ensure a healthy, clean, and safe environment, and share responsibility with other adults in the classroom to maintain and clean toys and equipment.

5. Help develop and consistently follow a positive routine and simple rules that are understood and accepted by all. Create, select, and arrange materials and equipment to provide an environment conducive to learning, while remaining engaged with children throughout the day.

6. Work cooperatively with administrators and team members to successfully utilize web based platforms to manage and track child, family, teacher and classroom data. Perform recordkeeping, including written documentation, scheduled reports and mandated reporting, in a timely, accurate and confidential manner. Observe and document specific skills of the children in order to complete screenings and the assessment tool (three times per year) and develop IPPs for each Head Start Child/Pre-K Counts child.

7. Establish a positive and productive relationship with families by encouraging them to participate in the classroom’s activities, providing them with ideas for home activities and visiting the home a minimum of two times per year, as well as two parent conferences. (Home visiting is relevant to Head Start only.)

8. Create an atmosphere of teamwork with all service areas of Head Start/Pre-K Counts for the benefit of the child and his/her family.

9. Successfully attend and complete mandated trainings, professional development events and subsequently implement things learned with fidelity.

10. Reports to an Education Specialist for Classrooms or designee.

11. Contributes to the success of the AIU by performing all other duties as assigned.

Additional Requirements:

Working Conditions:

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 may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Be able to sit or stand for extended periods of time
• Be able to sit on preschool-size chairs and floor as necessary
• Walk up and down stairs, walk/run to implement services
• Be able to lift, carry, push, and pull 50 pounds
• Be able to kneel, crouch, bend and reach to retrieve and handle teaching materials and supplies and interact and facilitate the learning of the students
• Be able to speak clearly and distinctly when communicating
• Be able to hear clearly
• Adequate vision to perform duties

The information contained in this job description is for compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position. Additional duties are performed by the individuals currently holding this position and additional duties may be assigned.

Disclaimer: The preceding description is not designed to be a complete list of all duties and responsibilities required of this position.

Reports To: Head Start Supervisor

Department: Head Start

Position Schedule: Full Time, 200 day

Benefits: Health, Dental and Vision, Paid Entitlement Days, PSERS

To Apply: Create an on-line application and upload a cover letter, resume and transcripts at https://aa009.taleo.net/careersection/aiu3_external/jobsearch.ftl?lang=en.

Please send any questions to: recruitment@aiu3.net

The Allegheny Intermediate Unit is an equal opportunity education institution and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, handicap, or limited English proficiency in its educational programs, services, facilities, activities or employment practices as required by Title IX of the 1972 Educational Amendments, Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, Section 504 Regulations of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1975, Section 204 Regulations of the 1984 Carl D. Perkins Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, or any other applicable federal or state statute.

Education:

Minimum of a CDA credential or a state-awarded certificate that meets or exceeds the requirements for a CDA credential

Or currently enrolled in a program that will lead to an associate or baccalaureate degree

Or currently enrolled in a CDA credential program to be completed within two years of the time of hire

One (1) year experience working with preschool-aged children preferred