Child Development Center Teacher Assistant

Overview

Join our caring and collaborative team at Indian River State College’s Child Development Center! We're looking for a dedicated early childhood professional with a CDA (or equivalent) and experience working with young children. In this hands-on role, you'll support classroom activities, help implement developmentally-appropriate curriculum, and ensure a safe, nurturing environment for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. If you're passionate about early learning and enjoy working with families, teachers, and little ones—apply today!

The qualifications and skill requirements for this position include:

• Child Development Associate (CDA) or the equivalent with two (2) years of proven work experience in the child care industry;
• Proven work experience documenting an in-depth knowledge of Early Childhood Teacher Techniques and Positive Classroom Management Techniques;
• Sound judgment;
• Excellent problem-solving abilities;
• Ability to handle individual members of the public well in difficult situations;
• Excellent decision-making skills;
• Applies “safety first” principle to work with children;
• Dynamic self-starter capable of communicating professionally in listening, verbal, writing and meta communication;
• Ability to work well as a team member with students, faculty, parents and the Child Development Center Director;
• Ability to implement developmentally-appropriate curriculum in a classroom setting;
• Knowledge and experience working with young children;
• Knowledge of safety issues with children between the ages of three (3) months through four (4) years;
• Knowledge of child illnesses;
• Skills in patience, time management, remaining calm under pressure, and ability to be flexible within classroom routines.
• One (1) year certificate in Child Development and Early Intervention is preferred;
• Associate’s Degree in related field is preferred.

The essential job functions and responsibilities for this position include, but are not limited to:

• Daily assistance in classroom and playground activities with infants, toddlers and preschool children;
• Ensure children are properly checked out of the CDC daily as well as properly close the facility;
• Consider and provide for the needs of the individual in relationship to their cultural and socioeconomic background, emotional or physical challenges and individual style and pace of learning;
• Respect the dignity and basic rights of each child;
• Follow all industry-practiced safety policies procedures with infants and toddler;
• Maintain a physical environment conducive to children’s growth and promote optimal program functioning;
• Work as a team with the lead-teacher or classroom specialist, implement assigned portion of the daily program of appropriate developmental experiences for the assigned classroom of young children.

The specific duties and responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to:

• Help children learn to adapt to and cope with real-life situations; to develop appropriate habits in such activities as eating, dressing, napping and personal hygiene including assisting parents with toilet training, as needed;
• Assist with daily observations of the health of children, reporting conditions which require attention;
• Participate in staff meetings, training sessions, conferences, workshops and other career development and professional activities;
• Complete continuing education hours per State requirements each year;
• Assist in the assurance that equipment and materials are accessible, appropriate and in good condition;
• Assist with routine classroom related and other maintenance duties as required;
• Assist with the composition of the monthly classroom article for the center newsletter;
• Assist with public relation and other duties as assigned;
• Maintain a pleasant, comfortable atmosphere for children and parents;
• Responsible to assure children are properly checked out to the correct family;
• Responsible to implement emergency plan if a family fails to pick up a child by 5:30 pm.

The physical requirements in the performance of this position include:

Physi…