Head Start Teacher Aide - Opportunity to Make a Difference

Educare Chicago provides high-quality care, best-in-class education, and a stimulating learning environment to children from birth to five years old on Chicago’s South Side. As a program that serves low-income families, Educare’s research-based program helps children develop the literacy, language, early math, and social-emotional skills they need to succeed in kindergarten and beyond.

We are recruiting individuals who want to join us in this mission and share a commitment to our core values of appreciation & respect, empowerment, diversity, excellence, learning, and communication.

As the Head Start Teacher Aide, you will work under the supervision of the Lead Teacher, and coordinate with the Teacher Assistant, to plan and implement daily education programs for the children. You will also help assess and ensure that all classroom activities and environments are developmentally appropriate and meet the individual needs of children as mandated by federal, state, and local standards and that they reflect the agency’s philosophy and curriculum.

• Develop and regularly monitor child education binders for each child and ensure all confidential information is protected.
• Accurately complete all required program documentation and submit it promptly to the Lead Teacher.
• Participate in recruitment efforts to help maintain full program enrollment.
• As assigned by the classroom teacher, monitor and ensure that daily attendance, health checks, parent sign/scan-in, and meal participation reports are completed daily.
• Observe, assess, and document each assigned child’s health, skills, behavior, growth, and development.
• Adhere to all Individualized Education Programs, Individualized Family Service Plans, and/or Individualized Health Care Plans and strategies provided by Education Managers or Consultants.
• Provide opportunities for children to develop positive self-images and experience success.
• Participate in Family/Child Reviews.
• Identify any developmental concerns regarding the children and follow agency protocol. • Plan and implement developmentally appropriate experiences that will promote the social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development of each child.
• Utilize standardized and authentic assessment data to create learning opportunities to advance children’s development and learning.
• Establish and maintain a classroom environment that ensures appropriate child guidance and discipline techniques are implemented under Educare’s philosophy, curriculum, policies and procedures, Head Start standards, Ounce standards of conduct, and state regulations.
• Assume responsibility for the management of the classroom during the Teacher’s absence.
• In the absence of the Lead Teacher, perform and delegate child development
• Schedule and conduct Parent/Staff conferences and adhere to the parent/staff conference guidance policy.
• Schedule and conduct home visits and adhere to the home visit guidance policy.

High School Diploma or G.E.D. with six (6) semester hours of child development coursework and one year of experience working in an early childhood or child care program. • OR High School Diploma or G.E.D. with a non-expired CDA Certification and one year of experience working in an early childhood or child care program. • Clearance of background check by the Department of Children and Family Services.

• A biannual physical examination and TB test are required as a condition of initial employment and continued employment.
• Knowledge of and ability to implement Early Head Start or other developmental child care programs.
• Knowledge of and ability to implement child development and early childhood principles, practices, and curricula for the specific age group 0-3
• Ability to remain abreast of ongoing developments in the childcare field.
• Ability to work as a cooperative and supportive team member.
• Ability and willingness to work in a program located in a high-risk, low-income community.
• Ability to reflect on one’s practice and make changes as suggested through meetings, data dialogues, observations, and reflective supervision.
• Ability to work a flexible work schedule between the hours of 7 am – 6 pm
• Ability to communicate and work with diverse families and professionals.
• •Ability to exercise discretion in handling confidential information and materials.
• Basic knowledge of computer applications and the ability to learn and master other computer technology /software programs as needed.

Comprehensive Health Plans, Commitment to Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, Holistic Wellness Program, Professional Development Program, 401k Contribution, Paid Volunteer Days, 6 months of paid parental leave, and much more.