GenerationEd: Job title
Head Start Teacher Assistant
Program
Head Start and Early Head Start: Reports to
Center Director
FLSA Status
Non-exempt: Last updated
March 2026
General Description
It is the responsibility of the teacher assistant to plan, organize and direct the operation of programs for a specific group of children providing a high-quality environment in which each child achieves the highest level of social, emotional, physical, and intellectual competence.
Required Competencies
- All GenerationEd Employees
- Reliability/Dependability
- Problem Solving
- Customer Service
- Teamwork and Collaboration
- Quality & Timeliness of work
- Integrity
- Effective Communication
- Initiative and Growth
- Role Specific
- Effective Behavior Management
- Curriculum Planning and Execution
- Learning Environment Management
- Parent and Family Engagement
Essential
Duties and Responsibilities
- A. Curriculum
- Assist in organizing and using space, materials, and routines to construct an interesting, secure, and enjoyable environment that encourages play, exploration, and learning.
- Assist in developing and implementing an integrated program of activities, experiences and opportunities which contribute to the growth and development of each child and are appropriate to the developmental levels of the children being served.
- Use available community resources and age-appropriate activities to enrich the children's experience in the classroom.
- Ensure that the classroom respects and reflects the diverse backgrounds and learning styles of each child.
- Assist in creating and maintaining an environment appropriate for children in adherence to HSPS, CLASS, and NAEYC.
- Perform any other job-related tasks as assigned.
- Bus monitoring duties as assigned. The bus monitor is responsible for providing support to the students during the transport, loading, and unloading of the school bus to ensure the safety of all passengers.
- B. Teacher-Child Interaction
- Maintain effective communication with children that fosters physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development.
- Use questioning, probing and problem solving as interactions which promote learning.
- Interact with children at their eye level using a voice which is pleasant and encouraging.
- Assist in providing opportunities for children to understand, acquire and use verbal and non-verbal means of communicating thoughts and feelings.
- Assist in providing opportunities for children in small and large groups and individually.
- Use conflict resolution techniques which are appropriate for the developmental level of the child.
- Provide for smooth transition from one activity to another activity without requiring the children to wait.
- Assist children with self-help activities.
- C. Adult-Adult Interaction
- Establish and maintain cooperative relationships with co-workers through open communication, sharing resources and supporting professional development.
- Develop supportive relationships with parents by respecting their child-rearing values and by sharing information about the ages and stages of children's development to improve their understanding of their own children.
- Maintain a cooperative atmosphere in the workplace by exhibiting a pleasant and cooperative attitude.
- D. Assessment
- Assist in observing and assessing each child in each developmental area, utilizing an assessment instrument selected by the Education Committee.
- Participate in IEP meeting, if applicable.
- Participate in cross-component team meetings to develop strategies for promoting optimal development in each child.
- E. Parent Involvement
- Communicate the activities of the program to parents on a regular basis, for example the newsletter and activity calendars.
- Assist in conducting and documenting parent conferences and/or home visits as needed or required.
- Communicate with parents the expectation of and opportunities for their positive involvement in the program.
- Maintain a professional relationship with parents.
- F. Program Management
- Maintain a clean and organized learning environment.
- Use all available resources to ensure an effective operation of the classroom.
- Immediately report incidents and all cases of suspected child abuse or neglect to the Center Director.
- Write and submit appropriate reports accurately and on time.
- Request supplies and equipment when needed and according to procedure.
- Assist in completing written lesson plans.
- Recruit volunteers and in-kind contributions.
- Participate in program wide recruitment.
- Attending all required meetings and training opportunities.
- G. Professionalism
- When implementing strategies for meeting the goals of the program, make decisions based on knowledge of child development theories and appropriate practices, including CLASS and NAEYC.
- Abide by the NAEYC Code of Ethics.
- Continuously assess skills and knowledge and in conjunction with the Center Director, plan strategies for improvement and growth.
- Actively pursue appropriate professional development opportunities which increase knowledge and skills by actively participating in in-service staff development programs, by successfully completing early childhood education courses when appropriate and by attending local, state, regional and national conferences.
Essential Qualifications • Minimum
- CDA credential or a State-awarded certificate that meets or exceeds the requirements for a CDA credential
- AA in field or out of field with 18 semester hours in ECE/CD and 2 years early childhood experience
- Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with supervisors, children, parents, and volunteers.
- Demonstrated ability to perform effectively the duties required for the job including verbal ability to communicate, auditory capacity to respond to children and adults, visual ability to complete written assignments and physical ability to complete assignments given accommodations as required by law.
- Demonstrated willingness to actively pursue appropriate professional development opportunities.
- Physical, Mental and/or Visual Demands
- Ability to sit, stand, and walk for extended periods throughout the workday.
- Ability to lift and carry up to 35 pounds.
- Ability to bend and stoop and reach.
- Ability to walk extended periods throughout the day monitoring.
- Ability to hear and respond to children, alarms, and safety signals.
- While performing the duties of this position, the employee may be exposed to outdoor weather conditions during occasional tasks.
- Exposure to typical school and classroom environmental conditions, including noise levels that may range from moderate to occasionally high.
- Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
GenerationEd is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals, including those with disabilities in accordance with ADA.
Acknowledgement
This job description describes the general nature and level of work performed by the individual assigned to this position and should not be interpreted as all inclusive. It does not state or imply that these are the only duties and responsibilities assigned to the position. The employee may be required to perform other job-related duties. All requirements are subject to change and to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with a disability.
Your signature below acknowledges receipt of this job description, and you were provided with a copy to retain for your records. However, it does not create a binding employment agreement between the employer and the employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the position change.
I further understand that my employment with GenerationEd is at will.
Monday - Friday, 7
