Center Aide

About the Role

Explore a multifaceted and versatile position as a Center Aide, working under the guidance of our Education Specialist. This role offers a diversity of tasks, potentially leading you to multiple locations within our center.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide support in the classroom.
• Ensure a safe playground environment.
• Foster the health, safety, and school readiness of young learners.
• Contribute to transportation, kitchen operations, family services, and developmental specialties.
• Adhere to all supervision, safety, and health policies and procedures.
• Actively supervise and engage with children, ensuring their safety and well-being.
• Work closely with teachers.
• Foster a supportive environment for children's development and practice of appropriate behaviors.
• Promote children's physical, social/emotional, cognitive, and language development through culturally and developmentally appropriate curriculum.
• Create a classroom environment defined by positive, warm, caring, and respectful interactions with children.
• Demonstrate awareness of and responsiveness to children's emotional, physical, and educational needs.
• Foster freedom of expression and autonomy.
• Collaborate with teachers to engage children in activities and maintain a classroom that offers ongoing learning opportunities.
• Recognize bilingualism and biliteracy as strengths and encourage practices that support dual-language learners.
• Encourage learning through interaction with nature and the natural environment.
• Assist in implementing suitable learning activities for children with IFSPs and IEPs.
• Set an example by using proper grammar, maintaining an appropriate voice level, and speaking clearly.
• Support classroom sanitation and cleaning schedules.
• Strictly adhere to CACFP (Child and Adult Care Food Program) rules, ensuring sanitation during mealtimes and following guidelines for family-style meal service.
• Be open to feedback and act based on recommendations from supervisors and advisors, proactively seeking training or assistance when required.
• Comfortably and safely assist with physical caregiving tasks, including lifting children, changing diapers, feeding infants with bottles, and sitting on the floor during activities or circle time.
• Embrace additional responsibilities that contribute to the center's objectives.

Qualifications

• Must be at least 18 years old.
• Enthusiasm to work with children, including those with special needs and limited English proficiency.
• Proficiency in both Spanish and English is a plus.
• Physical demands: extended periods of walking, standing, kneeling, crouching; ability to lift and move up to 50 pounds; comfort sitting on the floor, crawling, running, and performing tasks associated with caring for children aged 0-5.
• High school diploma or GED is highly preferred.
• A CDA (Childhood Development Associate) within the first six months or an AA in Early Childhood Education or a related field is advantageous.
• Be prepared to present current CPR, First Aid, and Food Handler's permits or acquire them within 30 days of hire.