Full-Time Special Education Lead Teacher Aide -- Central Cove Preschool (UP TO 35 HOURS PER WEEK, FULL-TIME, CONTRACT POSITION WITH BENEFITS)   Job Summary: What is the job of a Lead Teacher Aide at Central Cove? At Central Cove, we value play as the work of children and believe that children learn to interact with the world and others most effectively through purposeful play. We provide a positive, caring, safe, engaging, inclusive environment in which all children can learn and grow while playing and interacting with others. We are looking for a qualified Lead Teacher Aide to prepare our students for kindergarten by supporting them emotionally and educationally during this important developmental transition.  As a Lead Teacher Aide, you will be modeling, teaching, and practicing important skills that children will continue encounter in their social and educational experiences throughout their lives. A Lead Teacher Aide must have tremendous love and patience for children. Qualifications needed to teach them effectively include knowledge of best practices and preschool educational methods and the ability to engage children and build trust with them and their families. Our goal is to support the whole child and contribute to healthy mental and emotional development so all our students will be prepared for productive, engaged learning in kindergarten classrooms and meaningful, healthy interaction with their families and peers.   Job Responsibilities: What does a Lead Teacher Aide at Central Cove do? 

• Develop careful and creative lesson plans suitable for preschool children
• Maintain and report data to show student progress toward developmental expectations
• Employ a variety of educational techniques (modeling, storytelling, exploration, purposeful play, etc.) to instruct children
• Observe each child to help them improve their social competencies and build self-esteem
• Encourage children to interact with each other and resolve occasional arguments
• Guide children to develop their artistic and practical capabilities through a carefully constructed curriculum (identify shapes, numbers, or colors, do crafts etc.)
• Organize learning activities, snack time, and indoor and outdoor play and supervise children to ensure they are always safe
• Assess each child's learning needs through screening, observation, ongoing assessment.
• Participate in parent-teacher conferences at least twice per year.
• Communicate with parents regularly to understand the children's background as well as physical and emotional needs
• Collaborate with other educators

• Maintain a clean and tidy classroom consistent with health and safety standards

     District Expectations: What skills are needed to be successful as a Lead Teacher Aide at Central Cove?

• Effective collaboration and interpersonal skills

• Self-motivation and initiative in completing assigned tasks
• Attention to detail, flexibility, and problem-solving
• Time Management and organization
• Patience and compassion with students, families, and colleagues
• Optimism and positivity
• Commitment to learning
• Excellent understanding of the principles of child development and preschool educational methods
• Familiarity with safety and sanitation guidelines for classrooms
• Excellent communication (written and oral) and instructional skills
• Ability to act as mediator between children
• Cool -tempered, friendly, and reliable
• Balance between a creative and practical mind
• Maintains confidentiality when dealing with students, parents, and staff

• Other duties as assigned

    Requirements: What experience and qualifications will make me eligible to be a Lead Teacher Aide at Central Cove?

• Must be 18 years of age or older

• Ability to lift at least 45 pounds
• Ability to engage with small children both on and off the floor
• High School Diploma or equivalent required
• Associate degree or 48 semester hours of college credit earned or must have passed the Para-Pro Test (or be willing to take and pass the Para-Pro Test immediately upon hire)
• Maintenance (at minimum) of a Child Development Associates® (CDA) credential (or willingness and ability to earn one within 2 years of being hired)
• Certification in child CPR preferred
• Proven experience as a Lead Teacher Aide preferred
• Successful experience working with children at risk