Summary:

This position works as a part of a team to assist in activities in the areas of the classroom, kitchen, and bus and/or to serve as a disabilities aide as needed. The position contains elements of job descriptions of positions with titles similar to classroom aide, bus monitor, janitor, and kitchen aide and as a disability’s aide providing support for children with disabilities. Works with typically developing children and/or children with special needs/ disabilities. The position may be reassigned to various classrooms/centers/bus routes as deemed necessary for program operations. This position may receive content area technical support and training from the staff person responsible for center supervision, teacher, bus driver, staff person responsible for transportation, kitchen staff, and/or program managers/specialist/coordinators.

Duties:

The duties of the position are described in the major functional areas listed below.

Classroom Aide

• Assists classroom staff in all classroom activities, field trips, and outdoor activities included in lesson plans.
• Dress in clothing that is appropriate for outdoor activity and all weather conditions and is prepared to go outdoors daily.
• Assists in developing materials and providing activities related to the cultural background of the children and families served.
• Helps supervise at mealtime, eating with the children to encourage good nutrition and social skills.
• Help keep the classroom and its contents clean and orderly.
• Assists the teacher in any aspect of the program as the need arises (e.g., at Family Nights, copying newsletters, cutting out classroom materials, making phone calls, etc.).
• Serves as a temporary substitute in the periodic absence of the assistant teacher or teacher.

Janitorial Aide Services

• Empties trash or garbage containers if needed before the custodian or janitor services.
• Sanitizes surfaces, picks up and puts away materials in the classroom or kitchen in order to maintain a safe and organized environment.
• Serves as a janitor in the absence of the regular custodian or janitor on a periodic basis.
• Does light yard work or snow removal.

Kitchen- Aide

• Completes routine kitchen/dining room/food chores as assigned (e.g., dishwashing, portioning foods, taking and logging temperature of foods received from vendors, etc.)
• Prepares necessary food and serving items for service prior to or after use. These duties may include the preparation of food to meet the needs of children with special needs or disabilities.
• Participates in foodservice clean-up, inventory, and other foodservice tasks as requested.
• Substitutes for regular Cook or Assistant Cook as needed.
• Assists with inventory maintenance of all necessary supplies, food, and equipment used for food services operations.
• Assists with the processing and storage of food and food-related items as they are delivered.
• Assists in carrying out a financially successful food service operation by helping to control food and labor costs.
• Assists with logging meals/snacks in the menu book following USDA/CACFP required documentation for food purchased, prepared, and served.
• Supports staff/parents in preparing and cleaning up after meals/snacks for meetings, planning sessions, and other special events as requested.
• Ensures that dishes are returned to the kitchen or food service vendor transport boxes for cleaning and preparation for the next meal.
• Notifies supervisor of any safety, health issues, or concerns.
• Participates in ongoing training in food preparation and nutrition as requested.

Follows the established system for cleaning to ensure that the kitchen and storage rooms are kept in a clean and sanitary manner.

• Reports any kitchen equipment not in good working order to supervisor to ensure the kitchen remains safe and hazard-free.
• Prepares food in a safe and sanitary manner.
• Responsible for complying with all local, state, and federal standards regarding hygiene and sanitation.

Disabilities Aide

• Works with assigned children with disabilities.
• Supports the work of the classroom staff and managers, specialists, and/or mental health consultants in carrying out individual plans for children with special needs.
• With direction from professional staff, follows I EP/IFSP.

EXAMPLES OF GENERAL JOB DUTIES-ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Understands generates and documents in-kind and other allowable costs applied toward the non-federal share requirement.
• Attends all workshops and meetings as deemed necessary by the immediate supervisor.
• Attends all required staff and parent meetings and activities.
• Responsible for understanding Head Start Performance Standards and local child care licensing regulations.
• Expected to be knowledgeable of the regulations associated with prevention of occupational disease and injury, including the exercise of universal precautions and the prevention of contamination.
• Positively promotes Head Start in the community.
• Maintains strict confidentiality with respect to Head Start/Early Head Start children, families, and staff in accordance with established policies and procedures.
• Becomes thoroughly familiar with UCC Head Start Employee Handbook: Human Resources Policies and Procedures, UCC Head Start Operations Manual, and all other UCC HS handbooks, manuals, and resources and adheres to them.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

Immediate supervision means those employees the position assigns, directs, and evaluates.

Non-Essential Duties:

• Performs any and all other duties as assigned.

DECISIONS AND COMMITMENTS

This section will describe the kinds and impact of decisions and commitments; the effects, influence, and significance of these decisions; the consequence of error, and the limitation of the finality of decision-making.

Decisions and commitments involving the education program are very important and affect the children and continued funding of the programs. Following the guidelines and the regulations of the program are of the utmost importance to ensuring quality services for the children and families.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

The job description and the Head Start Program Performance Standards serve as guidelines. Assistance is received from other agency staff and outside assistance can be received from other related resources as needed. Head Start/Early Head Start effectively uses the teamwork approach. All content areas are interwoven so as to better assist and support families. The immediate supervisor is responsible for appraisals of this position.

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES

Knowledge: Knowledge of the basics of working with preschool children. Knowledge of the purpose of the Head Start/Early Head Start Program. Knowledge of basic food preparation, serving, and sanitation practices. Knowledge of local resources, customs, and languages helpful.

Abilities: Ability to relate sensitively with children and to work well with staff and parents and families. Ability to follow directions and take initiative. Ability to keep all information on families strictly confidential. Ability to communicate effectively with children and staff. Must have the physical, emotional, and mental ability to assist the Bus Driver with a vehicle full of children in a safe and pleasant manner when riding the bus. Ability to work with children with disabilities. Ability to learn the U.S. Department of Transportation and CDL regulations

LANGUAGE SKILLS

• Ability to communicate both written and orally.
• Ability to follow directions from both written and oral instructions.
• Ability to read and comprehend instructions, short correspondence, and memos.
• Ability to write simple correspondence.
• Ability to communicate with families and children in a positive and helpful manner.
• Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from the community.
• Some Bilingual fluency is helpful (English/Spanish or English and other languages present in the local area).

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

• Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide.

REASONING SKILLS

• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in

written or oral form.

• Ability to maintain confidentiality.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Ability to exhibit patience and tact when communicating with children, families, staff, management, referral sources, and the public.
• Ability to project professionalism in conducting daily activities.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING CONDITIONS

• May be required to lift up to 40 pounds.
• Travel by car, bus, airplane, or train may also be required associated with attendance at conferences, meetings, and other duties carried out at distant locations in and out of state and in some cases where some overnight travel may be required.
• Some exposure to communicable diseases.
• Noise level in the work environment may be moderate to loud.
• Work is typically performed in a classroom, kitchen, or bus setting and some office work may be required.

Some evenings and weekend work may occasionally be required for events such as home visits, parent-teacher conferences, Parent

• Committee meetings, community, and social events.
• To drive agency vehicles (if applicable), must have a valid driver's license and be insurable by the UCC Head Start insurance carrier and have a Motor Vehicle Record acceptable to UCC Head Start.

The requirements of your Job Description are important in providing services to children and families, and for keeping you, your children, and co-workers safe during the workday. If you are unable to perform any of the functions required in your job description due to a disability, you are invited to direct any requests for accommodation to the Program Director.

Qualifications:

• The minimum requirement is that the individual is 18 years of age. This is an entry-level position requiring no previous education or experience unless there is a local or state regulation that requires a high school diploma or G.E.D. A high school diploma or G.E.D. is preferred.
• Requirements for employment with UCC Head Start may be different than those required by the former grantee or a replacement grantee. If applicable federal, state, or local Head Start or child care regulations, now or as amended in the future, contain additional requirements or qualifications for this position that are not specifically stated in this Job Description, the requirements and qualifications will apply, even if not specifically outlined in this Job Description.
• Bilingual preferred (English/Spanish or English and other languages present in the local area).
• Within 90 days of employment, must obtain and continually maintain basic first aid and pediatric CPR certification (or sooner if required by local/state regulations). Acceptable tuberculosis screening results, a clear criminal records check (including child abuse registry check if required by state regulations) and an initial health exam are required post job offer and before employment.
• Current and former Head Start/Early Head Start parents will receive preference for employment vacancies for which they are qualified.