Classification: Non-Certified (Classified)                                                                     Location: Assigned School(s)

 

Reports to: School Principal                                                                                            FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

 

Bargaining Unit: Educational Assistant (181 days, 6.5 hours per day)

Salary from $25000 (Based on Verification of Education and Experience)

 

Position Summary:

The Educational Assistant performs a variety of instructional and/or support duties to assist the school and teachers in instructions, supervision, and education of infants and toddlers. May work with infants and toddlers on an individual basis as well as small groups to complete assigned work.

 

Supervision and Controls over the Work:

The Educational Assistants work with a high level of independence and professional discretion under the day-to-day direction of the Principal, Principal Designee, or District Designee. The EA’s work is governed, controlled, and evaluated by acceptable professional practice, school and district policies and regulations, provisions of Taos Municipal Schools district policies and procedures, direction of the supervisor, and performance standards and expectations as set forth by the collective bargaining agreement. The EA provides specific directions and oversight for supervision and/or instructional support to students.

 

Duties and Responsibilities:

Duties include but are not limited to the following:

 

1. Work with children in a loving, positive, nurturing, and patient manner at all times.

 

2. Show compassion and respect for all children, their parents, and fellow employees at all times.

 

3. Upholds confidentiality at all times in respect to individuals and situations related in any way to the Child Care Learning Center.

 

4. Arrive in a timely manner to sign in for the day and make preparations for the day’s work.

 

5. Helps always maintain a safe/sanitary environment according to state licensing guidelines.

 

6. Greets children as they arrive each day, and gives a quick evaluation of the child’s health status, cuts, bruises, etc., Or unusual behavior in accordance with the state policy regarding the reporting of possible child neglect or abuse. (Report any questionable observations to Director).

 

7. Secures any medication release forms from parent if child is to take medication while in the center that day.

 

8. Develop and implement daily age-appropriate lesson plans that will include a wide variety of activities designed to build and enhance child’s educational foundation and life skills, ensuring that activities are developmentally appropriate.

 

9. Sign in upon arrival each morning, signs out at the end of workday, as well as lunch. If employee works a total of 5 hours or less on a given day, a lunch break is not required.  Otherwise, employees are expected to take an hour lunch break.

 

10. Prepare and follow a Daily Schedule Routine.

 

11. Maintain all necessary records on all children enrolled in the pre-school which will include emergency contact information and permission forms.

 

12. Maintain a confidential log journal of all major occurrences as they pertain to each child such as a child’s behavior, accidents, and important conversations that you have had with parent/parents regarding their child, etc. As well as an accident journal that parent/parents can sign off if any accidents occur with their child.

 

13. Give parent/s a verbal brief overview of the child’s day when child is picked up.

 

14. Keep all toys and other items that come in contact with the children clean, cleaning with a bleach solution to reduce the risk of spreading germs as is necessary. Toys will be bleach 3 times a week or as needed.  Any broken toys need to be thrown in the trash immediately.

 

15. Wear latex gloves when changing baby’s diaper and/or handling any other body fluids and wash hands after every task. This center works to ensure that the facility is in compliance in all areas cited in guidelines.

 

16. Will assist as needed in other classrooms when and if Infant/toddler is in ratio and share equally in care-giving activities, utilizing each procedure as an opportunity to involve children.

 

17. Performs other duties as may be reasonably assigned.

 

Minimum Qualification:

• High school graduate or equivalent.
• Either an associate degree or successfully passing the Para-Pro exam.
• First Aid/CPR certification
• Successful recent work experience in a field related to the position.
• Valid New Mexico State Driver’s License.
• Educational Assistant License issued by the NM Public Education Department

 

Physical and Environmental Requirements:

• The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential function.
• While performing the duties of this job, the educational assistant is frequently required to sit, lift, carry, move about, hear, and speak. An educational assistant may be required to perform extensive work at a computer display terminal, and the ability to adjust focus.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee occasionally works in outside weather conditions. The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes, or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals. It may be expected that an individual could be exposed to blood or other potentially infectious materials during their duties.
• The employee must lift and/or move 25 to 50 pounds, and may assist, move, or restrain students with greater weight when required to intervene in student safety issues.
• May be required to break up fights.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• The employee may be exposed to infectious disease as carried by students, exposed to student noise, and learning resource noise levels.
• The employee may be exposed to aggressive student behaviors to include biting, hitting, kicking, and throwing objects. May be required to wear and utilize safety equipment designed to minimize the risk of injury to the employee and to the student.
• The employee may be required to travel in school owned or leased vehicles while supervising and assisting students.

 

The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the American with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) 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.